Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / XML files

« on: November 12, 2008, 12:32:00 AM »

I know this is probably a dumb question, but how does one "read","interpret", "understand" a XML file, or is that some kind of black majic?     mjh  

2

General Mach Discussion / setting up mach3 and hobbycnc switches ,limits etc.

« on: November 11, 2008, 01:53:05 PM »

I have been trying to set up my switches . I am new to cnc and built the "joe's 2006 machine last winter together with thehobbycnc 4 axis controler. the machine uses mach3 and sheetcam. The machine is operational .

I am trying to set up my switches with very little success. I have followed to a tee the PDF tutorial and ended up with problems .So then I tried the video tutorial at the mach3 site and copied the various sheets and instructions , problem as I see it is the tutorial sheets do not agree with the sheets seen in the video .Neither seem to work for me , I get "request for external E stop" or "software limit" and others e stop signals which do not seem to be alluded to anywhere so the couses cannot be diagnosed .any help appreciated....mjh  

3

General Mach Discussion / setup tutorial

« on: October 27, 2008, 12:11:25 PM »

I am trying to set up my machine ,in particular soft limits per the setup tutorial. I end up with several questions .
I am attempting to use just 3 switches only.

Under "Homing parameters" I am assuming when referring to figure 11 they actually mean figure 12 [bottom of page]

In figure 12 the first column "reversed" first of all what does "reversed refer to ? secondly tutorials I have seen show X,Y,and Z enabled .

Z in the "softmax" column is zero and in the "soft min" column a negative value, is this correct ?

As the Z axis zero is at the upper limit of travel when the tool decends should the DRO be reading positive or negative levels ?

Lastly is the soft limits button always on when doing any machining operation or only on [operational] during jogging? 

 

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: RESCALING

« on: October 09, 2008, 01:45:01 PM »

I just tried jogging the machine for an indicated distance of 10 inches ,the actual distance moved was 2 1/2 inches. Next I went back to "motor tuning " which was set correctly [in my opinion] at 2000 and changed the figure to 8000. I  retried a 10 inch indicated travel and the result was the same 2 1/2 inches actual . cannot seem to figure this one out. any help appreciated

PS the scale vaues in the DRO are all set at  1.00.

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: RESCALING

« on: October 08, 2008, 11:14:05 AM »

Just checked all the code . there is a G20 [third line] also a G40 and lots of G00s and G01s .the strange thing the name is comming out back to front such as this LEAHCIM instead of MICHAEL....the scaling values next to the DRO to try and increase the size [X and Y axes only] are not negative. [mirror].

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General Mach Discussion / Re: RESCALING

« on: October 08, 2008, 09:44:36 AM »

Are those the codes listed at the top of the desktop, ? if so no there is no G21 listed .

If this is incorrect then I will check each line . mjh

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: RESCALING

« on: October 08, 2008, 01:38:15 AM »

the original drawing that was done in turbocad and then brought into sheetcan was about 10"+ long.The drawing was brought into mach3 in the form of Gcode.into my machine [joe's 2006 machine] . the hardware box driving the machine is the Hobbycnc 4 axis system [only 3 axis currently running] .I have the steppers running on 1/2 step mode, the steppers are directly connected to the jackscrewswhich in turn are 10 TPI. So the value for 1 " travel is as follows according to me ..10[revs per inch]* 200[steps /rev  =

2000* 2[1/2 step] =4000/inch.

well I ran the machine and the result is minute.So I rescaled the x and y axis using the scales next to the DRO by a factor of 6 .still the result was very small. perhaps 1 1/2" to 2" at most . Perhap my figures are incorrect ,I checked the jumpers ..Anyone see any faults or reasons why the size is not at least close to 10"......regards mjh
 

8

General Mach Discussion / RESCALING

« on: October 07, 2008, 01:03:45 AM »

I am a novice, let that be a warning. I recently upgraded my Mach software with much help from this group. today I ran my machine off of gcode developed from sheetcam. I am in the middle of trying to configure the machine.

So I made a cad drawing brought it into sheetcam which made the G code which in turn was introduced into mach3.I ran the machine and cut an "air" piece. I would like to increase the size of the piece, rescale it that is I have no idea how to do this or for that matter where it should be done .should it be done in the orignal drwaing ,sheetcam or mach3 . Perhaps it is all three but the most efficient way would be nice.....Any help appreciated sorry for the rather rudimentary question

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: reinstalling mach3

« on: October 03, 2008, 01:06:32 AM »

Ray ,thanks for your help I have followed your suggestions and everything now seems in order. When I reinstalled mach3 seems it came with all its own EMX files .I reinstalled the licence so my name is back in the help file.I did put copies on both my home laptop [although it warns against it] ,which just piddle with and my tower unit  at the shop which actually drives the machine .

The installation put 5 shorcuts on the desktop, mill, plasma, turn, lazycam and mach3 loader,the latter looks just like mill. Thanks again for your help  regards mike hide 

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General Mach Discussion / Re: reinstalling mach3

« on: October 01, 2008, 11:02:50 PM »

Forgot to mention mach and its bits and pieces have now been deleted , and as far as I cn see there is nothing left in the registry