Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: GOTO ZERO works for Y and Z, but X changes each time...

« on: June 27, 2019, 03:35:29 AM »

RESOLVED!  So I did some testing....  using the pendant to move position on the Z was also changing the X!!!!!!! 

I got the 6 axis SHINA via Amazon.  "SHINA New CNC 6 Axis Wireless Mach3 MPG Pendant CNC Handwheel Manual Pulse Generator"
I loaded the standard macros etc and it seemed to work pretty good.  But we could not get X to GOTO Zero at the same point every time.  Then I finnally noticed that the X moved a little everytime the Z moved!!!!!  THe more the Z moved, a little tiny more the X would move!  But only with the pendant.  Moves with the soft-pendant were fix, as was the G-Code programs I ran.

SHINA REALLY!?!?!?!?!  I paid $130 for a true-6 Axis Pendent and was super excited to get it. The last pendant I bought for my huge CNC was $1200 from the OEM and it wasn't as nice.

Anyway, I'll look at the macros and see what is going on, or return it to Amazon's seller for a refund.

Arg!

2

General Mach Discussion / GOTO ZERO works for Y and Z, but X changes each time...

« on: June 26, 2019, 03:21:31 AM »

I just got one of the those CNCEST 6040 cheap Chinese engravers off ebay. I added a wireless pendant is all so far. I'm actually fairly impressed with it.  1.5kw water cooled spindle etc.  I've used Mach3 with a lot of other machines that I've retro-fitted.  But this problem has me stumped.

I calibrated the machine's "steps per unit" setting (factory 320=x, 320=y 400=z) using the tool in the setting tab.  Came out close to factory.

When I test movement accuracy on all axis it's very good. So it seems the steps are correct.

So I set the home, work offsets and tool offsets correctly.  Then when I move off 0,0,0 to say 100,200,300, and hit GOTO ZERO (not machine coordinates) with tool 5 a 1.7mm endmill, (or any tool), the machine moved to the Z and Y zero position correctly.  But the X is off by -0.7mm... which sounds like 1/2 of a the tool diameter.  However, if I repeat the process of "move off zero" and "goto zero", the X position is even further off between -0.4 and -0.8mm each time and it grows.

Yet, Z and Y are correct!  So why isn't X?  And why does it get progressively worse.  Yet when I calibrate it again, the resulting steps per unit do not change and moves are perfect.

What is that can cause just the X to be off when moving to zero only?  Could it be related to cutter compensation?

I verified all the factory settings in the controller are correct.

I had no such issues with the Bridgeport Discovery retrofit I did two years ago.

Thanks in advance!
Scott

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 and Opto-22

« on: March 12, 2014, 02:52:53 AM »

I'm "finally" getting around to it.  I did a fair bit of Opto22 programming a few years ago (it was ethernet, but that doesn't matter).  Unless I end up just wiring to the Galil DMC card…

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 and Galil running INCREDIBLE... and then

« on: September 29, 2009, 10:15:44 AM »

Mtripoli,
Could be so kind as to describe your setup?  I'm finally getting back to configuration Mach 3 and my Galil 1850.  Also have you had trouble with using the galil tools vs mach 3?  For instance I can get the g-tools to recognize the card (move axis etc), but Mach3 doesn't with the plugin I used about a year ago (2008).  So I followed the steps outlined by Galil to swap out the drivers for Windows XP and now nothing works and Galil is baffled.

Thanks,
Scott

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 using Galil servo card

« on: July 27, 2008, 07:13:08 PM »

Does the Galil Plugin reset the PID values? 

I tuned my servos using the WSDK, which stores the PID values on the card (I don't think it's an actual "burn") when it's done.  If I exit the WSDK, and run in again, the PID values that are shown before I run any tests are the same as before.  No change = "good".  It's always been "set and forget" before this.

If I run Mach3 + Galil plugin, then exit, not even run a job, then run WSDK or DMCTerminal program to query the PID values... they are reset back to the system default.  Changed PID values = "bad", "very bad".

