Messages

111

General Mach Discussion / Re: Inconsistant ATC Positioning

« on: March 02, 2017, 07:02:26 PM »

Hi, Garry, I must be in incremental mode because the tool Turret moves with each command. Movement never seems to be the same? Sometimes 45 degrees others maybe 90? The dro reads ok but the movement of the turret does no necesserally match it.

George

112

General Mach Discussion / Inconsistant ATC Positioning

« on: March 01, 2017, 05:23:15 PM »

I'm having lots of trouble with my 8 Position Turret on my TCL160

I have searched the forums up and down in the hope of finding the correct information from what I can see, I think the M6start was written by Hood (Forgive me if I'm wrong)
Calling tools from the MDI line works for all the tools entered, however the movement of the Turret is inconsistent. Also If I enter G0 A360 I would expect the turret to rotate 360 Degrees, It doesn't.
I try repeated G0 A45 in an attempt to get the turret to rotate 45 degrees each time but I get inconsistent moves.
I also installed a Homing sensor to the turret but that does not seem to help, each time I home the Turret the DR) does not reset to 0 which is what I would expect?
It's sometimes behave as though it's a 6 tool turret ?
I have tried many variations of Steps/per in  motor tuning but that did not help, tried 33.33, 66.66 etc etc, no luck

I have attached both my XML and M6start files so if anyone can spare a wee bit time having a look I would be very grateful, someone out there has got a machine with an 8 way turret working correctly. If M6Start macro is not the best way, what is?

Many thanks

George

Where am I going wrong ??

113

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle runs backwards

« on: February 28, 2017, 05:18:36 PM »

Boxford TCL160
Machturn
Smooth stepper + CM106 BOB

Help!

I think my Chuck(Spindle) is running backwards!
When the chuck is viewed end on it is running counter clockwise. It should be running clockwise.

My VFD is controlled from 0-5Vdc and the speed runs ok from 0 through 1800rpm in keeping with whatever I feed into the M3  i.e M3 S500 I get 500rpm

Any ideas why this is happening, Looks like I have some incorrect setting.

Thanks

Sorted,
I reversed two of the connections on my spindle drive and all was well.
Thanks

114

General Mach Discussion / Spindle runs backwards

« on: February 28, 2017, 02:12:39 PM »

Boxford TCL160
Machturn
Smooth stepper + CM106 BOB

Help!

I think my Chuck(Spindle) is running backwards!
When the chuck is viewed end on it is running counter clockwise. It should be running clockwise.

My VFD is controlled from 0-5Vdc and the speed runs ok from 0 through 1800rpm in keeping with whatever I feed into the M3  i.e M3 S500 I get 500rpm

Any ideas why this is happening, Looks like I have some incorrect setting.

Thanks

115

General Mach Discussion / Re: steps per readout

« on: February 27, 2017, 12:06:52 PM »

I think a good old mechanical method is the one to go for,
I'll Measure distance/angle moved against steps/per set and tune from there,
Thanks for your help.

I'm a man of many question s but I'm getting there.

Regards

George

116

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle index

« on: February 27, 2017, 11:59:52 AM »

Thanks Rich,
It was just that the two dual sensors were part of the original machine setup and I thought that they were essential in threading with Mach3
A new single sensor has been fitted and is working fine.

This of course doesn't mean that I cannot do threading operations I hope.

Would you recommend I move to MAch Hoppy ?

Many thanks

George

117

General Mach Discussion / steps per readout

« on: February 26, 2017, 07:06:58 PM »

Boxford TCL160

Is there any way to get  a 'steps per readout' on my Mach3 turn screen.

I want to know exactly how many steps my steppers are doing to rotate my tool turret 360 degrees.

Currently set to 33.3333 step per in motor tuning and I'm using the M6start macro which is attached. (anyone care to look it over please)
Tool turret moves as it should when calling M1T02 M2T02 M3T02 etc etc.

I will fit a home sensor to the tool turret so that I can home on tool No1

I'll take it forward from there unless anyone can help.

I know I should be searching the forums and I did, problem is when you search back so far there is a host of information on this topic (ATC) that it all becomes very unclear.

I am trying.

Thanks

George

118

General Mach Discussion / Spindle index

« on: February 26, 2017, 07:11:25 AM »

Re: Boxford TCL160

I read some posts back that spindle index pulse was no longer supported in Mach3 due to issues in 'Threading' Is this still the case.

The disc on my spindle has 100 holes on the inner circle and one hole/slot on the outer.  (See pic)

I am now generating pulse trains for each of the two Opto's which I can now input to my CM106 BOB

Can Mach3 now handle these, if so how is the setup achieved.

Thanks

George

119

General Mach Discussion / Homing and limits with ESS Smooth stepper and Mach Turn

« on: February 23, 2017, 11:13:45 AM »

Using Mach Turn and ESS
I just found out that automatic setup for homing and limit switches only applies to Parallel port boards. ??
Is there a way to do this using Smooth Stepper ??

What is the correct configuration of these switches for lathe operation ?

How can I set Z++, Z-- and  Z home switches for my lathe ?
How can I set X++, X- and X home switches for my lathe ?

I will used two switches for my Z axis and wire them in series.

120

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: TCL160 spindle speed

« on: February 22, 2017, 04:36:06 PM »

Long time no hear from you Rich,

many thanks, that's exactly what I have done.

Thanks

George