[ger21]

If you look at the pic in post #92, the Ref buttons are along the top, on the left side.

[PoppaBear10]

Hey Ger,

Here is something for you, on this link:
Map ALL standard Input and Outputs to a New Diagnostic screen!!
this is a plugin I did a while back to "Map" All standard Inputs/Outputs to a modified diagnostic screen. It added "LEDs" for:
Inputs:
1). OEMTrigger's 1-15

Outputs:
1). OUTPUT's 7-20
2). Charge Pump, Charge Pump2, and Current Hi/Low

ULED's Used for Input Signals are:
1). 1301-15 is used for OEM trigs 1-15

ULED's Used for Output Signals are:
1). 1316-32 is used for Outputs 7-15,Charge Pump,
Charge Pump2 and Current Hi/Low

as a side note:

Given that your VERY nice screen is complex (lots of macros, mabey brians?), if you want, I could make you a custom plugin, (that could do the above, plus, I could embed your brians and macros, inside the plugin as well, further, I could (if you want), add Menu Password level access (see that plugin in the plugins section as well for example demo). To limit the types of access to machs configs (keeping the monkeys out of playing with configs, even make it where you could enable and disable the use of Menu controls... what ever).

I have found on the more complex screens/controls it is easier to embed everything into one plugin, it keeps the support calls down. Further it would also be easy to do a MSI installer for you as well.

Up to you,

BTW: your "tiny url" link doesnt work.

Also, I like your screen set FAR, FAR, FAR more, than Mach Standard Mill.

scott

[ger21]

Given that your VERY nice screen is complex

Actually, it's quite simple. Two very simple brains for some LED's, and basically the auto zero residing in the M6 macro's and another button.

Putting it in a plugin would make it more complex for me, as I couldn't update the plugin.

I'll take a look at you're other plugin, but I don't want to support all the additional diagnostic stuff. It's included on a separate screen, but up to the user to setup and configure. Very, very few will probably want to use it.

I pasted the tinyURL into my browser to make sure it worked, then pasted it right into the message (on the yahoo groups, right?). The same link is in post #84 above.

And I do have an installer all setup. Just checking on the last macro changes I made before creating the new setup file.

Thanks for the compliments.

[revwarguy]

BTW, the tinyurl http://tinyurl.com/2bz8dr8 in your yahoo post works just fine for me on that board.

When I pasted into this message and made an active link out of it, it translated it to "The CNC Woodworker - Mach3 2010" as shown below:

The CNC Woodworker - Mach3 2010

(Place your mouse over the link and look at the resulting destination in your browser status line.)

In any event the link works.

PS - anxiously waiting for the screen set!

[ger21]

OK, I have the website ready with the PayPal buttons (But haven't uploaded it yet), and thought of one thing.

Who uses different offsets, G54-G59?

When you auto zero, it changes the offset for the current offset only. So, if you auto zero in G54, switching to G55 will change the Z zero.

I have 4 lines of code that will write the G54 Z offset to the G55-G59 offsets, and am wondering if I should add it, or make it an alternate download? I moved some of the macro's to external M-Codes for ease of modification, and to prevent macros from being overwritten if I need to update.

[revwarguy]

Ger,

Does your screen set do anything to change keystroke assignments as they come from the Mach distro?

Conversely, is there any reason keystrokes (unused ones) can't be assigned to your reference and zeroing buttons (macros)?

[ger21]

Keyboard shortcuts are unique to each screen set. The manual lists the shortcuts that are already assigned. You can change any by using Screen4 or MachScreen editors.

The exception are the keys used for jogging, which are set using Config > Hotkeys.

[ger21]

And btw, the website has been updated with the PayPal buttons. :-) Refresh your browser if you don't see them.

[revwarguy]

Keyboard shortcuts are unique to each screen set. The manual lists the shortcuts that are already assigned. You can change any by using Screen4 or MachScreen editors.

The exception are the keys used for jogging, which are set using Config > Hotkeys.

Yes. The reason I ask is that I use a custom pendant that generates keystrokes and would like to be able to do all setup ops right at the router. Since the intent is to use the "Initial Auto Zero" button (macro) each for each job, and probably "Goto Tool Change Position" before that, any idea about what keys assignment to make for them? I could pick some at random, but would like to be consistent with any future releases is all.

BTW, which screen editor are you using for that? Just curious.

[ger21]

I don't plan on assigning any keys to anything else. Too many people like to do things too many different ways.

I use Screen4. I put it in the manual, but if using Screen4, set the size to Custom, and 1015x726.
To set the shortcuts, just right click the buttons from the main page and add the shortcuts. All the toolbar buttons are located on the main page and displayed on all the pages, so you only have to set them once.

[revwarguy]

Thanks for all hard work here, Gerry. I am really looking forward to using this and making tool setup a nice, dependable operation.

