Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: gcode

« on: May 08, 2008, 06:47:47 PM »

There is an add-on four Eagle that will output a DXF file of your PCB design, it was developed by enthusiasts and is freely available or at least was freely available, I think I downloaded the add-on from Eagles web site quite some time ago seemed to work just fine, although I didn't have a mill to actually make a PCB.

Darren.

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: disabled steppers after a period of inactivity??

« on: May 08, 2008, 06:09:17 PM »

Hi jimpinder, and thank you for your reply.

I build the PICStep by Alan Garfield, his web site is here ( www.fromorbit.com/projects/picstep/index.php ), you know I think I may have used the firmware with the (no timeout power reduction) I better check the software from the chips, actually only one motor which is different from the other two is getting uncomfortably warm, I know the controller is set correctly for that motor but maybe I have the wrong firmware in that particular controller.

At least now I know to stop looking for a feature that isn't there, and yes you are right my controller does and should take care of power reduction to the motors during inactivity, I'd better do some investigation and find out exactly what's going on, I should be able to work it out.

Thanks again for your help jimpinder,

Darren. 

3

General Mach Discussion / disabled steppers after a period of inactivity??

« on: May 08, 2008, 03:52:30 AM »

Hi guys, I'm new to this game and have run into a minor set up problem that I'd really like to resolve before continuing the setup of my first basic mill.  I started using KCam because it seemed to be a good choice for a beginner, but after being a little disappointed with its performance gave Mach3 a test run, well there's just no comparison, I was a little afraid of all the bells and whistles in Mach3, but taking it one step at a time I'm starting to work things out.

Now in KCam I used pin 14 as an output to my controllers to enable my steppers, and after a period of inactivity I think it was five seconds they would be disabled to help avoid overheating of the stepper motors, can Mach3 do this I can't seem to work out how??

Any help is greatly appreciated,

Darren.