Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => FAQs => Topic started by: Bucks on February 19, 2017, 04:40:11 PM
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Hi guys, totally new to CNC & have just purchased a 3040 machine with 800w motor, I've spent all weekend getting it set up, but for the life of me can't get the spindle to work! Any ideas what the problem might be? I've attached a few photos to hopefully give you an idea of what I've done as I'm not very computer savvy.
Any help would be much appreciated as I'm just about getting to the end of my tether.
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Motor outputs - Spindle enabled - step pin 1 - dir pin 0 - dir low active enabled - step low active enabled - step port 1 - dir port 0
Output signals - output#1 enabled - port 1 - pin number 17 - active low enabled
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Anyone able to help???
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If you attach the <your profile> .xml file (from your Mach3 folder) we can see how you have Mach3 set-up to run the spindle VFD.
Copy your .xm file , rename it to Bucks.xml then attach using the Additional Options.
Tweakie.
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I've had a different instruction manual sent to me so have been tinkering a bit with the spindle settings but still no joy! attached is the xml file
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Hi Bucks,
Unfortunately, through no fault of your own, you have been duped by the supplier of your new CNC machine and you have installed a Pirate Mach3 License (Licensed to...MaoA˜A ¯Ðtonar).
The recommendation is that you document all of your configuration settings........... every one of them. Do a clean install of the OS, download Mach from our site. Install it and configure it for your machine following the install and config. Guide.
Tweakie.
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Thanks for your reply Tweakie, to be honest I thought that was the case & had every intention on once the machine was up & running purchasing the licence & then contacting the seller to try & get some of the money back (I had no intentions of permamently using a pirate licence) I was seeing it as a trial period.
Ok moving forwards as I've spent almost a week now trying to set this up, i'll buy an official licence now! do I really have to do a clean install of the OS (I did that just before I started setting up this cnc & had to get a computer guy in to sort it out) the Mach3 was downloaded from the Mach3 website as a lot of the files that I was emailed from China aren't working!
The only files I used from China are the licence, mach3mill xml file & a plugin for the USB driver.
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Hi Bucks,
do I really have to do a clean install of the OS
I don’t think you need to do that but it was the official recommendation.
If the plugin for the USB driver automatically installs the Pirate license then you need to delete the file ‘Mach1Lic.dat’ from your Mach3 folder and use Mach3 in Demo Mode.
It would be best to copy all your existing settings and use them with the clean Mach3 install rather than using the China supplied .xml file which may be corrupt.
If you have decided that you wish to use Mach3 then a genuine license can be obtained from here : http://www.machsupport.com/shop/mach3/
Tweakie.
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I've just purchased a genuine licence, I'll figure out what to do with it & work my way through your other instructions (I wasn't joking when I said I wasn't very computer savvy lol)
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Hi Bucks,
The recommendation is that you document all of your configuration settings........... every one of them. Do a clean install of the OS, download Mach from our site. Install it and configure it for your machine following the install and config. Guide.
Tweakie.
Sorry to be so dumb but where do I find all my configuration settings? Also the install & config guide! Is that in Mach3? As I haven't noticed it!
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Excellent purchase, you will not be disappointed. ;)
The settings you need to copy are under the Config. tab (native units, ports & pins, motor tuning, etc.).
I think the easiest way is to copy and save your existing Mach3 folder (perhaps rename it to Mach3old), make the new install, then copy over your settings one page at a time (Mach3 saves your settings to <your profile>.xml when it is closed). This will ensure you have a clean and uncorrupted .xml file.
Tweakie.
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THANKS for the info Tweakie it's much appreciated, the profile we got from the Chinese wasn't a fully loaded working profile (if you get what I mean) we had to go through all the parameters one by one using there instruction manuals & had to find some info on google & YouTube, were just in the process of starting from fresh & then will follow the install & config guide as you suggested & see how far we get!
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As far as i know we've setup all the parameters but the spindle still isn't working! as far as i know the stepper motors are all working fine & soft limits set etc its just the spindle motor which wasent very clear on the instructions weve got! is there any other software/plugins/drivers etc we'll need from the Chinese for this machine to work apart from the plugin for the rnr usb controller? ive attached the new (legal) profile :)
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Anyone willing to help?
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I've just had a email notification saying that you've replied to this thread Tweakie, but I can't see a reply!
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I made a few changes to your .xml – Unfortunately, I was assuming you were using the parallel port which I have now realised is not the case (the file is attached).
We need to have the details of both your external motion controller setup and your VFD setup to get the spindle control working correctly.
If you attach (or e-mail me a copy) of your pluging installation I will see what I can do.
Tweakie.
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THANKS for your help it's much apreciated!
Sorry to be so dumb but I'm not 100% sure what you mean by external motion controller setup & vfd setup! Where will I get this information?
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Your CNC controller has (internally) a USB motion controller which may have setup details, your VFD will also have setup details and we need the information on these to be able to make an educated guess on the Mach3 settings.
