Quantum - The next generation

[ART]

Hi Zoltan:

   Quantum is slated for further work only after the G100 and LazyCam are finally released. Lazycam and the new G100 are getting close, but Quantum won tmove till then.
Its technology cannot be put in to MAch3 for technical reasons, and Quantum has a ways to go to fix soem other areas. (Liek feedhold.). Since Quantum presses the envelope
quite a bit, itll take a while to get out, though Im pretty pleased with all the letters I see form Quantum lovers out there. It shows it has great promise.

 Hopefully sonn,

Art

[zoltan]

Thank you. I wish you all the best to finish the work on G100 and Lazycam. I am pretty sure Quantum will be a great hit.

Zoltan

[GKoller]

I think I have followed the drift of this thread and have had a few related "dream" ideas myself....

It seems to me that maybe some of the answers are from the rapidly evolving robotics world.  There  is some sort of parallel universe of gizmos and gadgets which are reasonably priced and easy enough to hook up.  How about using a accelerometer such as this one:  http://www.trossenrobotics.com/store/p/3231-PhidgetSensor-Accelerometer.aspx

and let the software "optimize itself" from the feedback results - with encoder feedback I might think this could be fully automatic and even be used to "tune" for a particular job/material.   That would be abit wild and ahead of anything I've personally seen in the "Big CNC" world.

Keep up the fantastic work!

_george

[kree8tiv]

Can path smoothing be controlled from a G-Code command?  I would like to run 2D sections of a fille at a PS value of ~1000, and 3D at over~100,000 to get better performance.  I know this means introducing jerk, but 3D is just way to slow.  I can see on the scope that the curve is nearly a flat line during 3D sections.   

[chad]

Unfortunately not at this time. Art knows about the slow 3d and it will be addressed, but for now, it is what it is.

Remember Q is just a test at  this point.

Chad

[WayTags1]

Hi guys...

After Reading through the posts on the topic of Quantum and smoothing out the Accel, etc.  I've got a question involving how my small mill might benefit.

I primarily do engraving on small parts.  I've found that I need to run my feeds at less than 12ipm because with the multitude of quick turns in such a small space, the steppers will quite often miss steps on sharp 90+ degree turns (imagine a Capital "M").

Are the advances in Quantum something that could help get rid of this problem?  Or do I need to continue looking elsewhere for solutions.

I am currently a very happy Mach3 user and have just upgraded to LazyCAM Pro.  Thanks in advance for your help!

 - Jeff

[chad]

It would be worth a shot. You can download it, intall it, and play with it. You cna have both Q and mach installed at the same time (just not running at the same time).

Give it a shot.


Chad

[WayTags1]

Just a quick update to say that I've downloaded and ran Quantum and I am very pleased.

I found a very jerky engraving routine and ran it on Mach3, cutting air.  It consistently caused the steppers to miss and throw the whole thing out of its coordinates.  Then I ran the same program in Quantum.  It did not miss a single step.  Not once.  I had it dialed up quite a bit faster than I would normally run it and it still held tight.  I am very happy!  Thanks guys!

 - Jeff

[chad]

Glad to hear it is working well for you. You should be able to crank up you acceleration.

Chad

[harryn]

Hi, I did a search, and did not find the answer, so here goes.

I am designing / building a DIY router.   As planned, I am running up against the need for more than 6 axis for driving steppers.
- X = master / slave = 2
- Y = master / slave = 2
- Z = 2 (or more) independent Z spindles with independent Z motion = 2
- I would really like to use a stepper motor for one of the spindles = 1 or 2
- 4th axis - not yet needed, but I would really like to be able to add in the future = 1

Is there any chance that Quantum can do this ?  I am thinking that Mach III is limted to 6 but I have only read the manual once.  All would be driven off of parallel ports.

Thanks