Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: markstk57 on June 04, 2015, 04:54:59 PM
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I am new to this site and CNC. I have built a plasma table and now I am trying to work out the kinks. I have a 3 axis machine and i am experimenting with a demo program (the heart downloaded from this site). Here is the problem. The motors barely move. I would be thrilled to get 1/20th of a turn out of motors, but they don't even move that much. Any ideas?
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check if you are in inch mode or mm mode. may be all it is.
G21/G20 are the two modes.
Check under Config -> native units on the main menu in Mach3
Wes
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thanks, i think it was in mm. i will check
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That didn't seem to help. When I start a G-Code program, and i disconnect the motors, they turn very little. Once I reconnect the motors, they do not move and get hot. When disconnected, the ball screws move easily. I am stumped. Would you have a G-Code program that moves say 12" in both X & Y Axis.
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markstk57,
I will assume that by being new to CNC you are meaning that you don't know much or anything about CNC and that you are trying to use Mach3 as your controlling software.
You may want to confirm or explain more about the above.
So I will just say that CNC is not "Plug N Play " and you need to read the manuals for Mach, watch the videos, learn the basics, and know something about the controller you are using. IE; You need to configure Mach to use it based on your machine.
Welcome to the learning curve,
BTW, DO NOT plug or unplug the motors with them powered up......if you don't know what your doing you could end up doing damage!
RICH
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Thanks Rich. I know I need to put the hours in to understand Mach 3 and CNC. I am a newbie and appreciate any responses and advice any of your forum would offer. With regards to pluggin in or unplugging motors with power, I always pull the plug whenever I am connecting or disconnecting anything....learned that from electrical work. LOL
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markstk57,
1.Watch all the mach videos.
2.Then read, STUDY is a better word, the Mach manual for the mill.
3.The basics are all the same, but, there are specifics / differences for PLAZMA work.
4.Consider buying "CNC Programing Handbook by Peter Smid" as it a excellent reference.
The first 100 to 150 pages will provide a vast knowledge base in a short time for you to go forward.
I highly recomend it.
Have fun in the learning,
RICH
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are you only getting a humming sound from the motors? And are they locked where you cant turn them at all manually?
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I think I have got the motors turning although slow. I am a newbie and my learning curve will be steep. I have to reference how to accelerate the speed of the motors more in tune with plasma cutting. Any help is welcome. Thanks
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Yeah, I am in the same boat you are in. I couldn't get my machine to jog for some time and found out the OS on my computer was too new. But if you go to ports and pins tab on top left corner, there should be a motor tuning option. click on it and you can make adjustments. You just always have to "save axis settings" before closing the screen, otherwise it will not make the changes.
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Thanks, I will try that!
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Awesome, curious question. You are just wanting to plasma cut with your cnc?
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yes.
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Alright, that's all i am using mine for too. I am to the point now where I need to figure out how to start and stop the plasma arc.
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you're way ahead of me. I think there is a button on the main screen (Run Program), that lets you start and stop the plasma. It's kinda towards the center of the screen.
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do you know how to increase the speed of the motors. I think the sample G-Code program is for a router so somewhere in the code is the speed factor.
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"motor tuning" tab under "config". sorry i was misleading before when i said ports and pins. but it is under config tab and motor tuning. And you can do all the x and y axis individually
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OK
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I need help with the Mach3 program. I have drawn and converted to dxf file. I then load into LazyCam and produce G-Code. When i load the code, it shows the proper dimensions on the DRO. I have changed all units of measure to mm. This is where I am lost, when I start the program, it cuts larger than the original dimensions (i.e. 8mm becomes 22mm). I have calibrated the motors, plugging in 25.4mm for x and y axis and the 18.75mm resulting from movement of the x/y axis. I have no idea why it makes the cuts larger than the drawings. Any ideas?
I had a reply from one of the mediators to load the xml file, but i can't find the email.