Messages

141

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 X/Y/Z Step Pin & Dir Pin #

« on: May 02, 2019, 07:06:45 PM »

I have a older CNC Router (Windows 98) that I would like to upgrade to Mach3,  I downloaded the Demo version and when I went to configure it, it is asking me for Step Pin #, and Dir Pin # (along with Step Port, and Dir Port),  I don't have any information that shows what numbers I should enter here,  is there a way to determine what my current setup is?  I'm not sure how to proceed with this.

Thank You
Pat W.
PDJ Cutting and Fabricating

If it win98 router is based on Ability system's INDEXER LPT, the wiring of the parallel ports are very different from MACH3.
Can you confirm what software you were using?

142

Mach3 under Vista / Re: New setup for USB board by BSMCEO4U-PP Bitsensor

« on: May 02, 2019, 06:47:12 PM »

Hello Fellow Frustrated CNCers  ,
I have been trying to connect my Widows 7, 32 bit Toshiba laptop to my new 6040Z (allegedly-) USB controlled CNC machine.
Initially I was impressed with the overall build quality, pretty good wiring quality and beefy power supplies and stepper drivers.
My problem has been the complete failure of my computer to connect and control the drives via the USB cable. In fact there is zero activity between the items.
I can get the spindle to run under manual control from the front panel so it basically works. What we have is a failure to communicate.

Looking at the wiring, and referring to the scant information available on line, I have some doubts about the correctness of the connections to the PCB.
For instance, there is a link between the ACM terminal and the DCM teminal which does not appear on the diagrams. My problem is that I have no way of finding out the meaning of AVI, ACM and DCM and what their connections should be. I'm guessing the xCM might be Analog and Digital Common. Guessing here is not a good idea...
There are some other iffy-looking connections but I would be grovellingly grateful if someone could compare their working setup with the attached photograph and perhaps enlighten me on what's good and what's not. A return picture for comparison may be asking too much but it sure would help!

I also have failed to understand the correct Setup for Ports and Pins when using USB. Is it even necessary to make settings through an interface which has no Parallel Pins.
I thought USB was supposed to make life easy for those of us who are pretty slow... 

Sorry if this is too long but it's important to pose the question clearly. Here's hoping.

Cheers,
Scintilla.

Same board
https://www.amazon.ca/Aluoflower-100Khz-Breakout-Interface-Controller/dp/B0759KP1CV

Try using B0759KP1CV as part number instead

143

General Mach Discussion / Re: Intermittent probing

« on: May 02, 2019, 12:45:37 PM »

See attached for a NORMALLY CLOSED probe

I think I've got a probe like that somewhere....

I have just wired up my new probe switched the probe input to active high and tested that works very well. Of course I had to make sure that the retraction distance is higher than the new probe thickness in the code. Now I have a reliable and fool-proof probe. NO MORE non stop downward Z movement during auto tool zeroing for me again.

144

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 on Windows 7 32 bit - Startup Screen always small

« on: May 02, 2019, 10:43:12 AM »

Try to also tick Hi-Res Screen (see attached).

The MACH3 screen 1024 was made for a 1024x768 (aspect ratio 5:4) and NOT for a wide screen like yours which has an aspect ratio of 16:9.
If you can get a 5:4 aspect ratio screen 1024x768 or a 1280x1024 screen, then a GCODE circle will be round and NOT oval in shape on the screen.
If you MUST use a wide screen, then look for custom SCREEN SETS that other people have made that support wide screens. Some are free, others very cheap and others a bit more expensive.


If the screen is still small, it could be because the settings of the NVIDIA, AMD, Intel driver control panels has not been optionally set to stretch displays that are not having 16:9 aspect ratio.

145

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle Relay Configuration Questions

« on: May 02, 2019, 10:00:09 AM »

You should connect the BOB ONLY to a 12-24V power supply.
and DO NOT CONNECT a USB CABLE TO THE PC!

(i will explain to you why via PM if you want to know)

146

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle Relay Configuration Questions

« on: May 02, 2019, 09:42:19 AM »

" switch (FWD-OFF-REV)"

VERY GOOD!
Now One relay should just be soldered to imitate the FWD function of that switch (to get M3 working)
Another relay should just be soldered to imitate the REV function of that switch (to get M4 working)

 
Later Buy a relay for Arduino like:-

https://www.amazon.com/Tolako-Arduino-Indicator-Channel-Official/dp/B00VRUAHLE?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00VRUAHLE

It will cost peanuts to get M4 working.

147

General Mach Discussion / Re: Motors stalling /growling

« on: May 02, 2019, 09:26:38 AM »

when you say micro step settings at the stepper drivers are set correctly first, you mean the switches? if so i have done that and did change them and had to go back with the original settings. but not sure how to set the 1600 steps per rev. can you explain how?
ill also check the motor tuning again.

Yes the switches.
What is the model of your driver?

For example, if the driver is DM860T then its SW5 SW6 SW7 SW8 should be ON OFF ON ON
(see attached)
YOUR driver should have it's own chart.

148

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle Relay Configuration Questions

« on: May 02, 2019, 04:26:13 AM »

Are you saying that if I wire the 0-10vdc BoB output to the wiper and ground points on the motor control board that will turn the spindle on and off with a M3 and M5 command?

No
M3 On and M5 off is done by the relay.

Switching the AC side requires "a SOLID STATE RELAY" that uses 0 crossing TRIAC to on and off the power supply. BUT it means you can never implement M4 if you do that. AC is only ON or OFF ie. NO DIRECTION. If you are using a (wood) router and not a VFD spindle, That is the way to do it.

I have both M3 and M4 working with my VFD spindle.
The relay connects to the VFD inverter at low voltage (TTL LOGIC) level at the inverter. One relay turns the spindle clockwise, the other relay turns the spindle anti-clockwise.
(see attached)

149

General Mach Discussion / Re: Motors stalling /growling

« on: May 02, 2019, 03:35:55 AM »

I am very new at this, I have 34 stepper motors and on the Y & A axis I get stalling /growling when in the jog mode and also when trying to run the demo in mach 3. Mostly when I stop and start.  I have check settings, wiring, looks right. My x and z seems to do find. I have changed settings in motor tuning and I have to go back to my original setting. Can anyone help?

You have FIRST to make sure that the microstep settings at the Stepper drivers are set correctly first.
Check that it is set to 1600 steps per rev. (NOT ANY SETTINGS HIGHER than that)

150

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Feed Rate mm/sec to mm/min

« on: May 01, 2019, 05:54:50 PM »

Hello

I have a feed rate issue from running a Multicam Post Processed file on Mach3 for CNCRP.

I think I have fixed most of the other problems but cannot find a way of changing the feed rate units from mm/sec to mm/min without manually changing the g-code itself.

Is there a setting in Mach3 I can change for this?

Many thanks

Edward

I think it could be done using a MACH3 BRAIN.
I will try to create one BRAIN ASAP. Just trying to make certain which DRO label means what.