Messages

1

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach4 lathe change X position on DRO when run or stop spindle motor.

« on: June 15, 2022, 08:13:43 AM »

Hi there

I've got a really strange problem. 

While I was trying to solve the problem about losing X reference while tool change I figured out what the problem was or is.

As soon I start the spindle motor (servo motor), the X position changes about -2 mm, but only in Mach4 at the DRO not on the machine. And it changes the position in the work coordinates and also in the machine coordinates but at the machine itself, nothing happens no movement. So during a tool change the motor stops and no its clear why the X position is not the same after tool change but I’ve no idea what this could be.

I’ve made a video to show the problem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fls-rqqMakg

Could anyone help me with this problem?

Cheers

Oli

2

Mach4 General Discussion / Loosing X reference after tool change lathe Mach4

« on: May 24, 2022, 03:01:41 AM »

Hello all

I am only almost finished with my conversion of my Emco 8 as a CNC lathe and now still facing 2 problems where maybe some of you know a solution

Actually, everything works, even thread turning is going great.
 
I work with Mach4, ESS and Fusion 360.

Now for the first problem, although this is less of a problem, more weird.
In the G-code of Fusion 360 it always brings me N16 M0 (CHANGE TO T2 EIN REAR TOOL POST) before the tool change, for example t0101. Now M0 is a programme stop but actually it would be great to execute M5 instead of M0, that would also stop the spindle while toolchange which it does not do with M0. Of course I can adjust it manually in each G-code but it would be great if it does it right. If anyone here knows anything, I would appreciate feedback.

Then to my other problem. I have set up 4 tools in Mach4 with offsets in X and Z and that works great when I use each tool separately. So X0 is always exactly in the middle after I have referenced the X axis. The Z offset also fits and is correct for the tool change. The only thing that always goes wrong is that the X values are lost after a tool change. For example, roughing, finishing with tool 2 then change to tool 3 threading tool. If I then move to X0 with tool 3, it is no longer exactly in the middle and always stops beforehand. So the control says X0 but is more like X1. But if I then make a reference run with the X-axis and then make X0 again, it is exactly right. Does anyone have any idea what I am doing wrong?

Greetings

Oli

3

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Problem with Mach4 Turn newbee

« on: May 19, 2022, 09:56:56 AM »

Upload of the files was not working trying again.

4

Mach4 General Discussion / Problem with Mach4 Turn newbee

« on: May 19, 2022, 09:55:13 AM »

Hello there

With the help of Sturat I found a PP for Mach4 and Fusion 360.

But I’ve no idea what is going wrong or what I’m doing wrong with this Mach4 turn.

Using Mach4 for all my mills but complete new in turning.

So I’ve just made a video here to show what my problem is.

https://youtu.be/rmZS18MdwOo

If anybody can help me, that would be so great 

You find the G-Code attached which I’m using in my Video and also my log file of this test.

If you need any other information, please let me know.

Working with Windows and ESS Smoothstepper

Cheers Oli

5

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Post processor Fusion 360 for Mach4 Turn

« on: May 19, 2022, 09:54:17 AM »

Did that allready thx.

6

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Post processor Fusion 360 for Mach4 Turn

« on: May 19, 2022, 09:22:45 AM »

O thanks. Found one but this one gives me this message after trying pp a file.

7

Mach4 General Discussion / Post processor Fusion 360 for Mach4 Turn

« on: May 19, 2022, 03:49:11 AM »

Hello There

Maybe someone can help me.

After converting my lathe to CNC with ESS and Mach4, I'm trying to find a post processor who runs reliably and is working with Fusion 360 and Mach4.

Found some articles online and some PP that are creating a G-Code from Fusion 360 and can be loaded in Mach4 but not one is working, instead of doing the job like in the simulation of Fusion 360, Mach4 do some strange things

Anybody who knows a reliable PP for Mach4 and Fusion 360 or another way to bring my lathe G-Code from Fusion 360 to Mach4?

