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"Keep it simple, keep it pure and get rid of all
the CAM functions."


Ditto!

Carl

Doug et. al.

My personal opinion is that a Cam program is a Cam program, a Cad program is a Cad program, and a controller is a controller. I don't think an excellent control program like Mach2-n should be mucked up with cam functions at all. If you want a different order to your dxf vectors, then run it through a Cam program. How many different CAD/CAM programs are there currently in existence and none of them does every thing everyone wants. Mach2, for what it does, is a fantastic control program. Keep it simple, keep it pure and get rid of all the CAM functions.

Flame suit on
Bring on the hate mail.

Hugh
Hi Art:

A while ago I suggested you load a DXF file with certain options.
Am I to assume (from the above) that you can now optionally turn only
certain (entire) layers on? For example, one layer might be the
curvey surface of an object, and another might be a drill layer,
a third layer might be only a 'helper' layer to draw construction objects.
All of these layers should be treated differently.

Also, you'd like to let it know which was a 'drill' layer
(or 'drill' element, ie an up-and-down movement, not 'follow the
contour' movement). The 'helper' layer(s) can be ignored (unless
perhaps if you had a 'helper' layer which had your raw stock outline).

I also suggested that each DXF 'element' in a complicated drawing
could be turned on manually, and the ORDER and DIRECTION (and DEPTH)
of the tool could be governed by that manual selection.

Here is why: suppose you have a DXF with your complete part all on one
layer, but right now you just want to mill the outside contour. Perhaps
you'd want to start near the edge of the material (this is not necessarily
how the DXF was drawn in the first place) and proceed in a certain direction
(ie choice of upmilling or downmilling).

By picking the segments you want, in the order you want, you'd get
maximum control over the toolpath.

Have you given that idea any further consideration?

Who else thinks this is a good idea?

Doug Fortune

Art wrote:

Hi all:

I have dealt with many bugs for the next release and have added some DXF
functions such as separate spindle speed, feedrate, and plunge rate for all
layers. Empty layers are flagged as well and turned off. Optimization has
been made better and more DXF types will load.

Hi Art:

A while ago I suggested you load a DXF file with certain options.
Am I to assume (from the above) that you can now optionally turn only
certain (entire) layers on? For example, one layer might be the
curvey surface of an object, and another might be a drill layer,
a third layer might be only a 'helper' layer to draw construction objects.
All of these layers should be treated differently.

Also, you'd like to let it know which was a 'drill' layer
(or 'drill' element, ie an up-and-down movement, not 'follow the
contour' movement). The 'helper' layer(s) can be ignored (unless
perhaps if you had a 'helper' layer which had your raw stock outline).

I also suggested that each DXF 'element' in a complicated drawing
could be turned on manually, and the ORDER and DIRECTION (and DEPTH)
of the tool could be governed by that manual selection.

Here is why: suppose you have a DXF with your complete part all on one
layer, but right now you just want to mill the outside contour. Perhaps
you'd want to start near the edge of the material (this is not necessarily
how the DXF was drawn in the first place) and proceed in a certain direction
(ie choice of upmilling or downmilling).

By picking the segments you want, in the order you want, you'd get
maximum control over the toolpath.

Have you given that idea any further consideration?

Who else thinks this is a good idea?

Doug Fortune














.

On Mon, 11 Aug 2003 18:57:56 -0000, you wrote:

Ive been playing with configure output devices and each time I open
it and then press reset the mist and flood toggle between Ext Act 2
and 3. I was trying to use it in a macro but at this rate I will
never know what pin it will turn on.

No, you're not. Art has it fixed for next version.
--
Steve Blackmore

Ive been playing with configure output devices and each time I open
it and then press reset the mist and flood toggle between Ext Act 2
and 3. I was trying to use it in a macro but at this rate I will
never know what pin it will turn on.

Dave

Hi All:

I have implemented 2 new Macro commands for those who have the knowhow to
use them...

