Messages

791

General Mach Discussion / Re: Parrallel Port Help Request

« on: May 18, 2010, 01:44:41 PM »

This applies to ANY computer laptop or desktop. Especially if the computer was used for something else previously and a fresh copy of windows was not installed for use with MACH.

Make sure that you do not have a printer driver installed.

Printer drivers for parallel port printers typically poll the port and this can cause all sorts of problems with Mach, even if there is no physical printer present.

Just a thought . . .

792

General Mach Discussion / Re: Combining grounds of 12VDC logic and linear unregulated HV

« on: May 18, 2010, 06:09:29 AM »

Thanks!

That's what I needed to know 

793

General Mach Discussion / Re: Combining grounds of 12VDC logic and linear unregulated HV

« on: May 18, 2010, 05:26:28 AM »

There are only two wires from the toroid coil to the bridge.

Using a digital meter, I find no continuity or voltage between the HV DC output + or - to earth ground, but 72VDC between them.

With both the HV linear PS and the PC power supply running, there is no voltage between the HV + or - output and the PC 12VDC output.


If I understand you correctly, the 'floating' voltage potential will go all positive if one side is grounded to earth? Is it that simple?

794

General Mach Discussion / Re: Combining grounds of 12VDC logic and linear unregulated HV

« on: May 18, 2010, 04:28:02 AM »

Noise is not the issue.


Typically, PS schematics show DC+ and DC- output. So my assumption is that with a linear unregulated PS, the DC is split into half positive and half negative? i.e. with a 72V output, is it +36 and -36?

If that is correct, then it seems logical to me that connecting the -36VDC to the chassis ground may have some negative effect. Yet this is apparently doable, so I have to assume there is something about this that I don't understand.

I am going to purchase a 12VDC regulated module specifically for toroidal linear PS that has a jumper for common ground with the HV, so the problem is resolved, but I still would like to understand it.

795

General Mach Discussion / Re: Parrallel Port Help Request

« on: May 17, 2010, 05:07:59 PM »

Any 'opinion' is biased. 

I simply report the truth about various ways to solve a problem to let folks make an informed decision.

Fair enough, Jeff.

796

General Mach Discussion / Combining grounds of 12VDC logic and linear unregulated HV

« on: May 17, 2010, 05:06:20 PM »

I'm sure this has been asked before and I have done searches and read what I could find, but still I am confused a bit by the options.

I my setup, 5VDC and 12VDC are supplied by a standard PC power supply which is grounded to the control box chassis.

HV is a toridal linear unregulated PS with 72VDC output which is not grounded to the chassis.

Voltmeter says no continuity and no voltage between 72V + or 72V- and chassis.

I now need to supply a drive with 12V and HV that have a common ground.

What are the options and what is the best way to do this?

797

General Mach Discussion / Re: Parrallel Port Help Request

« on: May 17, 2010, 03:57:55 PM »

It is amusing to see the smoothstepper suggested as a 'solution' to a problem with Mach3 . . .

I bought my first SmoothStepper almost two years ago for a custom machine I was building.

Two years . . .  that's how old the 'current' manual is.

Forgive me Jeff, but since you are a dealer for the smoothstepper, methinks your opinion may not be completely unbiased. In the smoothstepper section as we speak . .  yet another unresolved problem.

I have to wonder why Warp9 listed as the moderator, yet they have zero participation?

798

General Mach Discussion / Re: Sprial Cutting A Hole

« on: May 17, 2010, 02:06:09 PM »

I added the lead-in lead-out to the program just befor posting it and it has occurred to me to mention that the program assumes the center of the hole drops out at the end of the cutout. If it does not, then the move to the start of the lead-in might catch the cutout hole center.

The lead-in radius is a user input so you can effectively eliminate the lead-in without changing the program, if you cannot arrange for the center to drop out.

799

General Mach Discussion / Re: Parrallel Port Help Request

« on: May 17, 2010, 01:56:31 PM »

just hums and jerks back and forth no matter what I do (core speed set to 100).

If by 'core speed' you mean the kernel speed on the 'ports and pins' config page, then that's your problem. I would wager there are few  . . if any . . computers that can successfully run that speed, laptop or otherwise.

Set the kernel speed to the slowest setting (35k) and go into your laptop bios and turn off every 'power saver' setting you have available to you.

Artsoft says they 'do not support' running on laptops, but that does not mean that Mach will not function fine on a laptop. It depends entirely on the laptop and you have essentially a desktop computer. My wife's IBM notebook does this when it is in its docking station.

It is amusing to see the smoothstepper suggested as a 'solution' to a problem with Mach3 . . .

800

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need Guru input on an idea: Using Mach as dynamic balancer

« on: May 15, 2010, 03:23:10 PM »

On your accelerometer, I would pick one that you could adjust its trigger, since each thing you try to balance may have different out of balance amounts. I would put the Unknown object in the spindle, then turn it on, then I would "increase" the trigger force until the strobe quits lighting all together, then come back in, till the strobe lights again, at the very edge of max detection. that would show the "Top of the bell curve" of your deflection.

Could this be done with an analogue accel. using a pot to adjust the input until Mach just 'sees' the high points of whatever signal is being produced?

More than likely there is a way to filter and condition the signal from the Accel, but that's over my head.  That's why I was trying to scare up a Guru or two.

I think I can figure out how to fire the strobe with a Mach output.