Alastair:  --Havent tried that version as yet. Sounds like a setting. It isnt possible for m4 to change the step width, so it must be a timing issue, motor trying to go too fast or the sytem really bogging down when running a Gcode.. video maybe? We'll have to see
if thats on all systems or not to try to find that one. Ill update this week and see what a code file does here.

Daniellyall - Sounds like perhaps the max spindle speed in mach is set to 5000? Let us know if you find what ails you.

Thx
Art

Max speed is set to 26000 rpm when the speed is called it goes to that speed for a second then straight to 5000 rpm.
I will do the reinstall after I put on latest m4 release to see if that fixes it.

I tried build 1914 again and the CPU is maxed at 100% when running GCode with wxMach using 99%.
With build 1900 the CPU is around 5-10%.

I guess the question needs directed the the Mach4 team !! Is it a bug in the new build or a feature that has been turned on that is causing the drastic increase in CPU usage?

Running Windows XP.
Athlon 64 3200+
Nvidia GeForce GT6600 Graphics Card.

Alastair

>>I tried build 1914 again and the CPU is maxed at 100% when running GCode with wxMach using 99%.
With build 1900 the CPU is around 5-10%.


Ill mention that too them...

Art

Art

I have two computers happily running Mach3 on XP. 

Both would be considered under spec for Mach3 but have been doing a great job for some years (and continue to do so).  Very smooth reliable movement.

Both have on board graphics. (no video card)

One will run Mach4 with rough and unreliable movement.  The other will barely move an axis.

I have gone through all the things you have recommended to try. Pulse widths, kernal speeds etc.

Have come to the conclusion that the computer is too far under spec to ever run Mach4 and to chase it further is just wasting your time.

So my question is, do you think there is a chance that adding a graphics card would make any substantial difference.

I have never got as far as seeing if toolpath display is OK or not.  I will worry about that after getting smooth movement.

Thanks for all your help.

Greolt

Greg, I haven't  tried to run a machine with Mach4, but from what I've seen on my old desktop, it would appear that Mach4 needs about 4x the PC power that mach3 needed.
Check your CPU usage with Mach4 running.

Ger

It is only running to about 25%

Mach4  Ver 1914

Greolt

EDIT:
That was jogging one axis.  When running a three axis file it goes up to about 40%

However one of the four graphs (cores?) goes to 100%

I guess, in the end, we need to figure out why motion woudl be bad. Im thinking it is indeed CPU usage..

One proof of that is in the Darwin drivers config. If you make sure the port status screen is green
and press reset if its red, then use the jog box on the motors page the motion will tell you if the problem
is one of Mach4 or if its the computer itself vs Darwin. Theres a slider to select speed of the jog.
If the jog is smooth it means Darwins having no trouble at all, so if the motion is bad, it probably means Mach4 is
being too heavy on CPU. That doesntr mean it always will be. Ive seen several iterations of M4 where it uses a lot of cpu,
and version where it doesnt. M4 I think is a great many threads, it may take awhile to balance them all to keep
cpu usage down. I havent made m4 screens yet, can one remove the toolpath display? If the motion smooths with it
gone it will tell a tale I think...

Art

OK I jogged from the darwin driver.

Movement was definitely smoother but not as good as Mach3

Then it crashed my computer.

It is my better half's birthday and I must now go and do what dutiful husbands must do and stop that infernal fiddling with stuff in the shed.

Greolt

EDIT:  I am going to assume that adding a video card is not going to miraculously transform my meagre computer into a Mach4 power house.

lol.. no. Sounds like more than a video card is in order.

Art