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Messages - DanielF

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1
General Mach Discussion / Re: Timer not counting
« on: March 31, 2012, 10:28:34 PM »
Today I installed Sandra Lite on this 'new' notebook, and had a look at the motherboard hardware.

Sandra says the on-board video uses system memory for video memory.  I seem to remember reading somewhere that this can cause problems with the Mach3 Pulsing Driver, so I guess that's what the problem most likely is.

Looks like a swap with the wife will be the best solution (a swap of the wife would have even more benefits, but not on the cards at the moment!  :D)

Daniel

2
General Mach Discussion / Re: Timer not counting
« on: March 31, 2012, 09:47:00 AM »
Thanks for the suggestions (Tweakie & Hood).

I tried Hood's suggestion first (it was the simplest), but still no-go.

I had a look at the XP optimization procedure, but almost all of it was either not applicable (for Win2k) or was how I had set things already.  So I'm still stuck.  Two other bits of information...

The second-hand NX6120 came with XP loaded.  XP frustrates the hell out of me, so I formatted and installed Win2k Pro SP4.  But unfortunately the PC didn't come with any CDs, so I had to download a bunch of Win2k drivers from HP's support website.  I installed them all (there was none specific to the parallel port), but still there are two devices in Device Manager that don't have drivers (and Windows can't find drivers for them): 'Ethernet controller' and 'PCI Device'.  The Ethernet controller doesn't bother me, since I don't need it (I'm using the in-built wireless network device, which works fine).  But the PCI Device bothers me because I have no idea what it is (nor does Windows!).

Anyway, I've tested the LPT1 port by printing, and it works fine too.  So I don't think those missing drivers are related to the Mach3 problem.

Any other suggestions, anyone?

Daniel

3
General Mach Discussion / Timer not counting
« on: March 31, 2012, 01:59:22 AM »
I'm a registered user of Mach3 (v3.043.022), and have used it successfully to drive my CNC3040.  But till now I've been using a desktop running WinXP.  I wanted to get the desktop out of my dirty workshop environment, and use a notebook PC instead, which I could easily remove from the workshop when not needed.

My wife uses an HP/Compaq NW8000 (with Win2k), and I tested that successfully with Mach3, and it drove the CNC correctly.  But she wants to hang on to it, so I bought another (second-hand) HP/Compaq NX6120, which also has a parallel port.  I've loaded Win2k on that too.

After installing Mach3 on it (with the obligatory reboot), and installing the port driver manually, the Driver Test program runs, but after 'taking over' the parallel port, shows no activity (blank, white) in the Timer Variations window, and 0% (also blank) in the Pulse Rating indicator (see screen dump).  I've run it several times, including after a further reboot, but no change.

If I click the Start Timer button, nothing seems to happen.  If I click the Stop Timer button some seconds later, nothing seems to happen.  If I then click Start Timer again, an error box pops up saying 'Timer not counting'.

In case this was a problem only with the Driver Test display, I hooked this PC up to the CNC, but Mach3 failed to drive anything, and pressing the cursor keys didn't even change the displayed coordinates.

Can anyone offer advice on how I might fix this problem?  As a last resort I could maybe swap this notebook with my wife's, but there are hassles involved with that too. :-(

Daniel
(Gerroa, Australia)

4
Thanks TP.  I'm pretty much resigned to having to use 14 external M98 calls.

No big deal; it's just a one-off hobby job anyway.  But I'm trying to improve my G-coding skills, and thought it would be a good exercise in clever programming, had it worked!

Maybe some future version of Mach will incorporate this ability, and more importantly, conditional statements in G-code.

Daniel

5
Are you trying to call SUB form within the program OR OUTSIDE subs.
...
Outside subs I have never tried to use a #var and am NOT SURE whether  it would work but I will give it a try. The problem IS the outside call par tis NOT a normal Gcode function.

I thought my explanation and code snippet were fairly clear...

My program calls an internal subroutine (O2), which in turn I want to call a series of external subroutines (files), named 10.nc, 15.nc, etc.

I'm not sure what it is you're proposing to try, as I've already tried the code shown in the snippet, and it doesn't work.  I'm looking for some sort of 'work-around' or alternative method of calling external subroutines using a variable for the file name.

Rgds, Daniel

6
I've created 14 G-code files containing text to be engraved, each text string starting at a 0,0 origin.  The text will be engraved in arrays (labels for tool holes in a storage box), so a subroutine looked like being the best way to handle them.

I named the text code files 10.nc, 15.nc, 20.nc, etc, and tried to perform the following (snippets):

Code: [Select]
#10 = 10 (first text file)
G0 X17 Y10 (move to first legend start location)
M98 P2 L5 (first five legends)
G92.1 (cancel coordinate offsets)
.
.
O2 (subroutine)
G92 X0 Y0 (make this the new origin)
M98 (#10.nc)
#10 = [#10 + 5]
G0 X20.667 Y0
M99 (return)

But Mach3 refuses to load this program!  It goes through the motions, but finishes with no code displayed, though no error message!

