Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Program Stop

« on: October 25, 2015, 04:36:36 PM »

The point is that the thing is resetting on a particular line of code and it kept repeating there by shutting down right after hitting the resume button.  I lifted the cutter from the workpiece, and it was still stopping in the air on the same line of code.  I was resuming at that same line, and it never moved to the next line, just went into reset.  Then when I started the piece all over again from the start of the code, it went through that same point with no problem.  This behaves like some kind of software issue.
A noise problem would give random results.  This was repeatable until I started everything over again.

2

General Mach Discussion / Program Stop

« on: October 24, 2015, 11:06:07 PM »

I was milling a part and was a good part of the way through it when the mill just shut down in reset mode.  There was nothing I could find that caused it to happen.  So, I gave it an M3 to start the cutter back up.  Now the cutter is spinning.  Then pushed the start from present position button (or whatever it says). The system went back into reset again.  Tried it several times and went into reset, staying at the same command location.  It was on a simple G1X0 command; nothing interesting.  So, I went back to zero and started the program over again.  This time it finished.  Has anyone seen this kind of behavior.  I figured it was some kind of noise problem or something, but it seemed like it some anomaly in the code shutting it down, since it was repeatable.  thanks

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Holes Not Round

« on: February 28, 2015, 08:26:36 AM »

Thanks Rich; I now have accurate round holes.  I was a little surprised to find that I have zero backlash in the y axis and 25 mils of it in the x axis.  Same lead screws and nuts.  Is that typical?  I using an RF 45.  I guess since the software seems to do a good job of tuning out the backlash, it doesn't matter.

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Holes Not Round

« on: February 25, 2015, 11:53:44 AM »

Thanks Rich; sounds like a great approach to verify what's going on and to get the problem resolved.  What's the best way to measure table travel within machine tolerances?  I can see measuring short distances with a dial indicator setup.  Is it generally necessary to verify accurate table travel over varying distances, short to long?

5

General Mach Discussion / Holes Not Round

« on: February 24, 2015, 06:19:46 PM »

I’m machining a plug panel that has assorted hole sizes for mounting plugs. Each of the holes that gets machined is eccentric (oblong). I thought at first that it was due to a backlash issue, but doesn’t seem to be the case. The holes are eccentric diagonally. If backlash, it seems they would be eccentric only in the x or y direction. This would indicate something to do with the software; a setting or such? Anyone seen this?
I’m running Mach 3/PMDX/Gecko/RF 45 rex

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: Gecko Tuning Problems

« on: December 26, 2014, 09:51:32 PM »

Needed to clean up routing.  Just the two motor leads were impacted.  Put them through a new port in the motor housing and plugged the spades back together.  Connection is correct.  This (y) axis has always been a little on the edge, sometimes chattering on transition.  After rerouting the wire, it apparently went over the edge and I had to mess with the pots again.

My issue is that the pot adjustments don't behave as I would expect, particularly given that I seem to get good stable table movement only if the trim and gain pots are fully counterclockwise.  What the Gecko spec doesn't tell me is whether fully counterclockwise is full on or full off.  If full off, why does the table move at all?  Tried calling Gecko and they are out for the holidays.

I'm a retired EE and quite familiar with servo systems.  However, I'm looking for some experienced knowledge on the Gecko 320, so I can understand why it's behaving as it is.  So, two questions...

- Is ccw on the trim and gain pots full on or full off?  BTW, the limit pot seems to be full on clockwise.
- How sensitive is the system to the motor wire?  My wire is rather long.  The pair is tightly twisted all the way from the 320 to the motor.  There is a balun in each lead at the motor.

Grateful for any helpful feedback.

thanks, rex

7

General Mach Discussion / Gecko Tuning Problems

« on: December 26, 2014, 09:02:53 AM »

I'm having trouble getting a Gecko 320 driver/motor to stabilize.  It worked fine before, but after doing some rewiring at the motor, I can't seem to get the vibration adjusted out of it.  I have the limit clear up as Gecko recommends and as usual for my setup.  I have 90V servo motors. 
The only position of the gain and damping pots that give me good performance with no chatter, etc, is with both of them fully counterclockwise.  BTW, the Gecko spec doesn't say which direction is full on.

I know that if you tune by ear, you turn the gain up until chatter, then turn damping up until it stops; then turn the gain up, then the damping until you're almost to the end of the damping pot.  Doesn't seem to work that way, both pots ccw seems to be the only working position.

I haven't dinked with the other two drivers since I set the system up months ago; scared to at this point.

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Joy Stick

« on: October 26, 2014, 08:11:00 PM »

I discovered 'keygrabber'.  It's in the Mach 3 folder.  Bought a USB controller for a 360, plugged it into my PC, set up the config in key grabber, and it worked the first time.  amazing

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: Joy Stick

« on: October 25, 2014, 07:35:06 PM »

John, where do I find this plug in?  thanks,

10

General Mach Discussion / Joy Stick

« on: October 24, 2014, 02:20:18 PM »

I have arrived at the point where I need some kind of manual positioning mechanism (such as a joy stick) for my mill.  Trying to do it from the keyboard doesn't let me get close enough to eyeball what I'm doing.  I see a number of joy stick solutions on the web, but don't want to embark on one until I learn a little about them.  Best case would be an ArtSoft supported solution, but I don't see anything like that on the website.  Any advice for me?  thanks, rex