Below is a short program typical of the code I run, with comments added to indicate where I would like to turn the Z axis oscillation on and off.

Can a Mach3 brain be used to generate motor movements?

To user Hood: my Z axis is a pretty standard affair, it has a stepper motor that turns a lead screw.  I can't get that to move with an analog oscillator driving a solenoid.  I suppose I could design a digital circuit that, when triggered, disconnects the Z axis stepper pulse and direction inputs from the Mach3 PC and connects them instead to an independent pulse/direction generator that creates the oscillation.  This seems like way too much work to me compared to any purely software solution however.


N0000 (Filename: Test Code.tap)
N0010 (Post processor: Mach3.scpost)
N0020 (Date: 20/09/2011)
N0030 G20 (Units: Inches)
N0040 G40 G90 G91.1
N0050 F1
N0060 (Part: Test Code)
N0070 (Operation: Outside Offset, 0, T12: Mill/router, 0.125 in diameter, 0.125 in Deep)
N0080 S10000 G00 Z1.0000
N0090 (Mill/router, 0.125 in diameter)
N0100 T12 M06  G43 H12
N0110 M08 (Flood coolant on)
N0120 S10000 M03
N0130 G00 X1.4240 Y0.4593
N0140 Z0.2000
N0150 G01 Z-0.125 F1

(TURN ON Z OSCILLATION HERE)

N0160 G03 X1.4568 Y0.4787 Z-0.1250 I-0.0000 J0.0375 F3.0
N0170 G02 X1.5990 Y0.5625 I0.1422 J-0.0787
N0180 G01 X1.9000 Z-0.125 F3
N0190 G02 X2.0625 Y0.4000 Z-0.1250 I0.0000 J-0.1625 F3.0
N0200 G01 Y0.1000 Z-0.125 F3
N0210 G02 X1.9000 Y-0.0625 Z-0.1250 I-0.1625 J0.0000 F3.0
N0220 G01 X0.1000 Z-0.125 F3
N0230 G02 X-0.0625 Y0.1000 Z-0.1250 I0.0000 J0.1625 F3.0
N0240 G01 Y0.4000 Z-0.125 F3
N0250 G02 X0.1000 Y0.5625 Z-0.1250 I0.1625 J0.0000 F3.0
N0260 G01 X0.3990 Z-0.125 F3
N0270 G02 X0.5412 Y0.4787 Z-0.1250 I-0.0000 J-0.1625 F3.0
N0280 G03 X0.6068 Y0.4787 I0.0328 J0.0182
N0290 G02 X0.7490 Y0.5625 I0.1422 J-0.0787
N0300 G01 X1.2490 Z-0.125 F3
N0310 G02 X1.3912 Y0.4787 Z-0.1250 I0.0000 J-0.1625 F3.0
N0320 G03 X1.4240 Y0.4593 I0.0328 J0.0182

(TURN OFF Z OSCILLATION HERE)

N0330 G00 Z1.0000
N0340 X0.0000 Y0.0000
N0350 M09 (Coolant off)
N0360 M05
N0370 M05 M30

What about THC? possibly that could be worked via a brain, then again Terry is the guy for plasma so probably no use as I am sure he would have mentioned it.

Hood

Sorry, you lost me - what does plasma cutting have to do with oscillating a grinding bit?

I believe Mach can control torch height independent of code for Plasma. I think it can be done via button or input so possibly a Brain could be used but as said Terry knows plasma well so if he hasnt mentioned it its likely not possible.
Hood

OK As to a simple SOftware only solution??  Close but no cigar. It is easy eanought to do with the THC control BUT I cannot find an  access to that function INTERNALY through CB.  

Now there WAS a software/Hardware solutoin we did years ago. (You are NOT the first to ask about this) where you take 2 outputs and rewire them to 2 inputs. THEN you set up a simple Flip/FLop loop to drive the thc up/down based on Z height and THCSPEED%. IT would give the down signal unitl the z got to a set point and then drive the ZUP until it hit the upper setpoint. The THCSpeed% controlled the speed at which the Z moved.

We used the M7 to turn the function ON/OFF so ANY cam could be used(;-)

SO that is the rest of the story,  (;-) TP

BUT now that I said that I found and old NOTE where art had added that access into the brains section.

SO yes it may be possible. You would have to setup a brain to do the flip/flop function based on Z heigh and a lower setpoint.  The M7 would trigger it to start osc and the M9 would shut it off.

THere you go  Oscillation of the Z. A DIY CNC first event IF it does not crash you machine(;-) and tear up your tools.

(;-) TP

DANG GONE NOW I am going to have to try it to see IF it can be made usable.    (;-)

Okay, this is cool!  Thanks for your help.  Is that note from Art available somewhere I can get at it?  I assume you work at ArtSoft...

You used two acronyms that I don't know - CB and M7.  Would you mind defining them, or just say RTFM and I'll go dig in the docs/videos if they're defined there (perhaps a hint as to which M to go RTF would be nice ;-).

Work At Artsoft?  (;-) No.    Most of us here are volunteers helping out the MACH3 community.

Notes ? These are project/trouble notes from the last 6 years working with Mach.  Most are in an ancient form of low end gibberish(;-).

CB = Cypress Basic, the Mach3 form of the basic programming language used to create Function Macros or Mcodes than can be ran in Gcode.

M7 = An internal Macro that Mach3 used to turn ON the Mistcoolant relay. It is ready available in the CAM side of programing so no changes to the post required. You would just MONITOR that led indicator to see IF it is active then IF SO turn ON the OSC function.


I would tell you to RTFM and send you to the MACH LIBRARY to get the DOCs "BUT" ? 


(;-) TP

Wow, you have spent all this time answering my dumb-ass question as a volunteer.  Thanks!  Can I buy you a virtual beer?    I don't see a smiley for that, unfortunately.

I THINK I understand enough now that I may be able to create a brain to do this.  We'll see!

Let us know IF you get stuck, (;-) TP