Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need Help with Set-Up

« on: October 07, 2014, 09:00:27 AM »

Thanks for all the prompt assistance.

After I changed(reversed) the Z setting in the config/homing/limits section and then reversed the Z hot keys everything works great. Test piece cut ran perfect.

Don't understand why I had to reverse the Z setting, however, if it works I'm not going to question.

Thanks for everyone's assistance
Don

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need Help with Set-Up

« on: October 06, 2014, 01:41:46 PM »

Thanks for the replies.

Today I went and air cut the program a number of times and it finally struck me that the Vector Aspire cut file was running in reverse - it would first plunge down the 0.8 safe z then back up and try to move the 0.2 rapid z gap and then raise up to cut material.

After I figured it was running in reverse, I went to the Config/homing/limits section and reversed the Z setting.

Everything worked fine, except the Z axis hot keys of page up and page down are now backwards and it doesn't seem like they can be changed.

With Z reversed the  little test program cuts correct except the Z hot keys. The Y and X axes cut correctly and their hot keys are ok.

How can I fix this?

Thanks for your patience and assistance,
Don

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need Help with Set-Up

« on: October 05, 2014, 06:22:06 PM »

Hood

Thanks for the response.  Z direction is correct. Safe Z, if I think I'm right, comes with the individual project file designed in Vectric Aspire and is set as 0.2 and the home position is set at x 0.0 y 0.0 z0.8.

I've attached the xml file.

Thanks,
Don

4

General Mach Discussion / Need Help with Set-Up

« on: October 05, 2014, 02:09:18 PM »

I am a new Mach 3 user, setting it up on a new machine I have just finished building. I have been a long time user of a CNC Shark and the Vectric software, both VCarve and Aspire latest versions.
I have set-up Mach 3 for my machine after watching all the videos and reading the pdf manuals. Everything seems to work ok - steps calibrated, etc., however, I use no homing or limits switches.
BUT I do have a problem. I have a test piece (very simple Aspire file) and I put the piece in the middle of the table, center the bit in the middle and zero to the top of the piece, zero everything after loading .txt file, etc.  When I turn on the router and cycle start the first thing the router does is go straight down 3/4" (the thickness of the work piece) and then come back up and tries to cut the image.
I've searched forums, read manuals, reviewed set-up, etc and nothing. The piece cuts ok on the Shark CNC.
I've attached the dxf file and the gcode.  Hopefully someone can help - I greatly appreciate the assistance.

Thanks,
Don