Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: mlk1950 on November 05, 2012, 03:25:09 PM
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Well, just got my operating system and Mach3 reinstalled after I encountered the dreaded "Blue Screen of Death". Like a dummy, I didn't record my Mach3 settings last time and it's been over a year since I've had to do this. I'm recording everything this time though. My problem is that my machine is apparently moving in metric instead of inches. I told Mach to move it 1" and it only moved 1/4". I thought my steppers sounded funny. I set the inches first thing. It still is saying it's in inches, but if it moves 1/4 of that, isn't that in metric? I'm running the 305 steppers from Hobby CNC and 10 single start screws.
Thanks Mike
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Well, just got my operating system and Mach3 reinstalled after I encountered the dreaded "Blue Screen of Death". Like a dummy, I didn't record my Mach3 settings last time and it's been over a year since I've had to do this. I'm recording everything this time though. My problem is that my machine is apparently moving in metric instead of inches. I told Mach to move it 1" and it only moved 1/4". I thought my steppers sounded funny. I set the inches first thing. It still is saying it's in inches, but if it moves 1/4 of that, isn't that in metric? I'm running the 305 steppers from Hobby CNC and 10 single start screws.
Thanks Mike
of it were in metric it would have moved much smaller distance, I'm thinking your steps per unit needs attention or you have scaling enabled.
John
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Thank's for the reply. My steps per unit is set at 1800, the velocity is 35 and accel at 30 on all axis. Where is the scaling located? I can't find it. Also the settings screen shows inches.
I did a small test carve simulation of a 2" letter and it was carving one about less than half that size.
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Thank's for the reply. My steps per unit is set at 1800, the velocity is 35 and accel at 30 on all axis. Where is the scaling located? I can't find it. Also the settings screen shows inches.
I did a small test carve simulation of a 2" letter and it was carving one about less than half that size.
reguarding your steps per unit, lets figure it out to make sure its right, steps per unit are calculated starting with the number of full steps your motor turn, commonly 200 but could be different, time the number of microsteps you have the drivers set to, then the number of threads per inch your feedscrews are. EXAMPLE, my motors are 200 steps per rotation, I'm using 1/4 microstepping and my feedscrews are 10 tpi,
So In my case 200*4*10=8000 steps per inch....
the scaling dros are to the right of the regular xyz dros on the main screen, should be set to "1"
John
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I'll go check the jumpers on my board and see what micro stepping I do have. Would that cause it to carve so small? I'm using Vcarve pro and never had this issue. I setup a piece 6"x 6" with a 2" tall A in the center. When it carved, which I just did in a piece of pine, it scaled down to 1" x 1" with an A of 3/8" tall. All the scaling you mentioned is set at 1.
Thank you for your help! Mike
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Just checked my jumpers on my board and appears I'm 1/4 stepping same as you. So, looks like you are using a setup very similar to mine, I appear to be way off on the steps per unit. I'll try that and see what happens. Man, a little documentation sure could of prevented alot headache.
Mike
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That was it Wood. I set mine to 7200 and seems just about right. Never would have thought of that. It's carving the proper size and all. Documentation, Documentation, Documentation. I'll never go through that again! Well at least until the next big Blue One.
Thanks again. Mike
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Once its working the way you want just copy your xml file to some safe location and if you ever need to reload or use a new computer all you need to do is drop the xml into the new Mach folder and all your settings will be back.
Hood
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To save the XML, do you go to config and at the bottom is save settings. Then do you go to XML backups folder and it should be the last one in there? In the readme it says to rename the extention.
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That was it Wood. I set mine to 7200 and seems just about right. Never would have thought of that. It's carving the proper size and all. Documentation, Documentation, Documentation. I'll never go through that again! Well at least until the next big Blue One.
Thanks again. Mike
I'm using the hobby cnc pro board too, at 1/4 stepping with those motors and that screw I'd expect your steps per unit to be 8000, can you lay a tape measure on the table and line the bit up with one of the number then command a move to check the distance? the longer the move, the more obvious any discrepancies will be.
John
ps. I'd just snagg a copy of the xml for your profile straight from the mach3 directory.
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I ran it back up to 8000, and lowered the jog rate to 60 and it seems to be working fine now. Is the XML stored in the backup folder?
Mike
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No the xml currently being used is in the main Mach3 folder. Backups are made by Mach every so often but to get the current one copy from the Mach3 folder and save to a separate computer or a pen drive er such like.
Hood
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Ok, thanks Hood.
Mike
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Just letting you know that its working good now and got my sign carved with no problems. Another thing I learned out of this is "maintenance". Been carving with this machine for so long now with no problems that I just took it for granted. Well, I started checking things and found some items that were starting to loosen. The reason I did this is because I did a test carve and my X axis would get to a certain point and stall out. Well, come to find out, the brackets that my leadscrew nuts attach to were loose. Tightened everything up and I think it's carving better than ever now. Anyway, thank you for all the help. You saved me from pulling what hair I have left out.
Mike