Messages

1401

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: Mach3 Turn wizard metric threading

« on: February 21, 2015, 08:33:20 AM »

Ron,
Nice for the NFS Turn wizard and thanks for the reply.

BUT............
Some wizards ( written by other users ) are based on current configuration and don't check the modes that your are
configured for, so one must be carefull when using them.

I think that is partialy the case for the Simple Threading wizard. It checks to see if you are in diameter or radius mode,but, generates code based on input.
So if one does all inputs in Metric, but, the machine is configured for inches then one would need to add
a G21 to the program and G20 at the end. Also one should make a comment line of what units the code is based on.

For my new lathe screen set all used wizards (other than NFS) are modified and a check is made for say diameter / radius mode and adjustment made including other changes.

RICH


 



 

1402

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: Mach3 Turn wizard metric threading

« on: February 21, 2015, 07:15:28 AM »

Don't mix units in the wizard.

Your motor tuning is based on the configured units you defined for the machine.

So if you convert all the units (length) to inches then the pitch (which also a length ie; distance between the thread roots) should also be converted to inches since it also a length unit.

If metric / mm  than all the inputs should be in metric including the pitch, which per your #2 reply, the input for pitch would be 2.0.

RICH

1403

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: Mach3 Turn wizard metric threading

« on: February 20, 2015, 07:22:11 PM »

The threading is done in G95  mode ( Feed per rev mode). Pitch will be whatever you input ie; For  1/4 -20 NC
P=1/TPI= 0.050, you could actualy input 0.04989623 (even if the input box only shows to 0.4units ) and it will cut threads at that pitch. Point made.....

For a close metric pitch,ie; say P=1.25  ( metric 's pitch is in mm)   1.25mm x 0.0395 mm/inch=0.049375 ( imperial equivalent pitch)   

Yes, you can convert the thread profile units, from mm to inch, and it will cut good metric threads.

Make sure the you converted units are correct!

RICH

1404

General Mach Discussion / Re: Runaway axes

« on: February 20, 2015, 06:23:30 PM »

Try testing without using the ?Box Controller and see if it does it ( disable the plug-in also).
Is that a Microsoft X Box Controller?

Just curious....,

RICH

1405

General Mach Discussion / Re: stepper motor speed

« on: February 19, 2015, 04:10:51 PM »

This is the question.
If I connect up an odometer to the shaft of the stepper what gcode can i
give it to make it go full speed.

Gcode to be used  is dependant on how the stepper is configured.ie; linear or angular.
Try G0 which is a rapid move.

RICH

1406

General Mach Discussion / Re: stepper motor speed

« on: February 19, 2015, 04:03:14 PM »

A stepper is pulsed to make it rotate and the pulsing rate is related to the Kernal Speed you are able to use with your computer. Mach shares time with Windows, thus,the rate that is acceptable varies with different computers. So when you go to tune the motors, the Max Velocity may be resticted by the acceptable Kernal Speed. To find what is acceptable... run the Driver Test. Additionaly some drives may limit the amount of pulsing and that in return can limit the
the motors rpm.

A stepper at high rpm has very little torque. For what ever you are trying to do, just make note that it is so much more important for the stepper to run reliably for the task than have some fast motor rpm.

FWIW,

RICH

1407

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 or Mach3

« on: February 16, 2015, 06:43:07 PM »

I would start with Mach3.

Lazycam works with  DXF files not image files ( if that is what you mean by graphics).
There are simple programs that one can use for creating gcodes from text. May wan to look at the current Wizard MAch provides.

RICH

1408

General Mach Discussion / Re: DRO setting

« on: February 15, 2015, 05:14:41 PM »

You can print or save to a file all your current mach3 settings in an easy readable format for record by using
MachProfile ( i use V2.09) available from K.Dietz site where you can also download MAchScreen, etc.

RICH

1409

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: CamBam to Mach3

« on: February 15, 2015, 04:21:53 PM »

Also make sure you are using the correct post processor.

If your like me, all my files are realy small ......only do one line at a time .....just jesting with ya!

RICH

1410

General Mach Discussion / Re: G code

« on: February 15, 2015, 04:15:44 PM »

There are different "dialects" of gcode. Some are manufacturer specific  ie;Fanuc / Hoss etc and that is true of canned cycles.
So as Hood replied, consult the Mach3 Manual. Mach4 when done should be more closely aligned with Smid.
In a similar way, many CAD/CAM do things differently, and they usualy provide specific post processors for popular controllers like Mach.

 As far as CAD goes, it all depends on the CAM software for what is acceptable when you don't use their drawing software.

So the example you mention from Smid book ie; G90 canned cycle is actualy a command for ABsolute Distance Mode in Mach.

All of the above is called "having fun in learning curve"...

No harm in seeing how gcode is provided from NFS Turn Wizard, LazyTurn, and other Lathe specific software.
There are even programs that produce Gcode directly while in CAD ie; Autocad.

FWIW,
RICH