It appears that Galil plugin is doing some kind of reset or master reset of the card?  A regular reset shouldn't cause a problem because the values are supposed to be stored in flash memory. 
--Scott

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Discovery 308 retrofit

« on: July 27, 2008, 01:08:48 AM »

Hey JH and everyone else on the forum!

Well I'm *finally* back in the game, have not worked on the machine for months -- b/c Grandma got cancer, I took new job prototyping new cell phones, had house repairs, oh... and my wife bought goats & sheep.  If that's not enough info for ya, then email me... :-P 

Most importantly, when the window of opportunity opened I needed my card upgraded super quick --> I owe great thanks to Galil for upgrading my DMC1850 (very early serial number) so it will work with the newest drivers.  They turned it in 3 days, which included shipping, for an awesome price of only $75 (so I bought the tools too).  Saved me from spending $2000+ on a new board -- gotta love THAT.
Tomorrow, we'll get the board installed run the (new) servo design kit s/w to tune the sevro loops and then try Mach3 again.

My old BP Discovery 300 (named Bridgette) will spring into life this weekend!

After that I'll crack open the plug-in S/W to continue developing & testing code to monitor lube level, air pressure, and load/eject tools.  Once I have it working all share the code.  I'm attempting to do this w/o writing any custom Galil machine code.  I'll share when it's stabled and safe.

There are 3 projects on the docket -- completely different than the last set I listed.  Cell phone accessories, new type of snow board binding system, and a mechanical calibration system for RC helicopters. 

--Scott

7

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: April 15, 2008, 09:02:01 PM »

Ya know... I've been on the forum for a few weeks and never intro'ed myself.

I'm Scott Leatham in Duvall Washington, living on a small ranch named (you guessed it) Far Reach Farm.
I have two machines, The first is a Shop Task 3in1, upgraded to steppers and controlled by AhHa, but I'll be changing this to Mach 3 soon due to "animal damage" to (er read as "on") the computer. So if I have to buy a new computer, I'll update the S/E.
The 2nd machine is a Bridgeport Discovery 300 VMC, upgraded a lot.  Currently it's running Camsoft, Galil motion controller, Advanced motion servo drives, opto-22 G4 SSRs, and a Control Techniques vector flux spindle drive/controller.  Since I really don't like Camsoft, I'm converting to Mach3l (I was so happy to learn Mach supports Galil).

I use Solidworks for design work (I have a legal license), then a local local machine shop allows me to use SoftCam or MasterCam to produce G-Code.

As for myself, I'm a manager in the software & embedded systems industry; OS/Systems, mobile devices, gaming consoles, and robotics.  I like sailing, diving/snorkeling, horseback riding (I have 2000lb drafthorse), art-blacksmithing, and cutting out parts on my CNC machine.  A friend uses my machine to make parts for underwater diving equipment (rebreathers, dive computer housings, custom flashlights).  The item is my picture is a small robotic telescope mount for a 6" mead.  I've done some mold making for a cell phone snap on skin that actually went into production.  I've also written machine control operator interfaces for a couple hydraulic manufacturing equipment.  But, sadly I get so busy at work, that I end up having to re-learn everytime I start a new project or resume an old one!  So I'm a newbie at times too!

--Scott

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Needed, Good wireing diagram program

« on: April 04, 2008, 07:39:40 PM »

Forgot to mention... there are huge component libraries for Eagle available

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: Needed, Good wireing diagram program

« on: April 04, 2008, 07:38:36 PM »

I've used Eagle and well as ExpressPCB.  Both have free versions.  I like each, but for different purposes. Eagle is downright professional, a bit tricky at first to use IMHO, however it works well for larger projects.  I'm using it to completely remap the wiring of my Discovery 300 VMC as part of the conversion to Mach3.  Here's a link to the free version http://www.cadsoftusa.com/freeware.htm

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help!!!!!

« on: April 02, 2008, 03:01:16 AM »

I don't know if this is useful or not, but in the last control system I had it would make crazy spirals and loops whenever I tried to cut a interpolated hole like what I see you are doing.  I found an option in the old control setup (not Mach 3) to select Fanuc or Bridgeport style arcs when processing G-Codes.  I was using MasterCAM's default post-processor, so in the machine control I selected Fanuc arcs.  Is this related to the Q parameter?