[hoss2006]

Yeah that narrows it down a bit.
DriverTest.exe is in the mach3 folder on your hard drive.
this video shows what it looks like.
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q93J2Uwmz3A&feature=channel_video_title"]YouTube - PMinMO Laptop Mach 3 Fixes[/nomedia]

I'm heading out for a while but if the drivers test is less than great they have an XP optimization page.
http://www.machsupport.com/downloads...timization.txt
After that you'll have to test the g540 and wiring to find the bug.
Good luck, Hoss

[error404]

Yeah that narrows it down a bit.
DriverTest.exe is in the mach3 folder on your hard drive.
this video shows what it looks like.
YouTube - PMinMO Laptop Mach 3 Fixes

I'm heading out for a while but if the drivers test is less than great they have an XP optimization page.
http://www.machsupport.com/downloads...timization.txt
After that you'll have to test the g540 and wiring to find the bug.
Good luck, Hoss

Thanks Hoss...

what do you mean a while??? LOL!

I hope I'll have some goo news when you get back

BTW, I just notice the X and Y are running backwards

[error404]

:drowning:

I Better start reading what the test is all about, because I don't think it should look like that

[error404]

I fixed it!!!!

the whole problem was the "ACPI" = my PC was acting like a laptop :banana::banana::banana:

[hoss2006]

I fixed it!!!!

the whole problem was the "ACPI" = my PC was acting like a laptop :banana::banana::banana:

Excellent!
Now you can tram it and calibrate it and start having some fun.
Hoss

[error404]

Excellent!
Now you can tram it and calibrate it and start having some fun.
Hoss

Tram it? calibrate it?? how exactly do I do that??? I though I was ready to start cutting things!

[hoss2006]

Tramming the X2 with Spindle/Column Alignment

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buXHZ_McbOY&feature=channel_video_title"]YouTube - Verifying Mach 3 Backlash Comp[/nomedia]


[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkO5tc-jSxw&feature=channel_video_title"]YouTube - Improved Mach 3 Axis Calibration[/nomedia]


You can start playing around now but when you're ready to start making parts to specs,
you should tram, check backlash and calibrate first.
Might be good to wait cause if you crash while playing you'd need to retram anyway.
Hoss

[error404]

500 lines of G-code is not much

I wish I could cut "something" before I continue throwing money at it.

Is it easy to manually edit the code in notepad to 500 lines increments?

how about EMC2?

[cornbinder23]

EMC2 is free so I dont think there is a line limit.
What are you trying to "practice cut" that requires more than 500 lines?
You can break up specific operations in your cam program and just run several files to come up with the machining operations you want.
What cam program are you running?

JTCUSTOMS

[error404]

Don't worry I'll buying Mach3 this Monday or so.

Right now I was running MeshCam (I have a few days left on the 30 days trial :stickpoke )

[eaglezsoar]

I fixed it!!!!

the whole problem was the "ACPI" = my PC was acting like a laptop :banana::banana::banana:

Is ACPI supposed to be enabled or not?

[error404]

Is ACPI supposed to be enabled or not?

Follow hoss links and it will explain what to do

(This file has been updated to exclude the least effective items)


NOTE: ***** Before doing ANY optimising, run MAch3 first, odds are you dont need to optimise.
***** and before optimising, use msconfig to shut off all Startup Items, then reboot.
Killing stratup Items fixed 90% of computers having any troubel with MAch3.
Optimising should NEVER be done priot to knowing a problem exists.


Windows XP Professional System Optimization Guide:


0. Install Windows in Standard PC Mode

1. When you see the installation tell you to press F6 (Third Party
SCSI or RAID Drivers) press F5 instead.
2. You will see Press F2 for Automated System Recovery, (DONT press
F2).
3. Right after that you will see a list.
4. Press the UP arrow key to highlight Standard PC.


When installing, make SURE you install all of the most recent drivers
for your
Hardware. This is vital!


6. Disable Automatic Updates

1. Right Click My Computer and select Properties
2. Click Automatic Updates tab.
3. Uncheck Keep my computer updated..
4. Click OK.


7. Disable Remote Assistance

1. Right Click My Computer and select Properties
2. Click Remote tab.
3. Uncheck "Allow Remote Assistance Invitations.".
4. Click OK.



******** NOte ****************************

(The following step shoudl not be done unless all else fails. It is usually only necessary
for laptops that vary their frequency badly, and sometimes fails to help. So skip this unless
everythign else fails to fix any trouble )!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9. Set Computer to Standard PC NOT ACPI PC
NOTE: This is only necessary if you wish to remove ACPI AFTER install.
If you followed step 0, you don't need to do this.


1. Right Click My Computer and select Properties
2. Click Hardware tab.
3. Click Device Manager Button in the middle.
4. Double click "Computer".
5. Right click on Standard ACPI PC and choose Update Driver.
6. Choose "Install the software from a Specific Location (Advanced)"
7. Click Next.
8. Choose "Don't search. I will choose driver to install."
9. Click Next.
10. Choose "Standard PC" from the listing.
11. Click Next.
12. Click OK.

********************************************


11. Disable Startup Items in Registry

1. Click Start button.
2. Click Run.
3. Type MSCONFIG and press [ENTER].
4. Click Startup tab.
5. Uncheck everything
6. Click OK.
7. Exit MSCONFIG.


12. Disable Startup Program Group Items in Start Menu

1. Right click Start button and choose Open.
2. Double click Programs.
3. Double click Startup.
4. Delete anything you think you don't need.
5. Close window.



16. Set Windows Theme to CLASSIC

1. Right-click on your desktop, and then click Properties.
2. Click on Themes tab
3. Set Themes to Windows Classic
4. Hit OK


17. Disable Indexing on all NTFS drives

1. Double click My Computer.
2. Right click on hard drive and choose Properties.
3. On bottom, uncheck "Allow Indexing Service to index this file for
faster searching". 4. Hit OK.


18. Run diskperf -n

1. Click the Start Button.
2. Click Run.
3. Type DISKPERF -N and press [ENTER].




20. Disable MSN Messenger

1. Double click on the Messenger icon in the system tray to open it.
2. Skip thru the internet and sign up stuff, just cancel it.
3. When Messenger loads go to Tools -> Options then Preferences.
4. Uncheck 'Run this program when windows starts'


21. Disable Power Management

1. Right-click on your desktop, and then click Properties.
2. Click on the Screen Saver tab.
3. Set Screensaver to None.
4. Press the Power button near the bottom.
5. Set all options to NEVER shut down automatically!


22. Disable Wallpaper

1. Right-click on your desktop, and then click Properties.
2. Click on the Desktop tab.
3. Where it says Background, scroll all the way up and choose None.
4. Click OK.


23. Disable System Sounds

1. Click Start Button.
2. Click Settings.
3. Click Control Panel
4. Double click Sounds and Audio Devices.
5. Click Sounds tab.
6. For Sound Scheme, choose "No Sounds".
7. Click OK.



25. Install Programs

Do not install any programs you will not use. Only install programs
that you DEPEND on for what you do on your computer. Keeping things
lean and mean will keep your system fast and stable.


26. Maintain Hard disk

1. Double click on My Computer.
2. Right click on Hard Disk and choose Properties.
3. Click Tools tab.
4. For Error Checking click Check Now. Do before Defrag!
5. Click Defragment Now, AFTER Error Checking completes.
6. Click OK.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[eaglezsoar]

Thanks for such a detailed reply, I appreciate it a lot!

Carl

[error404]

Don't thank me, I just copy/paste the info from the link.

[error404]

I have a few questions about mach3
1- if I run too far on the axis and hit the end of the axis; it loses its coordinates (mach3 thinks that the table kept going when in fact it stopped ). Is there is a way to set limits?
2- it is really hard to zero the axis with the acceleration set to 50. If I lower the accel would that affect the speed of the machine when is running a G-code? (when is moving from one area to another / not when it is cutting)
3- I can move the axis from one side to another with the arrows. Is it possible to input a distance instead like 1.15" on y axis?
Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[hoss2006]

I have a few questions about mach3
1- if I run too far on the axis and hit the end of the axis; it loses its coordinates (mach3 thinks that the table kept going when in fact it stopped ). Is there is a way to set limits?
2- it is really hard to zero the axis with the acceleration set to 50. If I lower the accel would that affect the speed of the machine when is running a G-code? (when is moving from one area to another / not when it is cutting)
3- I can move the axis from one side to another with the arrows. Is it possible to input a distance instead like 1.15" on y axis?
Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

1. You can set up soft limits.
watch the first 3 videos here and it will answer most of your questions.
ArtSoft USA - Video Tutorials
2. you can click the TAB key to open the mpg screen where you can click the jog mode button to go to step mode which will move whatever distance is shown in cycle jop step (click to change) or you can slow the jog rate percentage.
3. the MDI input on the MDI screen lets you input a line of code to get it to move
i.e G0 Y 1.15 then hit enter will rapid your Y axis.
Hoss

[error404]

FIRST CUT...........

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN4Xu2GYLm4"]YouTube - CNC X2 first cut.mp4[/nomedia]


Well, actually second (the first one was not recorded)... There were a few scary moments, I actually learn quite a few things of what not to do.

I also learn that I need a bigger table

...at the very end the little .1" by .1" tabs that I had broke and damaged the test piece!

The dog, found it amusing and took the piece without asking.

[doorknob]

The camera angles on the video were nicely dramatic.

Is that an HD vidcam?

[error404]

Is that an HD vidcam?

Oh my friend,you just asked the wrong question.... this is another very expensive hobby (nuts)

It's an DSLR camera (Canon 5D mkII + 24-70mm f/2.8L USM)

You can see another video (of my dog) here:

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o55mupM3kWo&NR=1"]YouTube - Tales of Eva the Schnauzer[/nomedia]

[hoss2006]

Oh my friend,you just asked the wrong question.... this is another very expensive hobby (nuts)

It's an DSLR camera (Canon 5D mkII + 24-70mm f/2.8L USM)

You can see another video (of my dog) here:

YouTube - Tales of Eva the Schnauzer

Ahh, let the dog get some squirrel.
Very professional looking I must say.
Hoss