BYTE GetPortByte(USHORT PortAddress)

SHORT PutPortByte(USHORT PortAddress, BYTE data)

GetPortByte will retrieve a byte from a port address. A command like

A = GetPortByte( 888 ) will return the byte from printer port 0x378 for
example.

PutPortByte is the reverse.

A = PutPortByte( 889 , 255 ) will put 255 out port 0x379 and retyurn a 1 if
successful and 0 otherwise.

These commands actually have a powerfull use if you know how to control
your IO48 cards or your second printer port. If you don't tell Mach2 to
control your second port, you can then use that port as all inputs, all
outputs, or a mixture. You can send binary words out the second port. If you
have a PCI IO board you should be able to program its configuration and then
use it as well for as many outputs or inputs as you like. You will only have
access within macro's, but this would be usable for toolchangers and the
like to control external events or devices. These were added to allow the
possibility of sending speed control words to binary controlled spindles if
desired.

Thanks,

Art



Art
www.artofcnc.ca

Todd:

THCOn()
and
THCOff()

Art
www.artofcnc.ca

Todd:

For comments you can use
REM this is a comment

There is no way to display a message as yet though.

Art
www.artofcnc.ca

Hi,
Is there a g-code or macro function that will toggle the THC on and
off?
Todd

Hi,
In a macro, how do you enter text that has no effect on the macro,
just explanations of what the line is. Also how do you display info
on the screen with out having a question attached, instead of
x=question"how many banana's", I want display a screen that says x=4
banana's, enter to continue.
Thanks
Todd

Steve,

When I first started looking at spindle control I had a brief look at
PWM to DC conversion but could't come up with a way of doing it
without a lot of circuitry.

The easy way is to use a PIC but I didn't feel the application
warranted that much effort.

I agree with the conclusions from the referenced article. My
thoughts are that, provided the PWM base frequency is stable, the
useful information is the ON period, this can be used to charge an
integrator and would be linear, this voltage could be then transfered
to a sample & hold circuit, triggered by the falling edge of the
waveform.

I never took it beyond the initial thoughts because it seemed the
FtoV solution seemed so much simpler. It would be interesting to see
how Servo's circuit works.

Bernard

--- In mach1mach2cnc@..., Steve Blackmore <steve@p...>
wrote:

On Sun, 10 Aug 2003 15:16:03 -0000, you wrote:

If you need a linear frequency response from an RC network look up

op-

amp integrators.

Hi again Bernard - I altered my circuit, without too much sucess.

The

response is still slightly curved. I've posted a file called

pwmv.pdf

with a couple of graphs of voltage output versus speed selection. As
you can see altering the pwm rate makes no difference, increasing

the

voltage gives a more linear top end, but its still not quite there.

It

would appear that from browsing various articles that it is a commom
phenomina and in a lot of commercial systems the top and bottom and

of

the scale is discarded.

It would also appear that maybe my assumption of PWM and Art's
implementation is flawed? I incorrectly assumed that RMS values are
proportional to duty on/off cycles, until I read this article



Comments?
--
Steve Blackmore

On Sun, 10 Aug 2003 15:16:03 -0000, you wrote:

If you need a linear frequency response from an RC network look up op-
amp integrators.

Hi again Bernard - I altered my circuit, without too much sucess. The
response is still slightly curved. I've posted a file called pwmv.pdf
with a couple of graphs of voltage output versus speed selection. As
you can see altering the pwm rate makes no difference, increasing the
voltage gives a more linear top end, but its still not quite there. It
would appear that from browsing various articles that it is a commom
phenomina and in a lot of commercial systems the top and bottom and of
the scale is discarded.

It would also appear that maybe my assumption of PWM and Art's
implementation is flawed? I incorrectly assumed that RMS values are
proportional to duty on/off cycles, until I read this article



Comments?
--
Steve Blackmore

Has anyone tried this guys drivers out? Here is an ebay link:

ViewItem&category=42920&item=2550592527
Thanks, Richard Konnen

Jerry:

Great news. Yours is the first confirmed thread from Mach2. That sounds
very promising indeed.

