Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => FAQs => Topic started by: Navyboy007 on March 28, 2013, 08:58:33 PM
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I too am a newbie (sorry). I have completed building my own machine, and was advised to buy Xylotex 3 axis Kit (includes: power supply, 3 axis control board, 3 stepper motors, PCI 25 pin ribbon cable, and fan). When I loaded mach3 and hooked up xylotex system I can get motors to LOCK, but if I try to get motors to move at the right stepper speed 16,000 steps per inch (screw TPI is 10), it locks but loses steps in fact motor doesn't turn. I have to take the steps per inch down to 1000, velocity to 60, and acceleration to 30. Then motor turns. Reading this forum I checked allot of replies, I have now gone from vista on desktop to XP on laptop/w usb smoothstepper. Again everything works but I can't motor tune stepper motors even close to the tpi per inch. Motors do lock and lose steps.
Please help me. Is it the xylotex control board? ???
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Once you determine the correct Steps Per, you never change that. It is a constant.
A 1.8 degree stepper (200 ppr), 1/8 micro-stepping through a 10 TPI screw will be 16,000 steps per unit.
Drop you acceleration to 5 and velocity to 30 and try that.
Then you can increase the vel. and accel. until it starts missing, then back off a bit.
Your accell. looks too fast at first glance.
Russ
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A 1.8 degree stepper (200 ppr), 1/8 micro-stepping through a 10 TPI screw will be 16,000 steps per unit.
... direct coupled, without any belt/pulley ratio.
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Thank You Overloaded I am only bench testing the steppers motors and at 16000 steps per inch even at velocity to 5 and acceleration 2 still overloads? unless I take steps down to under 1000
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direct coupled
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Try changing the Active State of your Step signals.
You can also try increasing the pulse width.
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Oh boy! I feel stupid. Change active state of step signal????? Increasing the pulse width???? I think am in trouble. :-\
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The Pulse widths are set on your Motor Tuning screen.
The Active States are set @ Ports n' Pins, Motor Outputs.
Check out the Install / Set-up manual under Support at the top of this page. It should provide gads of help and insight.
But, if you're in trouble, don't hesitate to ask. Always someone here eager to help.
Russ
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I check marked active high in motor output, and I believe I've increased pulse rate from 0 to 5 us. still no movement. I can not get the motors moving at any velocity at 16000 steps per minute ( velocity 8" per minute ). What do I do now?
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hi overloaded
im zoheir from algeria,
im new both in the forum and CNC field, my question is simple my step per is 21.91 velocity is 10000mm's/min, so if my plasma cutting system need to move at 10000mm/min speed, what about feed rate its relation with velocity and its relation with g0 and g1 im very confused please help , English is not my mother tongue.so please excuse my english .
best regards
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Hi,
"G0" is the maximum rapid speed possible, set as the maximum velocity in Motor Tuning.
"G1" followed by an "F**" entry commands a move at a specified feedrate.
"G1 X20 F2000" would move the axis at 2000 units per minute.
"G0 X0" would then move it at the maximum available speed. (10,000)
I hope this helps.
Sorry Navyboy,
I totally missed your last post. Where are you at with your situation now ?
Russ
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Thank You so much for your help Russ. I have found the problem, my voltage settings on the control board (TDX, TDY, and TDZ) were at 0. I turned the pods up to 1.6 volts motors are working great. Again thank you for your help, with out it I would have not found my problem.
I do have another question. I still haven't purchased my licence for MACH3. I have been playing with the demo, when I go to LCAM and try to draw and post to MACH3 it only shows a very small piece, is this because its not full function?
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Lazycam is an importer of a dxf file. It is not and should not be used as a drawing program.
RICH
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First thanks Rich. When I watched the training videos at Artsoft Web site, they show adding text, then pocketing. I can tried the letter "S" and was able to chain and pocket inside the "S". But, when I posted to mach3 I couldn't find the *.tap file, except as a *.lcam file.
I guess I'll play with the program somemore, but to answer my question do I have to have a licenced version of MACH3 to up Lcam? Am I asking the right question?