[ger21]

Since the intent is to use the "Initial Auto Zero" button (macro) each for each job, and probably "Goto Tool Change Position" before that

I'm assuming you'll be jogging over to the workpiece in between using these buttons? As you need to zero to the workpiece.

But for a lot of work that I do, I use the Material Offset option when zeroing, to set my tool 3/4" above the table. I can then zero anywhere on my table. That way, if the material thickness varies, I won't cut into the table. I usually leave a .005-.008 skin on the bottom to hold the part in place. The parts just "pop" free, and a little sanding cleans up the edges.

But if you're V Carving, then you definitely want to zero to the part surface.

[ger21]

Thanks for all hard work here, Gerry. I am really looking forward to using this and making tool setup a nice, dependable operation.

Over two weeks of testing, in both english and metric, has shown it to be 100% reliable. And the tediousness of tool changing is now gone.

[revwarguy]

I'm assuming you'll be jogging over to the workpiece in between using these buttons? As you need to zero to the workpiece.

Well, after the power up and a reference home (Cntl-Home), I can forsee using "Goto Tool Position" (MyKeyChoice1) or perhaps "Goto Park"(MyKeyChoice2) to change the bit before any material is on the table. When the material is clamped, then do the "Initial Auto Zero" (MyKeyChoice3). These keystrokes will be programmed into my pedant so I can do them at the tool change position/material zero position.

But for a lot of work that I do, I use the Material Offset option when zeroing, to set my tool 3/4" above the table. I can then zero anywhere on my table. That way, if the material thickness varies, I won't cut into the table. I usually leave a .005-.008 skin on the bottom to hold the part in place. The parts just "pop" free, and a little sanding cleans up the edges.

But if you're V Carving, then you definitely want to zero to the part surface.

Yes, that's a good way to do it for profile operations.

One source of error has been that my router is double insulated, so the bit or collar is isolated from its case, so making an electrical contact with the bit has meant clipping something to it with mixed results. To obviate the need for a clip, I was thinking about a spring loaded contact bar that breaks a connection when pushed down by the bit, and telling Mach to look for an active low. I would need a movable one on the material, and a fixed one on the table for tool changes. Is that very repeatable? I think I saw this once, but don't remember where.

Speaking of working away from the screen, looking at the screen design in the manual, the reset LED is pretty small to see at a distance. Know of a way to have Mach beep or turn on a signal when the reset has been triggered?

[ger21]

One source of error has been that my router is double insulated, so the bit or collar is isolated from its case, so making an electrical contact with the bit has meant clipping something to it with mixed results. To obviate the need for a clip, I was thinking about a spring loaded contact bar that breaks a connection when pushed down by the bit, and telling Mach to look for an active low. I would need a movable one on the material, and a fixed one on the table for tool changes. Is that very repeatable? I think I saw this once, but don't remember where.

That should work. How repeatable it is depends on how it's made, I would think.
Can you drill and tap into the bottom where the bearing is mounted to attach a ground wire? The circuit should get completed through the bottom bearing and through the bit.

Speaking of working away from the screen, looking at the screen design in the manual, the reset LED is pretty small to see at a distance. Know of a way to have Mach beep or turn on a signal when the reset has been triggered?

Mine does beep, but I can't guarantee that it does it 100% of the time.
I think you can make a macro pump, that checks the status of the LED, and plays a wave file. Might be better to send a signal to an output to turn on an external LED or light bulb maybe?

[ger21]

As I mentioned yesterday, the macro's included with the screen will only zero the Z axis in the current offset. So, if you zero in G54, and switch to G55, you'll need to re-zero.

I made a modified version of the initial tool change macro that will allow you to auto zero in any offset from G54-G59, and will set the Z the same for all. This will let you use any offset from G54-G59, and only auto zero once.

You can download it from the website, and just copy it over the original.

[Arbo]

Gerry,

Ran 6 parts today, all with tool changes. Worked like a charm.

What is the calculated offset stored in? As I'd like to be able to see it, and might add it to the diagnostic screen.

[ger21]

The number is listed in the manual, don't know it off the top of my head.
If you open the screen in Screen4, the DRO is to the right of the tabs, just off the screen.

[Mike F]

Hi,

I've just been running the screen, doing a couple of fairly large patterns. They required four tool changes, scaling to -1 in Y and a negative material offset for taking an extra 0.2mm off for a finishing cut. I have to report that everything went absolutely perfectly

Being able to do tool changes without the need to touch off on the workpiece itself has been brilliant, as too is the material offset capability which means I don't have to remember to add or subtract the increment from the Z DRO.

Fantastic - and so much nicer to look at and use than the standard screen.

Mike

[revwarguy]

Thanks for a better way, Ger. Lovin' it. :cheers: