Topics

46

Announcements / Mach4 build 2251 released

« on: March 03, 2015, 11:50:21 AM »

!!! >> oops, skip this build, it contains an API bug that prevents motion from working
         properly with SmartBob devices, use build 2259 or newer instead << !!!

**EDIT AGAIN** DO NOT USE BUILD 2259!!!  Use an earlier build 2247 or earlier ***


Build 2251 of Mach4Hobby can be downloaded here:

http://www.machsupport.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Mach4Hobby%20Installer-2251.exe

.... or here:

http://www.pmdx.com/Downloads_Mach4/Mach4_Hobby_Releases/Mach4Hobby%20Installer-2251.exe

This build runs with PMDX SmartBOB USB plug-in version 0.17.86 or newer. Plug-ins can be downloaded here:

http://www.pmdx.com/PMDX-SmartBOB-USB-Plug-In

Build 2251 includes the following changes that will impact the user experience:

1) Provisions added for Screw Error Mapping.

There are other changes behind the scenes including:

2) bool -> BOOL in InterpreterInfo struct.

3) Mach4 GUI fix for DRO events.

4) Take out Modbus assert messages.

Mach4Hobby is evolving rapidly, so be sure to check that your plugin is compatible with the version of Mach4Hobby that you are running.

Steve Stallings

47

Announcements / Mach4 build 2247 released

« on: March 03, 2015, 11:45:59 AM »

Build 2247 of Mach4Hobby can be downloaded here:

http://www.machsupport.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Mach4Hobby%20Installer-2247.exe

.... or here:

http://www.pmdx.com/Downloads_Mach4/Mach4_Hobby_Releases/Mach4Hobby%20Installer-2247.exe

This build runs with PMDX SmartBOB USB plug-in version 0.17.86 or newer. Plug-ins can be downloaded here:

http://www.pmdx.com/PMDX-SmartBOB-USB-Plug-In

Build 2247 includes the following changes that will impact the user experience:

1) Modbus now saves device description.

2) Fix Find/Replace in mcLuaEditor.

3) Implement brace matching in mcLuaEditor.

4) Added the tools to disable the A axis rotation

5) Spelling corrections and language updates.

There are other changes behind the scenes including:

6) Add bitmaps to toggle button.

7) System variable part counters implemented. #3901, #3902, #6700, #6710,
#6711, #6712, #6713 DROs can now edit system var (parameters) by index.

8) Single argument ATAN implemented.

9) System variables and Macro B enhancements.

10) Update to names. The vars that are in the parameter list are now started with SV_

11) Use "C" locale only.  Only translate the strings.

12) Update signal states at mapping time.

13) Update lathe screen for installers.

Mach4Hobby is evolving rapidly, so be sure to check that your plugin is compatible with the version of Mach4Hobby that you are running.

Steve Stallings

48

Announcements / PMDX-411 SmartBOB-USB in a DB-25 shell released

« on: February 26, 2015, 06:16:46 PM »

New product! The PMDX-411 squeezes a SmartBOB-USB inside the connector shell of a male DB-25 plug.

Now you can instantly convert most parallel port devices into a USB device controlled by Mach4.

See details here:

http://www.pmdx.com/PMDX-411

49

Announcements / Mach4 build 2238 released

« on: February 25, 2015, 04:06:51 PM »

Build 2238 of Mach4Hobby can be downloaded here:

http://www.machsupport.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Mach4Hobby%20Installer-2238.exe

.... or here:

http://www.pmdx.com/Downloads_Mach4/Mach4_Hobby_Releases/Mach4Hobby%20Installer-2238.exe

This build runs with PMDX SmartBOB USB plug-in version 0.17.86 or newer. Plug-ins can be downloaded here:

http://www.pmdx.com/PMDX-SmartBOB-USB-Plug-In

Build 2238 is a minor update and includes the following changes that will impact the user experience:

1) Updates to printing from G-code and LUA editors
2) Add search function to LUA editor
3) Fix syntax sensitive color highlighting in G-code and LUA editors

There may be other changes behind the scenes.

Mach4Hobby is evolving rapidly, so be sure to check that your plugin is compatible with the version of Mach4Hobby that you are running.

