Hello Guest it is March 28, 2024, 12:23:26 PM

Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - razorboy4

Pages: 1
1
General Mach Discussion / Re: Trouble with the Z axis
« on: August 11, 2014, 03:32:30 PM »
Yes, they do.  In fact, every piece of G-code in Mach3 is being fed through, even if the Z axis commands are not following the programming.

2
General Mach Discussion / Re: Trouble with the Z axis
« on: August 11, 2014, 11:49:17 AM »
That is the mystifying thing.  We are able to jog the Z in both directions with no issues.  It is just that sometimes after a speed change move (G-code line runs at 10% of full speed when resetting into the engraving area) the Z descends for a short time and then it just stops.  So you end up with a Z that keeps ascending and moving farther and farther off of the engraving area.

It is getting a little frustrating.

I think I am going to move the other Gecko controller box over to see if the problem mis mechanical or in the coding somewhere.

3
General Mach Discussion / Re: Trouble with the Z axis
« on: August 07, 2014, 03:19:08 PM »
Have been playing with this problem for a couple of days now.  I tried several different things.  I retightened the set screws in the coupler on the stepper motor shaft.  At first it seemed to work.  For about the first 10 minutes of the test run, the Z axis drive rod turned on descending moves where it wasn't before.  Then it only occasionally dropped the Z on descending moves.  I am wondering if there is an issue with the stepper itself.

I am using a Sure Step 276 oz-in 2.8 amp 1.1 ohms 1.8 degree/step motor.  Does anyone know if there are issues with this particular motor?  The X and Y axes seem to be operating just fine (although the motors are getting pretty hot).  I need to check the resistor to make sure the current limitation is the correct value setting in Gecko for motors.  I am pretty sure it is.

I will take any and all suggestions into account.  I am running out of ideas and I know there is an answer and a solution for everything.  For all I know the motor on my Z axis might just be faulty.

any guesses?

4
General Mach Discussion / Trouble with the Z axis
« on: August 05, 2014, 01:29:21 PM »
Hello all!

Running into an odd little problem.  We are using a Maxnc-10 machine, converted controller using a Gecko G540 board and Mach 3 software.  It seems that during a machine run, every time the Z axis makes a move, the Z axis moves up .0250.  When it is supposed to descend, it doesn't.  So the spindle is effectively rising up above the engraving area by .0250 every time there is a break between speed change but is not returning to the engraving area for the next move.  It just continues to move up and not down.

Does anyone know what is causing this and how it can be corrected?

Appreciate any help!

Jeff

5
Thanks, Rich.
Not sure if the 50-50-50 rule works with the rotary table.  The X, Y and Z axis are all running perfectly.  We are trying to adjust the backlash in the A axis.  It is a different setup from the linear axes.  Our A axis is directly connected to the stepper shaft with a flexible coupling.  It looks like this:





We are not sure if the backlash needs to be measured in degrees or in steps.  We know how to take out as much mechanical backlash as we can.  The confusing part is the Mach3 configuration for backlash.  It specifically says, "Backlash Distance In Units".  Frankly, we are not entirely sure what goes in as a measurement.  Are they talking stepper units or what?

I know it must seem like I am asking the same things over and over but we are still trying to get the hang of Mach3.

Jeff

6
Hi,

We recently set up our Maxnc 10CL to run with Mach3 software.  after some tweaking and suggestions from some of you fine folks, it is actually working with little problems.

The biggest adjustment that we have to make is with the backlash, specifically in the A axis.  The Maxnc comes with an optional 4th axis.  In this case, it is a Sherline rotary table.  It works very well but we are having issues getting the backlash down in that axis.  When we run our backlash test, every axis is bang on with the exception of the A.

I know adjusting the backlash mechanically is our best option.  But what is the best way to set the backlash within the Mach3 program.  As some of you might know the Maxnc comes with archaic software that runs in the DOS system.  Setting the backlash is simple there because the software only offers you a choice on the spectrum of 0 through 10.  It doesn't take long to play with that and figure out what your settings should be.

We are still pretty new with the Mach3 software and the settings are slightly more complicated.  Any suggestions?

Jeff

7
General Mach Discussion / Re: Running Maxnc 10 CL with Mach3
« on: July 11, 2014, 11:44:45 AM »
Actually, the machines are 8 to 10 years old.  We just added a rotary table to give it a 4th axis.

I have a feeling that the Maxnc CL controller box may not be compatible with the Mach3 program but no one has disproven that yet.  I did get the pinout from the FTP site but the machine is not entirely responding.  Just ticking the "Max CL" box did not give the machine total operation.

Back to the drawing board.

8
General Mach Discussion / Running Maxnc 10 CL with Mach3
« on: July 10, 2014, 04:26:35 PM »
Hello all,

New to this forum but I have been reading a lot of your posts, picking up the wisdom of your instruction here and there.

We are in the process of overhauling some of our CNC machines.  We have 4 Maxnc 10 CL CNCs.  One of them we overhalled the controller with a new Gecko G540 and it works great.  We are using the newest version of Mach3 and really like a lot of the features.  We also have an ACT CNC and that came preloaded with an OEM version of Mach3.  Not as great as the newest software but still really good.

We decided to try an experiment in an effort to run all of our systems with Mach3 software.  We are trying to run one of our machines with the original Maxnc Cl controller box using Mach3.  I did a lot of research.  Discovered that the Maxnc people themselves are really no help and do not want you running their machines with Mach3.  I managed to get the pinout assignments and also read that if you select the the Max CL box under "ports and pins" you shouldn't have to manually change anything.  However, this did not entirely work.  Some of the axes had movement while others were limited (our machines are all 4 axis), especially the A axis.

Also, we can't seem to find a way to make the flood commands M8 and M9 work.  We tried a bunch of different configurations (including M8 on pin 14) and have no success getting it operational.

Is there a way to make Mach3 compatible with the Maxnc CL machinery?  What are we doing wrong?  Do I need to be hit in the head with a frying pan or do I need to take a hammer to the controller box?

I have been on the M8 M9 issue for 2 days now and have found absolutely nothing to help me.    ??? :o :( >:( :'(

Appreciate any comments or help.

Jeff

Pages: 1