Messages

1

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Kingstar Ethercat cost

« on: November 12, 2022, 06:02:55 AM »

I didn't ask for opinions, I asked for costs

But just to clarify some of the points you made.
The PC isn't that specialised. It mostly needs to be a suitable spec, with a supported network card, which Kingstar provide a list of on their website. The list reveals it requires certain Intel network chips.

As for supported drives, it's largely no different from any other common standards. Yes, there will likely be some variations in how protocols are implemented, but that wasn't what I was asking about.
I was asking about the actual availability/cost of the software, so I can consider if it's a feasible option to try, but it's looking like my Mach4 license can keep sitting gathering dust :/

2

Mach4 General Discussion / Kingstar Ethercat cost

« on: November 11, 2022, 02:03:07 PM »

Having seen a few videos lately, I've been looking into Ethercat options, and see there is the Kingstar option for Mach 4.

Does anybody know the costs involved?
I'm aware of the automationtechnologies prebuilt option, but the cost to get that system shipped to the UK makes it extremely costly, so I'm looking at just the software cost, or even if it's available on it's own.

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: December 30, 2017, 04:02:17 PM »

If you want to use the knee for tool length compensation the tool length would simply need to be passed to the knee axis to move it up or down by that amount BEFORE a tool is actually changed so you have room for it at your normal tool change Z height. Then the program sees all tools as the same length.

You'd probably want to compare the two offsets, and only move if the new tool is longer, as you don't really want the knee cranking up for some short tool after running some long tool, before you've changed the tool.

Slowly making sense, thanks

So in the code all tool length compensation would be turned off and I would likely be editing the M6 Start ??

That's actually a good question.
You still need to use tool length compensation, and use the tool lengths in the tool table to move the knee, but how does Mach handle that?
Not using compensation would work, if you know the knee will move to Z in the right position.
Other option is can mach combine the position of the knee, with the quill?

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z Axis Air Assist

« on: December 24, 2016, 04:35:38 PM »

They should use a venting regulator.
The regulator lets in pressure when the pressure drops i.e the cylinder extends, and vents pressure out when the pressure increases i.e. the cylinder retracts.

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Strrange sound of stepper motor Mach3

« on: December 22, 2016, 06:29:22 PM »

Do all the axis do it at the same time?
If they are, it could be a power supply issue.

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: Custom Machine Servo Motor "Stall/Catch" (Both Power On and Power Off)

« on: December 06, 2016, 07:38:31 PM »

Dirty/sticky/worn brushes could quite easily cause enough of a problem to cause the drive to fault.
If checking them has cured the problem, then that has probably been the problem.

If it hasn't, the next thing I'd be trying would be to start swapping bits between axis. Motor/encoder/drive in some form of logical order, starting with whatever is easiest to change. Once the fault moves, you should of found the problem. If it never moves, then you're looking at a wiring problem.

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: Question on Plasma THC control to users of this facility

« on: November 27, 2016, 06:29:59 PM »

Around 2003 would probably be about right.

Your plan sounds reasonable.
I suspect you'll need to add a bit filtering/smoothing to the input, otherwise your up/down relays will likely do nothing but chatter.

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Physical buttons for plasma

« on: November 27, 2016, 06:00:17 PM »

The problem is, if it's the continual movement that was overheating the motor, then the same will likely happen with a larger motor.

It'll be a case of striking the balance between moving too much that the motor overheats, and moving too slowly the torch height doesn't respond quick enough.

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: Question on Plasma THC control to users of this facility

« on: November 27, 2016, 08:06:40 AM »

I was going to convert it to CNC, but after much deliberation, I got the chance of a CNC lathe, then an even bigger mill, which led to another CNC lathe, which led to a ready to run CNC mill, and am currently retrofitting yet another mill.
In amongst that, the mill I bought from you got sold (I think I still have the wiring diagram from when I worked out exactly how the rapid cycle worked). I still have my original Harrison mill, which is currently setup to do second ops.

You could increase the supply voltage to your existing driver, however you really want to be using a linear supply.
I suspect the real reason you kept blowing controllers, was under deceleration, the drive dumps energy back into the power supply. Switch mode power supplies generally don't like that and have little capacity to absorb it, with the result you see a voltage surge, which and the TB chips just don't handle going over their rated voltage. Linear supplies on the other hand, with a reasonable sized capacitor will quite happily absorb the surge.
The other option is to add in a reverse energy dump, which will dump any energy from the drive into an external resistor (check the stepper motor basics guide over on gecko drive for examples)

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: Just when you think you are finally getting there....

« on: November 27, 2016, 07:43:42 AM »

I'm going to guess that's around where the axis speeds starts/finishes changing speed for/after the corner?