Thanks for the update, keep up the great work.

Thanks,
Art
www.artofcnc.ca

Hi All,
After finishing my ball screw project and building a new adjustable
mount for my spindle index sensor, I thought I'd try cutting a thread.

I wasn't super happy until I compared it to a comercial 1/4- 20 bolt.
I think the Mach2 threads look better!

I used an HSS bit with essentially no radius, 300 RPM, coolant
flowing, light cuts, and I think 30 passes.

The caption says "first thread" but it was really my third attemp.
The first two times I tried Carbide bits and both times snapped the
end off, a small but fatal piece. I think I'll modify the G-code to
step over the right amount so that I'm only cutting on one side of
the thread. The stepover now is 40% of the infeed, which is a guess,
(need to get out a trig book, high school was 50 years ago).

The variation or errant rpm readings I was having were caused by a
couple shiny spots on my pulley. Pulling the sensor back cured that
until I get some flat black at it.

Jerry

I ran across this more by mistake than by design. I have modifed my
Post to do the following:

G70
F84
G90
M05
G4P1
G01Z0.500F40
G00X11.780Y3.789; move to start of cut
G01Z0.250F40 ; lower head to .250 (piercing height)
G4P1
M03F80 ; Turn on torch, reset speed to 80 IPM
G00Z0.135; Lower head into cut at full rapid
G01X11.670Y4.013; first line of cut params

The above works fine

By chance I edited and changed the G00Z.135 to a G01Z.135 and the THC
hold does not work. The program takes off prior to the arc being
established.


So with the THC on the following does not recognize the HOLD.

F84
G90
M05
G4P1
G01Z0.500F40
G00X11.780Y3.789; move to start of cut
G01Z0.250F40 ; lower head to .250 (piercing height)
G4P1
M03F80 ; Turn on torch, reset speed to 80 IPM
G01Z0.135; Lower head into cut at 80 IPM
G01X11.670Y4.013; first line of cut params

Weird huh? The max speed on my Z is 60IPM but why would that effect
the program Hold on the THC? It lowers okay but the arc starts about
1/2" from where it should since I have no pause on Spindle Spin up.
Normally the THC hold takes care of it.

TOM C

On Sun, 10 Aug 2003 15:16:03 -0000, you wrote:

If you need a linear frequency response from an RC network look up op-
amp integrators.

Cheers Bernard, after reading what one was I realise I am already
nearly using one <G>. I will try adding a cap across the -ve to output
on the op amp and see what happens. I've a feeling that it may still
be necessary to increase my 12V to 14 and use the range 2-12V but
that's one for tommorrow. I can easily accomodate that with the
low/high trimmers on my interface and those on the speed controller.


--
Steve Blackmore

Hi,
On the DXF plasma imports, it would be nice if a macro ( e.g. m50
something )could be called instead of the m03 m05's that are
installed by default. A header and footer line would be very nice
also. Thanks for fixin that g28.1 .
Todd

Todd:

G28 problem is found and repaired. I have found the extremae problem and am
trying to correct it for next release.

Thanks,
Art
www.artofcnc.ca

Hi Art,
Have you been able to replicate the g28.1 & extrema problems that I
was having? If not let me know & I will send a file that will
replicate them.
Todd

--- In mach1mach2cnc@..., Art <fenerty@a...> wrote:

Hi all:

I have dealt with many bugs for the next release and have added

some DXF

functions such as separate spindle speed, feedrate, and plunge rate

for all

layers. Empty layers are flagged as well and turned off.

Optimization has

been made better and more DXF types will load.

I still have a few bugs to go before release though, so it will

be a few

days before 9.0 is released. I am looking for the reported step/dir

spindle

bug at the moment and will have a couple new port commands for

macro's as

well with any luck.

Thanks,
Art
www.artofcnc.ca