Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Rocketmagnet on February 28, 2007, 11:23:55 AM
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Hi all,
I'm having trouble with the whole MM versus Inches problem. Looking on the forums, there does seem to be a lot of confusion, but nothing seems to answer my questions.
The machine I have is:
A 5 axis mill, with 3 axes in inches, and 2 in degrees.
What I want is:
To tune the axes in their native units (inches) because they numbers will be exact.
Everything else to be in MM (the programs and the DROs especially)
But it's like this:
The axes are tuned in inches or degrees where appropriate :D
The Programs run in MM (with a G21 at the start) :D
The X, Y and Z DROs are still in inches. >:(
The A and B DROs are not in degrees. Dunno what they think they are. >:(
The settings I have are:
The Native Units (in the config menu) are set to Inches
The Units (in the settings tab) are set to MM
The A, B and C axes are set to Angular in the General Logic Config screen
I wish that:
Everything was totally explicit. I would be nice if everything shows its units. The DROs should say 0.513mm or 0.531ยบ not just 0.531. Then there could never be any question as to what they were.
Many thanks for any help you can give me.
Hugo Elias
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Hugo, what version of Mach are you runnig? My dros change from inches to mm when I set it to mm on the settings page. What do you think about setting up a metric profile where the native units would be MM? you can have more than one profile. I understand you want to set it up in inches so it will be exact. If you set a profile up with native MM you can get your units set closer to exact than most ballscrews would be I think.
Brett
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I'm using Mach 3.
My DROs seems to change too. But usually to something unexpected and wrong. Also, the A, B and C DROs change, which they should not.
Hugo
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What version of Mach 3? When I have a reading of 1 inch in the Dro and change to MM it then reads 25.4mm. The problem with the AB&C axis intrest me. I think you will have to set up a mm profile. Mach doesn't care what you set your units to in motor tuning. Inches, mm, degrees, revolution, etc. I assume if you chose to change to mm in the settings page and your native is in inches, it just does the math to convert these. I would think that would include all axis. Post your xml and we can play with it.
Brett
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I'm using Mach3 version R2.0.037.
I would be horrified to find out that the rotary axes changed scale when I changed from inch to mm.
Please find attached my .XML file. I have changed the native units to MM and re-tuned the motors.
Hugo
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The only thing I found so far is the Lock Dros in general cofig is checked. Still looking.
Another note, the XML I just downloaded is set to inch native units.
Brett
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Hi, Hugo
If your not using Mach3R2.0.050 latest, you should be, it has much better Rotational views.
There are 3 places to setup the rot axise's, General Logic also "Rotational" Rt side center lower, 2 options,
Tool-Path config., Rotstional, center top, 2 more options there.
Then Motor-Tuning, You need to take the number of step's Required to make 1 full turn of your rot. axise's and divide it by 360 to get
steps per Deg., Enter that value in your Steps Per window, it puts you in Deg. Mode.
An example my sherline rot table is 10 micro step it takes 144072 steps 1 turn dev. by 360 = 400.2 steps per deg, vel 2500 acel. 500.
This should get your Rot axies in deg., Not sure that a axis acts as it should compaired to b,c give it a good test.
Hope not too much or too litle Hear, Chipl
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Hi, Hugo
I tried your XML, coulden't seem to get it into Rotatinal View.
Try this one it's in rot. view, you'll need to put-in your pins and motor tuning.
Just pressed for time today.
Download latest ver also.
Maybe this will help, Chip
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Many thanks for all your replies guys. I'll try them out in the morning...
Hugo