Messages

1

*****VIDEOS***** / Re: Mach3 and SmoothStepper driving my old Wells Index at 100IPM

« on: January 05, 2010, 02:33:30 AM »

My  mill is from the early 80s and was CNC from the factory. The pieces are cast and would be difficult to reproduce but if you want pictures I can post a few, I think I put somein the image section of the forum.

Let me know.

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Feed Rate Override needs to take acceleration into account

« on: March 31, 2009, 06:32:33 AM »

I have learned to not press a lot of buttons over the past two weeks.

Please compile a list of the "SS Dont's" and post it here.
I will be hooking one up soon and would like to be aware.
Thanks,
RC

Then you should read this thread over at the Warp9 forums:

TOPIC:  Tips to make your life with Mach3 and SS better
http://www.warp9td.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=33&func=view&id=1608&catid=7

3

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Mach pukes on this code.

« on: March 31, 2009, 06:28:44 AM »

I was told in a different thread to avoid 043 because it had some of the fixes from 042 removed as an experiment at fixing other problems.

I am running a SmoothStepper and was having problems and so I just went back to 042 to play it safe.

Can the revision history file be updated to reflect what was changed in 043? Then I could decide if it is worth trying. Macros are really nice sometimes but since this code is generated by a CAM program and there is virtually no limit to how long a program can be it isn't necessary to ever use a macro.

4

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Mach pukes on this code.

« on: March 30, 2009, 05:44:40 AM »

Something to do with the Macro call at line 353. I am using Mach3 R3.042.024 and the only option I had was to disable macros in my post processor and re-generate.

I later experienced a problem with a macro call where the line following the macro return is skipped. So maybe this is related to that failure.

5

SmoothStepper USB / Re: crazy outputs from simple code.

« on: March 30, 2009, 05:41:08 AM »

Use Mach3 R3.042.024 and the latest drives for the SS board.

Also what is your acceleration for the X axis and do you have CV mode enabled?

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: Feed Rate Override needs to take acceleration into account

« on: March 30, 2009, 05:34:29 AM »

Thanks for confirming at least it isn't just me that can reproduce this problem.

It would be nice if the Mach folks could look into this because I am sure it will be a while before the bugs are worked out of anything new considering how long version 3 has been around and it seems to still have bugs.

I think we should start a thread of things someone should NOT do when using Mach3 with a  SmoothStepper. I have learned to not press a lot of buttons over the past two weeks.

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: Subroutines broken in 42.023

« on: March 30, 2009, 05:22:35 AM »

It is also broken in Mach3 R3.042.024.

Here is a program that the Z instruction after the macro (line 44 is the first) return doesn't work repeatedly and so I was cutting metal when it shouldn't.

Curt

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 Spindle/VFD plug-in - Interested?

« on: March 30, 2009, 05:15:05 AM »

As stated above, get something like a Hitachi VFD that supports Modbus right out of the box. You remove the control panel and there is an RJ45 modular jack behind it. Get a USB to RS422 converter and make a 3 wire cable adapter that goes from the RS422 to the modular connector. I cut the end off a phone cord and soldered a DB9 on the end.

Then write a few lines of scripts and it will work. I could even post my code but I think some other already have.

No cost at all except for the RS422 to usb.

9

*****VIDEOS***** / Mach3 and SmoothStepper driving my old Wells Index at 100IPM

« on: March 27, 2009, 06:37:46 AM »

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/tTDpoNrs7rI&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0&amp;border=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/tTDpoNrs7rI&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0&amp;border=1</a>

This is a very old Wells Index mill that I reworked the electronics. It has the original steppers, Gecko drives running at 76V, and a SmoothStepper. I am using Mach3 right now to interpret the G-code. This short clip is that last little bit of roughing and then a quick finish pass at my max speed of 100IPM. I am cutting with a 0.625 dia Cobalt 3 flut end mill and this let me tell you it can slice this aluminum like butter. I tool path is setup to limit peak spindle horse power to about 1.3Hp, I have a 3Hp spindle but I don't like to push it.

Curt

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: Feed Rate Override needs to take acceleration into account

« on: March 27, 2009, 06:33:34 AM »

Right now I am avoiding touching the Feed Override while it is moving. I have to Feed Hold, then adjust, then start again.

By the way I have been making chips all day and am having good results by staying away from buttons and nobs that cause me problems.

Here is a video I just shot, my stepper based mill cutting up to 100IPM.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTDpoNrs7rI

I don't think my configuration will help, if you have Servos then that is a completely different type of controller.

Curt