I've  tried square brackets around the parameter:
Code: [Select]
M98 ([#10].nc)
but still the same failure.  (I've tested with
Code: [Select]
M98 (10.nc)and this works OK, but of course I get the same text for each five labels!)

Does anyone know how I can implement 'variable' file names, or am I doomed to having to write 14 M98 calls to my text files? ???

Daniel

7
Happy New Year 2012

How to convert Estop button to reverse?  I would like to add limit switches (hardware).  Maybe I have to buy CNC Controller card?
Regards.

The above message was sent to me as a private message, but I'm probably not the best person to answer it, so I've re-posted it here.

Muqtadir, I'm assuming you have a CNC3040 or 3020 machine and controller?  I would not advise changing the function of the emergency stop buttom - it serves a very important purpose, allowing a quick stop when something unexpected occurs.  I've used it many times for just that purpose, and would never consider not having a E-stop button!

What is it you want to reverse (which axis, and why)?  Limit switches can be added as per the diagrams in the Mach3 manual.  If you're not using the Probe function on the controller's interface board, you could wire the limit switches to that input, though you couldn't determine which one had actuated when all connected to a single input.

For more inputs you would need to modify the interface board, but I can't give you any details - I don't have a schematic for it.

Regards,
Daniel (Australia)

8
Since posting my videos and files about my CNC3040 improvements, a few members have contacted me about problems with intermittent/uncontrollable movements of one axis of their 3040.  In both cases the cause has turned out to be the same (poor quality manufacturing), so I thought it might be useful to other (maybe future) members who experience the same problem.

The most recent member to contact me on this topic has agreed to our private messages being made public, for the benefit of others, so below is a transcript of those messages.  I Hope it helps someone else to solve the same problem!

Regards, Daniel
Gerroa, Australia.

---------------
Help
« Sent to: DanielF on: December 24, 2011, 03:41:32 AM »
Hi Daniel
I had purchased last few months ago a 4030 from Hong Kong. Still I can not run this machine.
I will appreciate if you send me the MACH3 setting screens capture or if you have any video kindly send me. The Z-axiz is not stable. It goes randomely up or down without control.
Thanks.

---------------
Re: Help
« Sent to: muqtadir on: December 24, 2011, 06:05:27 AM »
Muqtadir,
The Mach3 settings for the CNC3040 are shown in the manual, available here:
http://www.amonstar.com/web/xu/3040new/user%20manual%203040.doc
But your problem sounds more like an intermittent contact.  The last person who contacted me with a similar problem found a loose terminal in one of the connectors on the PC interface board (inside the CNC3040 control box).
Open up your control box, and look at the board mounted on the back panel (where the parallel cable connects).  There are three 4-pin connectors labelled 'X', 'Y' and 'Z'.  Unplug the 'Z' connector and gently tug on each wire going into it.  If any pulls out, you've found the problem!  Carefully check the terminal's orientation (there should be a 'tang' sticking out, which must align with the slot in the side of the housing, to lock it in), then push it fully in until it clicks, and check it is locked in by gently tugging again.
If this isn't the cause, contact me again for further things to check.
Regards, Daniel


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Re: Help
« Sent to: DanielF on: December 24, 2011, 07:08:16 AM »
Many thanks for your quick reply. Tomorrow I will report you.
Regards.
   
---------------
Re: Help
« Sent to: DanielF on: December 26, 2011, 12:01:01 AM »
Hi Daniel
Happy Marry Chrismas !

Thanks for your advise and I have checked so one of the wire from Z-axis had problem. After fixing it is fine and no problem. If the size of the x and y is not same as I need so, where I have to change values of X and Y to get right output.

Best Regard.


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Re: Help
« Sent to: muqtadir on: December 26, 2011, 12:??:?? AM »
Muqtadir,

Glad you were able to find and fix the intermittent axis problem.  Since it seems to be fairly common with these machines (that's two in two months that I've heard of!), would you object if I made this thread public on the MachSupport forum?  It might then help others who have a similar problem.

Regarding setting the axis 'scaling' (pulses per  millimetre), this is done in Mach3 via this menu path:
Config/Motor Tuning.
Select the appropriate axis (X/Y/Z) with the buttons on the right, then enter the corresponding steps per millimetre, maximum (G0) velocity, and acceleration rate in those fields.  Also step pulse and direction pulse durations.  You'll find all those required numbers in the CNC3040 manual (page 15), which you can download (if not already) from the link I previously supplied.  After changing any value for an axis, be sure to click the SAVE AXIS SETTINGS button before moving to the next axis!