Steve Stallings

50

Announcements / Mach4 build 2230 released

« on: February 20, 2015, 04:27:08 PM »

Build 2230 of Mach4Hobby can be downloaded here:

http://www.machsupport.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Mach4Hobby%20Installer-2230.exe

.... or here:

http://www.pmdx.com/Downloads_Mach4/Mach4_Hobby_Releases/Mach4Hobby%20Installer-2230.exe

This build runs with PMDX SmartBOB USB plug-in version 0.17.86 or newer. Plug-ins can be downloaded here:

http://www.pmdx.com/PMDX-SmartBOB-USB-Plug-In

Build 2230 includes the following changes that will impact the user experience:

1) Updates to lathe screen for installers
2) Updates to language support files
3) Ignore setting #3000 or #3006 when generating the tool path (buffering)
4) Force G95 for G32, G76, and G92 lathe threading. Improve error messages in G76
5) ModBus plug-in improvements
6) Added some code to set the position before the run to here is done

There may be other changes behind the scenes.

Mach4Hobby is evolving rapidly, so be sure to check that your plugin is compatible with the version of Mach4Hobby that you are running.

Steve Stallings

51

Announcements / Registered users -get NOTIFIED of announcements, click NOTIFY button above right

« on: February 19, 2015, 10:32:26 AM »

The NOTIFY function is available in all categories, not just ANNOUNCEMENTS.

To use the NOTIFY function you must be logged into the forum, and then navigate
to the area of the forum for which you wish to receive notifications.

If you want notifications for an entire category, navigate to the list of threads in that category.
You are currently looking at a single thread. If you want to be notified of all announcements
you should go back to the Announcements category before requesting to be notified, then click
on the NOTIFY button to the right side of the dark bar above the selection.

If you want notifications about a single thread, navigate to that thread, and then click on the
NOTIFY button to the right of the REPLY button above the dark bar.

If you are already set up for notifications, the button will read UNNOTIFY and will remove your
NOTIFY request.

You must be registered and provide a valid email address in order to receive notifications.

By default you will be sent one email when a new item is added. No additional emails will
be sent until you visit the forum again. If you desire automatic notifications for ALL new
posts in the selected area, you must change your notification settings in your profile here:

http://www.pmdx.com/PMDX-Forums/index.php?action=profile;area=notification

There is a drop down selection box that defaults to "Instantly - but only for the first unread reply".
This should be changed to just "Instantly" or any other option you prefer.

52

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / Mach4 build 2223 and new SmartBOB plugin released

« on: February 12, 2015, 08:40:47 PM »

Build 2223 of Mach4Hobby can be downloaded here:

http://www.machsupport.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Mach4Hobby%20Installer-2223.exe

.... or here:

http://www.pmdx.com/Downloads_Mach4/Mach4_Hobby_Releases/Mach4Hobby%20Installer-2223.exe

The updated SmartBOB plugin needed to run build 2223 can be downloaded here:

http://www.pmdx.com/PMDX-SmartBOB-USB-Plug-In

Build 2223 includes the following changes that will impact the user experience:

1) Added support for printing from gcEdit and mcLuaEdit screens
2) Added Native Language Support mechanism in wxMach, gcEdit, and mcLuaEdit
3) Fixed quirks with "decimal" character ( . vs , ) when using Native Language Support
4) Fixed bug with resuming after activating E-Stop while a homing operation was running

There may be other changes behind the scenes including:

5) Started adding infrastructure to API for rigid tapping

Mach4Hobby is evolving rapidly, so be sure to check that your plugin is compatible with the version of Mach4Hobby that you are running.

Steve Stallings

53

Announcements / Mach4 build 2223 and new SmartBOB plugin released

« on: February 12, 2015, 08:28:25 PM »

Build 2223 of Mach4Hobby can be downloaded here:

http://www.machsupport.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Mach4Hobby%20Installer-2223.exe

.... or here:

http://www.pmdx.com/Downloads_Mach4/Mach4_Hobby_Releases/Mach4Hobby%20Installer-2223.exe

The updated SmartBOB plugin needed to run build 2223 can be downloaded here:

http://www.pmdx.com/PMDX-SmartBOB-USB-Plug-In

Build 2223 includes the following changes that will impact the user experience:

1) Added support for printing from gcEdit and mcLuaEdit screens
2) Added Native Language Support mechanism in wxMach, gcEdit, and mcLuaEdit
3) Fixed quirks with "decimal" character ( . vs , ) when using Native Language Support
4) Fixed bug with resuming after activating E-Stop while a homing operation was running

There may be other changes behind the scenes including:

5) Started adding infrastructure to API for rigid tapping

Mach4Hobby is evolving rapidly, so be sure to check that your plugin is compatible with the version of Mach4Hobby that you are running.

