Mach3
Files
Below are some files that are FREE for taking. I am doing this to support the Mach3 community. As such, I do not warranty anything – so, be careful with what you do with this. Test, test, and then use. They work fine for me, and have been in use for some time now. You can send me feedback, which I will be happy to answer if I can.
Modified Mill
Screen (rev D) for Mach3
To see bigger version look here.
This is an enhanced Mach3 Mill screen. If you have already
downloaded this screen, check the rev version. This is updated rev D. It is very
similar to the original Mill screen, but as I do not like to switch the screens,
most of the functions are now on the main screen - MDI etc. (other screens are
still retained with enhancements). The screen will also allow you to switch
between the jog modes, without any tabbing. Also supported is the MPG mode. When
selected you can either use button to select velocity setting, or multi step
modes: coarse (0.001" step), or fine (0.0001" step). This is done without any
cycling, and doing this does not change the continuous jog step. You can also
touch Z, or set your XY zeros directly. This screen has been customized for my
pendant, but those are added hotkeys for the off-screen buttons. I have retained
the same shortcuts for the on screen stuff, so it will work for everyone.
Changes from my rev C: If your
setup has a digitizing input, you can now use AUTO Z button to reliably find
your work. Note: Due
to Mach3 bug, if you are going to be using “auto touch” feature you need to
upgrade to Mach3 1.083.046 or later version.
To
install:
Unzip the file somewhere. Copy the 1024.set to the main
Mach3 directory (it will overwrite the existing file so you may want to rename
the original file). Copy the MillBitmaps to the Bitmaps folder (this will add
additional pictures for the screen controls). Same with any macros I may include
in future. If you wish you can rename the screen file.
Download
from:
Mill_Screen-D.zip
Let me know of any
bugs, or your feedback.
Modified Lathe
Screen (rev B) for Mach3
To see bigger version look here.
This is an enhanced Mach3 Turn screen. It is very similar
to the original Mill screen, but almost everything can be done from the main
screen, and there are many enhancements that I find handy. The screen will allow
you to switch between the jog modes, without any tabbing. Also supported is the
MPG mode. When selected you can either use button to select velocity setting, or
multi step modes: coarse (0.001" step), or fine (0.0001" step). This is done
without any cycling, and doing this does not change the continuous jog step. You
can also touch Z, or set your XY zeros directly. This screen has been customized
for my pendant, but those are added hotkeys for the off-screen buttons. I have
retained the same shortcuts for the on screen stuff, so it will work for
everyone.
Another enhancement is the addition of new tool referencing. It does not use tool offsets (although they are still supported): rather you reference the tool to the lathe chuck. In essence, you set the Z for the front surface of the chuck, and the X for the front outside circumference of the chuck at the beginning. Afterwards, when you change the tool, you just “touch” either of these features, and your reference is set. To make it easier, my QCT is electrically insulated from the rest of the machine, so when the touch occurs, there is a beep, and I can also use the digitizer to set references (otherwise you can use a piece of thin foil to detect the touch). The screen lets you do it manually, or if your probe input is activated, it will auto touch the chuck. My repeatability is better than 0.0001” when doing it manually, and 0.0005” using the auto touch. Depending on the quality of your chuck, you may want to use the same place to do the referencing. The outside concentricity of my chuck varies by about 0.0005”. So, why did I do this? Well, unless you have larger production runs, and have many tools, it is very troublesome to use the regular tool offset system. If anything was to go wrong during the machining, it is not that easy to re-reference the new tool. Say, you break your tool, and have to take it out of the holder and substitute something different. And, you also have to change the tool angle to make it possible. With this method, it does not matter – all you do is re-ref the tool to the chuck. It takes 30 seconds or less. And, yes, I did add two help buttons to tell you how to do it the first time. After that, you will not need them J.
Note: Due to Mach3 bug, if you are going to be using “auto touch” feature you need to upgrade to Mach3 1.083.046 or later version.
To
install:
Unzip the file
somewhere. Copy the 1024.set to the main Mach3 directory (it will overwrite the
existing file so you may want to rename the original file). Copy the TurnBitmaps
to the Bitmaps folder (this will add additional pictures for the screen
controls). Same with any macros I may include in future. If you wish you can
rename the screen file.
Download from:
Lathe_Screen-B.zip
Let me know of any
bugs, or your feedback.
Mastercam9 Mill
Postprocessor for Mach3 (and Mach2).
If You are using MC - YOU NEED THIS! After getting around various
issues on MACH2.pst, I finally spent some time and modified it so it works
correctly for Mach3 (and probably Mach2 also). It will support 3 and 4 axis
mills, and is pretty generic, so it will work with any vertical retro (no matter
how you drive the motors). I have also removed any G28 references at tool
changes, and at the program end. If you need them re-enable... or use Mach3
macro to do this.
If you re-distribute it, please do not change the file
name from Mach3B (B is the revision) to avoid the confusion. If you add to it,
please DO change the rev number, and add the revision notes. MACH3B_for_MC9.zip
Mastercam9 LATHE Postprocessor for Mach3
Coming soon!
Guide to using Mactercam
9.x.
(MASTERCAM 9.1 TOOLPATH GENERATION for
Mach3)
I use Mach3, and although it comes with some nice wizards, they are a far cry from my needs. I finally selected MasterCAM 9.1, as it is available to me, and is (despite its DOS-like appearance) an extremely capable system (as you would expect for $20,000+, I think). For those who have access to it, this article is a short introduction to how to use MasterCAM 9.x to generate a workable G-code for the Mill. It mainly outlines the design process, and provides enough background to allow the reader to experiment and learn its operation. I placed an emphasis on smaller retrofit machines running controllers such as Mach3. You will need Adobe Acrobat to see it. Download mastercam_tutorial.pdf