Thanks for your Xmas greeting.  Season's Greetings to you too, and a I hope you have a great new year!  We had a beautiful warm Xmas Day (yesterday), our warmest this summer (it's been unseasonably cool this summer!).

Rgds, Daniel
Gerroa, Australia
   

---------------
Re: Help
« Sent to: DanielF on: December 26, 2011, 01:03:00 AM »
Daniel

Nice your comments and glad you spend good time on 25th December and hope you will enjoy on New Year's too.

It is excellent idea for others you can put on public as you already had few modifications and these are your excellent work.

Best Regards.

A. Muqtadir
----------------

9
Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Improvements to the CNC3040/3020 controller
« on: November 23, 2011, 07:39:46 AM »
G'day all. I joined recently, and this is my first post, hopefully in the most appropriate forum.  Let me start by introducing myself...

I'm a retired electronics engineer, with no previous experience in CNC machining. I did a little manual machining as prac work in my uni course (in the 60s), but nothing since then. So consider me a complete novice in machining! For an electronic (hobby) project I'm currently designing, I wanted to have more professional front & rear panel legends than my usual self-adhesive paper labels, so investigated engraving (the panels are black-painted aluminium). After a quick search on eBay, I decided that, rather than paying someone hundreds of $ to program and engrave my panels, I'd be better off putting those hundreds towards my own engraving machine! I was going to get a Chinese CNC3020 (about all I was prepared to pay), but spotted a bargain CNC3040T for the same price, and snapped it up.

As usual, 'Ya gets what ya pays for' - it arrived slightly damaged (inadequately packed), and the Hong Kong seller, who had only just started with this line of products (which is possibly why they made a mistake with the price) offered no support whatsoever. After repairing the slight damage, I started playing with the machine, using Mach3 (v3.042.040). I noticed a few problems with the design/construction of the control box, and set about fixing them. At the same time, I was coming to grips with G-code programming, having already 'mastered' BASIC, C and Assembly language as part of my previous work.

I looked around for a G-code quick-reference I could keep with the machine in the workshop, but didn't find one to my satisfaction. Those I found covered instructions that Mach3 didn't support, and missed some that Mach3 did support. So I wrote my own quick-reference! I've attached it as 'G-code_Quick-Reference(DF).pdf'. While I'm currently using Mach3, I know many people use EMC2 (it's free, after all!), so I've included in my QR instructions supported by Mach3 and/or EMC2. The QR is intended to be printed in colour, double-sided on A3 paper in booklet mode, so after laminating and folding it in half, you have a 4-page A4 booklet. [This and the other stuff I'm offering (below), are aimed primarily at CNC hobbyists like myself.]

My second contribution is details of a useful modification to the CNC3040 (and also CNC3020?) control box, so that the spindle motor can be turned on and off by the computer. The circuit diagram ('schematic' if you're American) is also attached, as 'Spindle_drive_mod.pdf'. Apart from the portion showing my additions, consider the rest of the diagram 'tentative'. The manufacturer has scrubbed all the semiconductor identifications off the devices, making it hard to know what each device is. Q1 in particular puzzled me, being connected in a strange way. The only thing that made sense from its connections was a current-sink as I've shown, but even that makes no sense with the parallel diodes clamping Q2's base to 1.2V. So I'm not at all sure what Q1 is doing.

Note that the added LED (if used) should be a low-current type (good brightness at 5–10mA). If you choose to omit the LED, change R19 to 680 ohms (instead of 150). I've also attached a block diagram of the CNC3040 control box (CNC3040T_block.pdf), for those interested (NB: this diagram is of the original box, before my modifications). One of the few things I did like about this box is that all the computer inputs are opto-isolated from the power circuits, so there's no need for an external isolation board between a PC and the CNC3040.

I've also done a number of other modifications to my machine, and made a few videos about them (including the spindle control mod), and placed them on YouTube:
http://youtu.be/AEHy52bu0vQ - mechanical mods to gantry to achieve full Z range over full X range (Part 1: 2 min 3 sec)
http://youtu.be/hVktje3Opqc - five mods (including safety issues!) to control box (Part 2: 6 min 39 sec)

Having finished all the mods, I wrote a short G-code program to test my understanding of circular arc programming, parameter setting and using, and sub-routine calling. It also tests program control of the spindle motor, with my control-box modification. This last video will be of little interest to experienced users, but was made more for people looking to buy a desktop machine, to show one of the many things it can do with very simple programming:
http://youtu.be/6uxyL7oGD_Y - a demo of the machine (and Mach3) running some G-code, with spindle on/off control (4 min 55 sec)

[All these videos were shot on a cheap 'point-and-shoot' (still) camera, using its internal microphone, so apologies for the low video and (especially) audio quality. :-(]

OK, that's enough blab for a first post. I'll let you absorb all this, and then later start picking other members' brains!

Regards, Daniel
(Gerroa, Australia)

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