Jim
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Hi Jim,
There are actually 2 licenses, Mach3 and LazyCam.
Mach3 has limitations when in demo mode. 500 line limit, no threading in Turn as well as some others.
LazyCam is limited to NO pocketing or Offsetting and has a line limit of 50 if not licensed. (if I remember correctly).
If what you are generating is much smaller than you are expecting, it could be a MM/inch units issue.
Russ
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hi overlaoded
thank you for your help
my question about G1 and G0 seems to be comming from a lazy perssone ,but im bigeener so im confused by the astronomic number of answers and docs i fond when searching on the web, so speaking to someone directly help to have precisely the needed answer and save time, another question please -about the confusion- what is the best strategy to entre this field (CNC) .
excuse my english :-(
zoheir.
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Usually, G0 rapids and G1 feedrate moves are all included in the GCode file, weather hand written or created with a CAM program.
You can also use MDI to move the axis' accordingly.
G1, G0 and the F are Modal, meaning they stay in effect as last commanded until changed.
Hope this helps,
Russ
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what is the best strategy to entre this field (CNC) .
- Purchase CNC Programming Handbook by Smid - study it
- Read / study the Mach Mill manuals
There is no shortcut to any of this and one just needs to go through the learning curve which continues forever.
RICH
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Ahhhhh .... enter the FIELD.
Good catch Rich !
Russ
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.... I'm way out in left field at the moment. ::)
:)
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Don't feel bad as i am still in the bushes looking for the ball...........
RICH
;)
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thanks Rich
hi evryone
i wonder if i don't disturb you, i enter here to ask for motor trubles ,but i forget to ask if i stil welcome in your club ??
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hi evryone
i wonder if i don't disturb you, i enter here to ask for motor trubles ,but i forget to ask if i stil welcome in your club ??
Hi zoheirlabibes,
It is now your club and yes you are extremely welcome here.
Tweakie.
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thanks Tweakie.
its very kind,
i write a simple G-code to cut a square but the toolpath follow a curve when reach the square corner not a 90°
please help
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Hi zoheirlabibes,
You could either run in Exact Stop mode (Config / General Config - Motion Mode - select Exact Stop)
or...
Increase your Acceleration Rates in Motor Tuning (Config / Motor Tuning) for either or both the X and Y axes (you may also have to reduce the Velocity settings as well).
Obtaining the best results can be pretty much a matter of getting the balance between Velocity and Acceleration just right.
Tweakie.
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Ok, I'll try it (Exact stop)
acceleration is set automaticly by mach3 i'll see if i can force it ,thanks
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it works
but constant velocity seems to be smoother, especially for plasma cutting i believe.
balance between Velocity and Acceleration, tomorrow i'll test it in real conditions on the machine.
thanks
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Hi Everyone
I still have a problem with .DXF files I have a simple block with my last name (Stewart) in lcam when I convert to mach3 all I see is 3/4 of the last letter(T), but not the block or name. Again do I need to be licenced for both mach3 & Lcam?
Jim
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Hey Jim,
Post the dxf file you are using, Or, are you just doing the TEXT within LCam ?
Be aware of where you have the ORIGIN for your part.
Russ
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I have used BobCad ver. 24 to draw a signboard with my name "Stewart" then saved to bobcad as a .dxf file. When I open it in Lcam it only shows the outer edges of the board.
Jim
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OK, if you would post that dxf we can see how it loads in LCam here and mght see what the problem is and maybe give you some guidance.
Russ
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Ah, I vaguely remember LCam not seeing a lot of text from cad.
Needs to be a stick font ... or, true type ... or something.
I don't completely recall.
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I hope I get this right? here goes I'm sending you the .dxf file from bobcad that I saved as a .dxf file, then loaded to Lcam. Thanks for your help Russ.
Jim
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I converted the TEXT to ENTITIES.
Try this one (your spacing is off a bit)
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Here is another one you can play with using an .125" dia cutter.
RICH