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Messages - B3030

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1
General Mach Discussion / Re: Sharing Mach 3 between two machines
« on: August 09, 2014, 01:58:01 PM »
Do you plan to use the same stepper drivers too?  Same BOBs?

I use the same computer, drivers, BOBs to operate two Sherline machines.  They both have the same type steppers mounted so the drivers do not have to be adjusted for different motor requirements.  I use a set of TYCO CPC connectors to plug in either the mill (and harness) or the lathe (and harness).  Just swap cables and open the appropriate Mach3 profile.

My system actually has a router I can swap out too, that uses the same type steppers.  Very modular set-up.

B3030

2
Lots of reads but no replies.

Has anyone ever connected encoders to lathe steppers to use the Encoder DROs in Mach3Turn?

B3030

3
General Mach Discussion / No Z Encoder in Mach3Turn, works in Mach3Mill
« on: August 03, 2014, 04:38:59 PM »
I have a Sherline mill and a Sherline lathe that have both been converted to CNC and work great.  I've included a set of disconnects so one set of stepper drivers and BOBs (CNC4PC C11 and C10) will drive either machine.  I'm able to swap out a couple cables and use either machine.  All three steppers on the mill, and both steppers on the lathe have CUI AMT-102 encoders.  The X and Z steppers and encoders on both machines are wired exactly the same.  I use the same motor/spindle assembly for both.  

In the Mach3Mill Mill profile I'm able to see all three stepper encoders on the mill work on the Encoder DROs on the settings page.

In the Mach3Turn Lathe profile I only see the X Encoder work on the diagnostics page.  Cannot get Z encoder DRO to work at all.  I thought I had a bad encoder on the lathe Z stepper so I swapped the X Encoder wiring to the Z encoder and saw movement on the X encoder DRO so I'm sure the lathe Z encoder works.

** Now here is where it gets weird.  I left the lathe attached and opened the Mach3Mill profile.  Keep in mind the stepper and encoder wiring is that same.  Moving the lathe X Encoder changed the Mach3Mill X Encoder DRO on the Settings page.  This was expected.  Now, when I moved the lathe Z Encoder, the Mach3Mill Z Encoder DRO on the Settings page worked!  It didn't work using the Mach3Turn profile but works with the Mach3Mill profile.  Same wiring, different profile.  I triple checked the settings in the two profiles and everything I know that would affect the encoder DROs matches.  Really only the ports and pins on the Encoder/MPG's should affect the encoder DROs.

I have customized screensets for both the mill and lathe but I reverted back to the standard 1024 screensets to eliminate that.  Still no Z encoder DRO in the Mach3Turn profile.



Does anyone have an idea why the Z encoder DRO would work in Mach3Mill and not work in Mach3Turn?  

B3030

4
Just as a follow-up...
I installed CUI AMT102 encoders ($23 each) and they worked great from the first time I powered up the system (long back-order from Digikey but they now have 300 in stock).  With 5mm/rev leadscrews, I set the encoders to 125 pulses/rev to get a quadrature resolution of 500 pulese/rev.  That should give me .01mm resolution at the encoder.  Sure enough, one revolution of the leadscrew via a handwheel on the stepper, caused a 5mm movement of the DRO.

Those CUI encoders come with two different mounts with many mounting hole patterns.  I didn't want to drill/tap holes into my steppers (didn't know how far I could go and didn't want to take them apart) so I used an industrial double-dided tape.  Cleaned both sides carefully with laquer thinner.  I emailed CUI support and they said that would be an acceptable solution.  So far, so good.  I like having the option to go "manual" on my mill for when I just need to do a quick job that doesn't require CNC(ontrol).

B3030

5
General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3Turn gcode from CAD profile?
« on: June 27, 2014, 07:40:19 PM »
Thanks for the info Hood.

I really hate the learning curve that comes with a broad sw package like Dolphin or BobCAD.  I'm still overwhelmed with the Vectric sw.  I hate to pile on another.

I'm looking at CAD2Lathe and CAD2gcode.

B3030

6
General Mach Discussion / Mach3Turn gcode from CAD profile?
« on: June 24, 2014, 12:40:26 PM »
I've been using Mach3Mill with a router and mill for about 1.5 years.  I typically use a simple CAD program to output a DXF file to Vectric Cut2D, Cut3D or Aspire, which spits out gcode for Mach3Mill.

I'm now configuring a Sherline lathe for CNC.  I see the wizards in Mach3Turn, and will use them for simple parts to get started.  I also see that I can string together a series of wizard outputs.

Is there a way to convert a CAD-generated profile into gcode that Mach3Turn will accept?  As an example,  how would I create gcode for a part with many complex concave and convex curves?  I can easily create the profile in CAD, but creating it with the wizards seems like it would be much more difficult.

B3030

7
General Mach Discussion / Re: Joystick setup
« on: June 12, 2014, 07:31:33 PM »
Did you ever get this to work?

I have a simple two-pot joystick connected to a Martzis 64 channel HID.  The HID buttons seem to always work.  However, the joystick will jog the X and Y axis but only after Keygrabber is launched.  I don't have to click anything in Keygrabber or make any changes, but as soon as its launched the joystick will jog the two axis'.  It will then work as I want it to until Mach3 is closed and re-launched.

I installed the Martzis Plug-in but it has no way yo configure the analog channels to jog.  It only has choises for feedrate and spindle speed.

Has anyone found a solution to this problem?

B3030


8
General Mach Discussion / Re: M5 does not completely stop the spindle
« on: June 08, 2014, 08:54:49 PM »
I found the problem.

The Motor Speed Controller came with a switched potentiometer for control.  I wired the C11 analog output to the pot input and wired the switch part of the pot to a relay onboard the C11 correctly, but I hadn't enabled the relay in Ports and Pins. ::) 

I do have the minimum speed in the Pulley set to 0 so I still wonder why I still have that slow spin when I command a Spindle speed change of S0.  The relay now stops the spindle (for tool changes) so all is well.

Thanks for your reply Hood.

B3030

9
General Mach Discussion / M5 does not completely stop the spindle
« on: June 07, 2014, 08:34:32 PM »
I have a simple DC spindle on a Chinese router.
I'm using the Analog output from a CNC4PC C11 BOB to replace a potentiometer on a 1000W PWM Motor Speed Control that is driven by a 48VDC switching P/S.

The specs for the Speed Controller are as follows:
   Working voltage: DC 10V-50V
   Control Motor Power : 0.01-1000W (50V)
   Rated current: 30A(Max current 40A)
   Regulation range:5-100%

The spindle works fine and follows M3 commands to turn on, and "S" commands to change speed. The problem I have is that when I send an M5 code the spindle still rotates about 100-200 RPM.

The Speed Controller specs include the line: "Regulation range:5-100%".  Would that account for the spindle still spinning after the M5 command since it never commands it to 0%?

B3030

10
General Mach Discussion / Re: Port 2 Pin2-9 Mach3 Problem
« on: June 07, 2014, 08:20:24 PM »
Lots of threads out there about this, but haven't found many that ended with working inputs on pins 2-9 on PP #2.  Usually a PP card issue.

I have the same problem with a C11 on PP #1 and C10 on PP #2.

My Input needs are as follows:

E-stop
Touch probe
Spindle Speed Index
Limits
3x quadrature encoders for DRO

I wanted to use separate limit switch inputs for each axis but had to combine them all since I have only the 10 inputs.

Some have tried a SYMA PP PCI card with  success.

B3030

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