Steve Stallings

54

Announcements / Mach4 build 2192 and new SmartBOB plugin released

« on: February 12, 2015, 08:27:00 PM »

Build 2192 of Mach4Hobby can be downloaded here:

http://www.machsupport.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Mach4Hobby%20Installer-2192.exe

.... or here:

http://www.pmdx.com/Downloads_Mach4/Mach4_Hobby_Releases/Mach4Hobby%20Installer-2192.exe

The updated SmartBOB plugin needed to run build 2192 can be downloaded here:

http://www.pmdx.com/PMDX-SmartBOB-USB-Plug-In

Mach4Hobby is evolving rapidly, so be sure to check that your plugin is compatible with the version of Mach4Hobby that you are running.

Steve Stallings

55

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / Mach4 build 2192 and new SmartBOB plugin released

« on: January 27, 2015, 12:15:05 PM »

Build 2192 of Mach4Hobby can be downloaded here:

http://www.machsupport.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Mach4Hobby%20Installer-2192.exe

.... or here:

http://www.pmdx.com/Downloads_Mach4/Mach4_Hobby_Releases/Mach4Hobby%20Installer-2192.exe

The updated SmartBOB plugin needed to run build 2192 can be downloaded here:

http://www.pmdx.com/PMDX-SmartBOB-USB-Plug-In

Mach4Hobby is evolving rapidly, so be sure to check that your plugin is compatible with the version of Mach4Hobby that you are running.

Steve Stallings

56

Announcements / PMDX-407 and PMDX-410 for Mach4 now available

« on: January 06, 2015, 10:56:57 PM »

PMDX is now shipping two new boards in our line of
SmartBOB-USB products for Mach4 users.

The PMDX-410 SmartBOB-USB is a motion control engine
for use with existing breakout boards or with driver
boxes such as the PMDX-340 or the GeckoDrive G540. It
is derived from the PMDX-422 but omits the relay and
the terminal strips for the pins that are part of the
standard parallel port. These signals are served by
the 26 pin ribbon header which is used to connect the
parallel port signals to the mating ribbon header or
DB-25 connector on the companion device.

The extra signals available from a SmartBOB-USB, above
and beyond those in a standard parallel port, are still
made available on a pluggable terminal strip.

The PMDX-410 is priced at $129 each and can be bundled
with the Mach4Hobby software for a $10 discount.

The PMDX-407 is a basic spindle speed control interface
that mounts on top of a PMDX-410 or PMDX-422 and provides
an analog speed control voltage for VFDs or other spindle
drives. There is also a set of RUN contacts to turn the
spindle on and off. Optical isolation is provided between
both output circuits and the control circuits that come
from the SmartBOB.

The RUN contacts can directly switch 120 VAC to control
small contactors such as the PMDX-ContactorMD20-120. Using
a contactor to control the AC mains input to a DC spindle
driver provides failsafe operation of those DC spindle drives
that do not have an electronic input for real on/off control.
This includes the KBIC motor controller from Penta used on
the Sherline machines and also those found on most imported
mills and lathes with DC spindle motors.

Direction control of VFDs is optionally available by using
the relay on the PMDX-422.

The PMDX-407 is priced at $38 each.

57

Announcements / Holiday Schedule

« on: December 16, 2014, 05:20:52 PM »

PMDX offices will be closed 24, 25, and 26 December 2014 for Christmas and 01 January 2015 for New Years.

Orders may still be placed on our web site and will be processed when we return.

58

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / Installing Mach4Hobby license files

« on: November 01, 2014, 07:19:38 PM »

So far the license files that have been issued were named with a long name that ends with a file type of .txt and this is not being accepted by Mach4Hobby.

Please try renaming your license file as .DAT if you experience problems.

Sorry for the difficulties. We will be discussing this with Brian on Monday.

59

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / Mach4 and PMDX-422 motion controller released for sale

« on: October 31, 2014, 06:12:38 PM »

Nothing spooky about it!  This is the real thing!

PMDX is now shipping Mach4Hobby licenses and our
new PMDX-422 SmartBOB-USB motion controller.


http://www.pmdx.com/PMDX-422


Our first production run of boards is built and Mach4
software build #2067 is ready to go.

PMDX is an authorized distributor of Mach4 and orders
may now be placed on our web site.

Have a Happy Halloween!