Messages

1

Tangent Corner / V-Clamp vaccuum clamp

« on: November 29, 2008, 09:40:33 PM »

I saw the v-clamp on cool tools (on DIY) yesterday and wondered if any one has tried one on their cnc. They are about $60 and come in two versions. Looks like a pretty good vaccuum clamp and it works with an air compressor.

Any feed back would be appreciated.

John

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool Position

« on: November 26, 2008, 09:13:28 PM »

OK thanks, I'll look at the LazyCam videos tutorials again and then apply what Hood said. 


John

3

General Mach Discussion / Tool Position

« on: November 26, 2008, 01:43:31 PM »

I am new to CNC'ing and I am almost   ready to make the first cut. I have read the tutorials about homing/referencing, but I am confused about positioning the tool to begin the cut. I will be using a 1/8" cutter to route a profile in 1/8" thick material (cut out) and drill holes thru the material. The material will rest on a 3/4" MDF backer board. I have put my drawing in LazyCam and created the code. It's not a complicated part, it's a chassis for an RC car. There are no arcs, mostly right angle, angle and straight cuts.

1. Does it matter how the bit is positioned in the router i.e. how much of the cutter is sticking out for want of a better word
2. Do you allow for the backer board and the thickness of the material, if so where and how
3. After homing do you jog the tool to the starting point and then do a REF/ALL command on the screen
4. I am just not clear on how the tool knows where to start the cut, and how to define that. It will affect the depth of the cut I set in LazyCam

I do not have access to my Gcode right now I will post later if needed.



Thanks for all your help,

John

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Motor tuning

« on: November 21, 2008, 01:43:06 PM »

Thanks, that is more in line with what I have been seeing others use. I will try that and see how it goes. Hopefully I will start tuning in the morning and see how it goes.

Thanks for your help.

John

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Motor tuning

« on: November 21, 2008, 09:07:34 AM »

Thanks Guys, that will give me a starting point to "play" with. I have downloaded all the tutorials and have looked at the videos, but the driver starting point seemed different from what I have seen others use, especially the steps.

I forgot to mention I am using 3/8 x 16 threaded rod for my lead screws with dumpster antibacklash nuts, how does that affect the steps calculation?

Thanks,

John

6

General Mach Discussion / Motor tuning

« on: November 20, 2008, 08:42:48 PM »

My driver board maker recommends the following initial settings for motor tuning; Steps=400, velocity = 120, acceleration = 90 and step pulse = 1. This shows the motors to be in half step mode.

I am running a Rockcliff flying gantry, made of mdf, linear bearings, Keling 282 oz in motors with a 4 axis board, Y and A axis slaved. The motors are wired bipolar series @ 4.2 volts, 2.1 amps. I have a 24 volt power supply at 7.5 amps.

What do you think of these settings as an initial setting for getting it running? Should I start in 1/8th step mode? If so what do you recommend for steps, velocity and acceleration?

I am hoping to do my first cuts this weekend and would like your input.

Thanks,
John

7

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

« on: October 21, 2008, 02:15:35 PM »

Hi, I'm John Bovinich, El Paso, TX. Just finished building my router, hope to do a trial cut this weekend and that's where I need help. I'm new to Mach3/LazyCam and need help!

I have made my drawing in TurboCad 12 in DXF format and loaded into LazyCam. Now what? I don't know what I'm supposed to do in LazyCam to get to Mach3. I see the the post code button to Mach3, then what. If someone could give me the sequence I should use I would appreciate the help.

Thanks,

John

8

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

« on: October 08, 2008, 02:35:04 PM »

I'm John, new to the forum. Finishing up a Rockcliff flying gantry. Should start on the electronics this weekend. Wiring the board, motors, limit switches and getting the computer up and running. I will be using Mach and lazycam. I live in Texas and will be making all kinds of things, but mostly R/C truck parts.

John