Lookging forward for your reply.

Oli

8

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Problem losing Y axis zero coordinates mostly after toolchange

« on: March 17, 2022, 12:16:22 PM »

Short Update:

Changed all power supplies to 36 Volt and changed a setting in the ESS Plugin.

Insted of telling Mach4 Motor 3 is Motor 1 Slave, I mached them in the ESS Plugin and tell Mach4 only you have 3 Motors, Motor 0,1,2.

The problem with the steps/unit with the Y Axis is now gone.

I can't tell why, but I guess if you say in Mach4 under Mapping A is slave of Y and in the motor settings motor 0-3 enabled and tuned, maybe there was I did something wrong. Now all work the same speed with the same pules.

Tomorrow, will test to mill a new part and will give a feedback.

Oli

9

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Problem losing Y axis zero coordinates mostly after toolchange

« on: March 16, 2022, 02:07:59 AM »

Hi,
I would guess that you have g0 move immediately after your m6, and your y axis is intermittently losing steps on that move.

What I would like to note and also seems a bit strange (guess this has a connection to my problem) to me is that recently, since 2-3 weeks, I have to enter half of the pulse/unit per motor when setting the motors on the Y-axis (2 motors), so that the axis runs at the same speed as X and Z. Thought first that was perhaps a peculiarity of Mach4 but then tried it with Mach3 and on other machines and also there I suddenly had to halve the steps of the Y-axis even I never changed something at that machine. As an example, on the 2 milling machines, 1605/2005 ballscrews with 1/16 steps have a pulse/unit of 640 default on X and Y and 800/640 (1604/1605 ballsrews) on the Z. Now I have to enter 320 on the Y and 640/800 on the others so that the axes run at the same speed. I don't know if anyone knows this problem, but if so I would be interested to know where this comes from.

This is very strange and is I suspect either the cause or at least a symptom of the fault you describe. Solve this and I'd bet you problem goes away.

You say you have two y axis motors? Are they identical? How have you slaved one to the other?

Can you disconnect each coupler so that you can move them independently. I would start by making sure that you can set the steps/unit in some logical fashion for each motor individually.
I'm wondering if you have a signaling clash or a signal timing issue that is causing onlt every second pulse to be read.

Craig

Hi Craig

Hmm about the G0, will have a look tomorrow morning and will give u a feedback. Will definitely try it, thanks.

About the different steps/unit yes this is strange, more strange is, I took my computer to my small mill and connect the ESS who is built in there and suddenly the same problem there too. I did no change anything at all and now the same with the Y axis, 320 pulses instead of 640😬 I‘m using one desktop to control both machines cause they standing next to each other and have the same setup but both one separat ESS built in.

Yes two motors for the Y axis, one setup as Y the other one as A (Slave of Y), had the option to choose in the ESS plugin to set it as slave (just get the same signal then Y but Mach will not see it as a other motor) or in Mach4 control in mapping. I‘ve use the last option, so in Mach4 under control, motor 1 master Y slave A. And yes all the same motors XYZA.

About the couplers, the idea of an signaling clash or a signal timing issue that is causing only every second pulse to be read sounds like a thing I need to check, but how can that be, if I switch the mill, suddenly the same strange thing happen at the small mill, which I have since 2 years and never had that before. Could it be that something is about using one computer for 2 ESS?
Cheers Oli

Hello Craig,

Have check now the code.

There is a G0 after toolchange, will give it a try without.

10

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Problem losing Y axis zero coordinates mostly after toolchange

« on: March 16, 2022, 02:05:09 AM »

Hi,
while I can well believe that at 24V your stepper would miss steps, maybe without the torque authority to catch up, but it should at least have faulted as 'Excess Following Error'.

How have you programmed the Following Error Window? How wide is it?

Craig

Hey Craig

No never programming anything with stepper motors, thats a new field for me. Will check these and will try it.