There is a post on CNCzone which is of interest - check out post #25 here : http://www.cnczone.com/forums/chinese-machines/320698-cnc.html
Does this setup work ?
Tweakie.
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Well, the Chinese setup (from their CD) for the spindle operation makes no sense to me and it is different to the settings used by the CNCzone guy.
For what it is worth here are the Chinese screenshots ;
Tweakie.
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Probably still some tweaking to do but I'm getting there! THANKS to help from Tweakie & (MacTec54 @ CNCZone) your help is much appreciated :)
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Excellent news, I am pleased to hear that you have started making chips ;)
Tweakie.
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The more I read, the happier I am that I could not load the Mach 3 that came with my 6040 from Ebay. None of the files were in English and the Mach 3 was corrupted and would not load. I decided to just come here and get the real program. Just getting ports & pins sorted out and working on controlling the spindle.
Any idea where to access the real Mach 3 manual in English?
Fred
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Hi Fred,
You can find the Mach manuals, videos and tutorials here http://www.machsupport.com/help-learning/product-manuals/
Tweakie.
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Thanks, I can see I have some serious reading to do.
Fred
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Hi All,
this is probably off topic, I apologise if I'm upsetting anyone.
Why do so many Chinese suppliers do things like this?
I can certainly understand that they wish to produce products as cheap as possible to capture as many sales as possible. The pirate copy of Mach3
they supply is often corrupt. That will bring their customers onto the Mach forum and the company will be exposed as a fraud. Surely if you are going
to supply a pirate copy of any software you could at least make sure it works and the associated documentation was correct/usable so if someone
purchased it they would probably not realise that it is a pirate copy.
A lot of the Chinese made routers are excepting the junk/ pirated controller and software not bad value. I mean that if you had to buy and assemble
all the parts required you would be hard pushed to match them. If they stuck to advertising the value for money that their router offers they would
still do well and not occasion any 'blowback' because they tried to palm off rubbish electronics/ software/ instructions.
The fact that so many of us are prepared to buy from such suppliers is the only reason for their existence. That we do encourages otherwise honest
Chinese suppliers to go down the pirate/ junk route just to remain competitive.
Craig
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Why do so many Chinese suppliers do things like this?
Simple............."CONSCIENCE" ..........!
RICH
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I must say that with my Chinese 6040 router/mill, the seller never claimed it included a licensed copy of Mach-3 only that the "demo version" included could run the machine. So I guess they get a pass on that one (I opted to buy a real copy). On the other hand they included a Chinese language copy of AutoCad 2004 also unusable.
Fred
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OK.. Having searched for answer I've found Y'all (Yes from Georgia) I too have been duped. I purchase a USB version CNC6040 on Ebay. I installed MACH3 albeit "Pirated" :-( I setup the configuration from a poorly translated document and a very poor video. The controller respond to X-Y-Z commands using the keyboard [PG Up-PgDown) and arrow keys. However my spindle doesn't move ever. No arcs or sparks just doesn't spin no mater what I config.
I'm not certain if Bucks resolved the problem. I too would gladly purchase a license. I'd even question if I should buy MACH4. I recall someone saying that they couldnt get the USB Handwheel to work with MACH4. So some hesitation on that decision . Thanks for any input, direction, advice.
Dave
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Hi,
I very much doubt your controller has a Mach4 plugin and therefore will not work with Mach4.
Sounds like your struggling to get it to work with Mach3 let alone getting more ambitious.
You will absolutely need to download a fresh and current copy of Mach3 and start from there.
You don't need i licence to try it and experiment, just remember that jobs longer than 500
lines of code won't complete..
If you get tired of messing around with Chinese controller then consider a US or European made one,
they work and the manufacturer will back them up.
Craig
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Well some progress! I removed the bootleg MACH3 and installed a fresh version trialware. I went over the configs and plugged in values. The axis control continued to function. However, spindle motion didn't initially work. I tried the watch the Chinese video as close as possible to catch what they were entering into the VFD. I caught a few entries like D0001 and he entered a 1 moved to D0032 again entering a 1. I was pretty much lost in this. BUT.... I saw some movement and the spindle rpm displayed about 300 and the rheostat in "manual" mode varied the spindle RPM. So I believe it must be the configuration and MACH3 having problems with spindle control. Absolutely no documentation from the Ebay seller. I'm such a noob I really dont understand any of this VFD stuff. This all started with an old retired (me) noob wanting a CNC hobby startup making family/friend gifts. I feel I've bitten off more then I bargained for. I'm really over my head and may just pack it all up :-( I appreciate advice and insight.
Dave
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I'm not one to give in quickly. I watched that dang video a 100 +++. Fiddled with what I think I saw. Eureka!!! The spindle spins the values configure have remained stable. I can manually control the spindle at the controller box and from the PC via MACH 3 settings. As noted prior I haven't a clue but I plan to carve a few pieces of wood :-) Wish me luck, I'm still very much in need of advice and guidance.
Dave