Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can you identify this controller? RC Foam Cutter (RC Foamcutter)

« on: March 05, 2017, 04:25:42 PM »

For the record I believe I found the manufacture of the CNC controller pictured above.  It is manufactured by http://nc-tech.cc/.

The controller in the photographs is TERRIBLE!

I am pleased to report that RC Foam Cutter sent me a better CNC controller and the foam cutter is operating like a totally new machine.  Very nice!  I suspect the replacement controller was manufactured by the same company, but it appears to be more robust.  With the previous controller the axis would not stay in calibration.  Also the motors sounded like they were grinding.  Now the motors operate smooth with a common whine.

Bret C

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Parallel port driver does not support EPP - Any alternative drivers for EPP?

« on: March 04, 2017, 09:21:20 AM »

I found a parallel port on Amazon. 

A customer reported that it works well with Mach3 and CNC machine.

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Port-Parallel-Adapter-PCI1PECP/dp/B00006B8BS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

After I install it I will report back here on its functionality.

Bret C

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Parallel port driver does not support EPP - Any alternative drivers for EPP?

« on: March 04, 2017, 08:46:14 AM »

Hello Tweakie:

Thank you for the suggestion to find a different parallel board.  I checked CNC4you but did not find one on their web site.  Is there another reputable site you would suggest?  Thanks!  Bret C

4

General Mach Discussion / Parallel port driver does not support EPP - Any alternative drivers for EPP?

« on: March 04, 2017, 07:40:28 AM »

Group I am setting up an HP dx2400 to control an RC FoamCutter 4 axis hot wire cutter.  I have had the FoamCutter working on an older computer but the X and the Z axis would not stay in sync and we suspected the problem to be caused by a much older, slower computer so I upgraded to the newer dx2400. 

The HPdx2400 us running the latest BIOS of Rev 5.37 however the BIOS does not support control of the parallel driver to control the modes like the old PC did (EPP etc).  The parallel board is an Oxford PCI-2S1P GP / OX12PCI840.  The documentation for the board indicates that it does support various modes but control of the modes appears to be limited by the driver.  I have found two drivers for the parallel board.  One dated in 2003 that allows control of the mode but Mach3 does not respond even after changing the respective port address on the parallel port.  So I updated to a parallel driver dated 2007 however this driver does not support the ability to change the the communications type (EPP etc.)

So with this known, is there a driver available to support this parallel board in EPP mode?  If so, can someone please post it or a link to it here?

Thank you.

Bret C

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can you identify this controller? RC Foam Cutter (RC Foamcutter)

« on: March 03, 2017, 09:25:27 AM »

Hello Craig:

Thank you for your reply.  To your point, it does not make any difference what brand it is because based on my poor experience with it, I must get a better one. 

So - what is better than Geko 540?

Thanks

Bret C

6

Bargain Basement / Wanted four axis foam cutter

« on: March 02, 2017, 09:13:05 PM »

Wanted four axis industrial CNC foam cutter.  (No hobby systems)

7

General Mach Discussion / Can you identify this controller? RC Foam Cutter (RC Foamcutter)

« on: March 02, 2017, 04:54:07 PM »

I need to identify the manufacturer of the CNC controller that came with our RC Foam Cutter.  Knowing the manufacture of the controller we an then resolve some issues we have been having with it.

Attached are a few photographs of it.

Thanks!  Bret C

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Jog HotKey gets stucked!

« on: December 27, 2016, 09:32:41 AM »

I am sure this is a elemetry question but what do you mean by "FB"?

I am attempting to set the jog codes per the above "ScreenHunter_03_Feb... but can not determine how to get the same codes.

(The Captions are X-FB++,X-FB--,Y-FB++,Y-FB--)

Thank you.

BretC

9

FAQs / Re: Setting up a 4th Axis (new to CNC)

« on: December 27, 2016, 08:32:13 AM »

Did you resolve this question regarding jogging two axis together but yet leaving them independent for the G Code?