if i install version 2 of Mach4 will it keep my settings or does it install separately and what is recommended for installing plugins and copying settings? is there a fee for upgrading? -- Best regards, Spencer Chase 67550 Bell Springs Rd. Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only. Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only. Spencer@... http://www.spencerserolls.com http://www.poodlex.com (425) 791-0309

My router is finally working perfectly thanks to mach4. My only problem is that I can not see much of the stock screen very well. A bundh of buttons are gray on gray and my old eyes do not see the type. also some things like run time indicator are so small that the type is indistinguishable. too small for the resolution. Are there any better screens available yet. I will check the site but maybe there are screens not shown there -- Best regards, Spencer Chase 67550 Bell Springs Rd. Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only. Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only. Spencer@... http://www.spencerserolls.com http://www.poodlex.com (425) 791-0309

will version two install right over version one and is there an upgrade fee? will my screens and all still work? Best regards, Spencer Chase 67550 Bell Springs Rd. Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only. Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only. Spencer@... http://www.spencerserolls.com http://www.poodlex.com (425) 791-0309

Hi, MACH3 on WIN-XP with USB SS into PMDX-125 on JGRO gantry based system. I have a limit and home switch shared for XY axis. A shared limit/home and limit switches on the Z with an adjustable lower limit switch. Z-Home is at the top. Under the diagnostics the correct indicators light up for each axis when the appropriate switch is pressed. At any point if I hit one of the limit switches the Message ESTOP Detected shows up. It doesn't tell me which limit switch was hit. I thought it used to. Have I inadvertently changed a parameter? Thanks John Dammeyer "ELS! Nothing else works as well for your Lathe" Automation Artisans Inc. www dot autoartisans dot com

I think I may have mucked up a MACH3 setting or maybe it's a USB communications issue. Now when I jog any of the axis when the larger dial returns to the detented position the jog continues at the lowest level. To stop if moving I have to move in the other direction. I don't believe it's mechanical because when I bring up the config dialog it's clear that as the outer dial is moved the number changes from 0 to a value. When I let go of the dial it returns to zero but the axis keeps moving at the slow jog rate. In other works the Shuttle Express has reported the outer dial is back to 0 but MACH3 continues to jog the axis. What have I done? What do I need to do to fix this? Thanks John

any chance we can see Tempest implemented.ish in M4? Frank ;

Mach4 is working so well with all the mods i made to my router. I bought an almost exact duplicate computer so i can have a backup. I probably want to install everything (mach4 and not much else) on it to be sure it all works but do not need to switch license until i do actually need to use the new computer. How is that done and can it be done on short notice if my computer dies? -- Best regards, Spencer Chase 67550 Bell Springs Rd. Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only. Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only. Spencer@... http://www.spencerserolls.com http://www.poodlex.com (425) 791-0309

If I set the Y jog increment to .01" i get a very strange motion. it lurches and jumps and apparently ends up ion the right place. the motion is definitely not normal, this sort of bizarre motion should never happen. it only happens in jogging from the jog screen, not from the xbox or MDI making the same move. If i change the increment in setup to .011" it is fine as well as every other increment. more strange is that screwing around with the increment changing it to .011" and then back to .01" it is not lurching now. also, is there a new version with the increment selection working after booting? i broke another cutter joggin 1 inch instead of .01? it was a cheap Chinese one so no big deal. BTW, the finish from a Whiteside or other quality bit is much better than the Chinese stuff. For a while i was getting very good Chinese router bits but it seems to be totally hit or miss. the company i was getting them from decided to make them on their own instead of buying from mfgs . I guess the next thing they need to add is quality control. I can not tell the difference between the good and the bad bits when new. Under the microscope they look pretty much the same. Anyway lesson learned (BUY US MADE TOOLING even if it costs twice as much) -- Best regards, Spencer Chase 67550 Bell Springs Rd. Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only. Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only. Spencer@... http://www.spencerserolls.com http://www.poodlex.com (425) 791-0309

Quick little survey on what everyone has on their machine for spindle control. 1. Do you have a VFD on a 3 phase motor for Lathe or Mill. 2. Does the CNC controller drive the spindle or do you set the speed and ON/OFF manually? Just curious John "ELS! Nothing else works as well for your Lathe" Automation Artisans Inc. www dot autoartisans dot com

I had a friend ask this when he went back to his CNC machine after years of not using it. His PC is rather flakey probably due to power supply capacitors. But anyway it seems he has his axis mixed up for what Fusion360 generates for G Code. What he told me was that if he presses the Right Arrow Key the X axis motor moves the table but the DRO on the screen increments on Y distance. What has he done to cause that sort of screw-up? Thanks John "ELS! Nothing else works as well for your Lathe" Automation Artisans Inc. www dot autoartisans dot com

my x axis screws do not seem to last very long. i just ordered boots for both side of the nut and who knows they might actually fit and ??? has anyone used boots to protect their ballscrews? also what lube is correct to apply to the grease fitting for the cheap Chinese ball screws? should i just buy the real thing a US made of German or Japanese? do they have better seals? are there add on brush type or ? wipers. -- Best regards, Spencer Chase 67550 Bell Springs Rd. Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only. Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only. Spencer@... http://www.spencerserolls.com http://www.poodlex.com (425) 791-0309

First there is an annoying bug in mach4 that i can work around but often forget and i did break a bit because of this. I am using cheap bits but as of a few days from now I will be using very expensive bits and do not want to break them. When you boot mach4 the step increment is shown in the jogging pane as what was previously selected. However the increment really is 1 in spite of what is shown. So when i get real close with the xbox controller and then want to make a .01" adjustment, it moves 1 inch instead which can cause it to crash. All i have to do is to remember to set the increment again but i keep forgetting. I have shared home and limit switches for three of the four axis. Everything works normally with the exception of one switch in one direction. If i hit a limit one of two possible things happens. On the z axis if i run into a limit it backs off or at least stops trying to pass the switch. i can then back off in the opposite direction. on other axis it triggers an estop and i need to enable again before i can back off. However on the X axis if i hit the limit in the on the left it behaves as expected. if i hit the switch on the right it triggers an estop and there is nothing i can do to move that axis without rebooting mach4. resetting the enable does not allow jogging off the switch. This is the case for just the x axis on the right. I had not noticed because i never hit the switches, i was just testing. -- Best regards, Spencer Chase 67550 Bell Springs Rd. Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only. Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only. Spencer@... http://www.spencerserolls.com http://www.poodlex.com (425) 791-0309

So I built up a Little Machine Shops minilathe with Mach4 and PoKeys57 ala the Techshops design put together by Joe Katona and Ron Ginger. Works pretty good for small stuff. Minlathe needs physical tweaking and greater rigidity. I have an Enco 13X40 geared head lathe as well where I am doing more single point threading all the time and needing to do some larger diameter tapered threads. The minilathe just does not have the low end torque. So I keep looking at the mini Vs. the 13x40 and thinking about ball screws retrofitted to the the 13x40. My concerns and thoughts; If I retrofit with ball screws, I am under the impression that I would not be able to use the lathe in the old fashioned mode. The ball screws would allow the cross slide or carriage to move too freely or run away under pressure. Make sense? If I replace the carriage lead screw, which one? The one for turning or threading. I could just disengage the quick change gear box. But the feed rate chart would have to be recalculated. Other thoughts or concerns? Another lathe is out of the question. Thought about getting a small X Y table and mount to the cross slide. Thanks, Dale Grice

I need help with my cnc router set up. I screwed up some out put settings on an older mogul router.