Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: IMP?

« on: February 28, 2010, 09:32:15 PM »

Thanks for the reply Steve. I am very new to this, and have yet to understand code well. G1 is the feedrate move, but what are x5 (distance moved in the x axis?) and f1?. If it is an x axis move, then wouldn't it only be 5 inches?

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General Mach Discussion / Re: IMP?

« on: February 28, 2010, 01:23:17 PM »

Ok, wasn't aware there is a difference. The 9 inch move I used previously was programmed in the INPUT (G0 x9 for example) bar in the MDI window, as opposed to holding the jog button. Is this different than the moves executed in the g-code file loaded from Lcam?. My motors are tuned @ 10.5 IMP in the motor tuning section. I assumed that this would be the limit that mach # would be abel to run the motors? Thanks again for your replies, -Jeff

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: IMP?

« on: February 27, 2010, 11:36:56 PM »

Well, checking back in. I found that I wasn't calcualting my moves properly, so my values for distance/time that were given were wrong in the previous posts... I re-checked my setup, and it is closer, but still seems quite off. I program a 9 inch move (which it executes within a few thousanths)(x axis btw), but it only takes about 29 seconds (give or take a "one-one-thousandth" ). I would like to know how to time this move, (I assume I can do this in mach3 ?) for a more accurate measurement. Thank you for your previous input. -Jeff

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General Mach Discussion / Re: IMP?

« on: February 13, 2010, 04:36:00 PM »

Thanks, I will double check everything, and re-post when I have a more accurate answer for exactly how fast it is moving. -Jeff

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General Mach Discussion / Re: IMP?

« on: February 13, 2010, 03:07:46 PM »

    Well, this may soung ghetto, but I jogged from one end of the travel to the other, and counted one one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand  . I figured it would give me a ball park. I am not familiar enough with the software (still reading) to be able to time a given travel, but in my initial tests, it appeared faster than 10 IPM. Does the Jog rate differ from the calculated IPM? Thanks for your input and looking at my xml BTW. Should I delete the other mach icons (shortcuts) on my desktop and delete the other xml's in my mach3 folder ? -Jeff

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: IMP?

« on: February 13, 2010, 12:55:09 AM »

Here goes. I will attach the file I believe to be the one you are after. I have three of them- a "mill.xml", a "mach3mill.xml", and a "jeffmill.xml". There are also 3 shortcuts on my desktop (with those names) that launch Mach3. I don't know why there are 3 as I only installed mach once  . Never the less, I have only been using one for my sessions, and will attach it (it is also the largest one of the three as well). Thanks-Jeff

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: IMP?

« on: February 12, 2010, 08:20:04 PM »

   Thanks for the reply. I would love to. But, (In know, I know ). I don't know exactly what you are refering to. I looked through the mach folders, and found one labled "XMLbackups". Inside are 13 different files. ? This was the only reference I could find. I searched through the forum here, and wasn't able to discerne where I could locate it, or which one I need to post. Sorry for the ignorance, but I literally just started this CNC "stuff". Thanks -Jeff

8

General Mach Discussion / IMP?

« on: February 11, 2010, 11:26:33 PM »

Hello, I have recently joined this board, and am all ears! I just finished (i hope) building my first desktop CNC machine. It is an old Light Machines Sherline based unit, with new steppers, and home built controller. I have a freshly re-imaged PC that is dedicated for this use. I am pretty excited to get cutting, but I want to make sure I do everything right at first. So far, I have the machine up and running, I can jog the axis' without stalling etc. I have my step increments worked out, so that when I tell Mach to move 1 inch, it moves 1 inch etc. However, I have run into something I don't understand. I assume that if I have the software set at 10 IPM, it will take a full 60 seconds to move 10 inches? I currently have my X and Y axis set at 10 IPM, but it only takes 20 seconds to move the nearly 10 inches of travel in my X axis (I have yet to check my y axis but I assume it is the same). That would seem to me to be about 30 IMP. What am I missing? Thanks in advance for the replies, and I am sure there will be many more silly questions to come. -Jeff

9

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

« on: February 11, 2010, 11:03:34 PM »

    Hello, my name is Jeff Wittman, and this is my first post here and i am pretty excited about my new projects! Vital stats- 36, married, 2 kids, Industrial Designer turned Commercial Electrician (figure that one out). Avid hobbiest, model cars, airplanes, helicopters. Amature machinist, and first time cnc build. My first cnc is a old Light Machines that I picked up on e-bay. Put in new steppers, built my own controller box, wiring harneses etc. Re-imaged an old desktop pc, and POW -my first CNC system. It seems to work fine so far, have yet to cut parts, but soon. I am off to the regular to ask questions. Thanks in advance -Jeff