Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Z axis plunging to machine coordinates instead of work cooridinates.

« on: January 05, 2020, 10:27:19 AM »

I've been running for the past few weeks with no issue. Now all of the sudden, the same code that worked fine now plunges to machine coordinates at the end of the run when it hits the line of code  "Z-.25" instead of going to the work coordinates. Also I had an issue where it was ignoring my model top height setting and just using the stock top. I did clear that up by restarting my ethernet smooth stepper. Could it be causing the other issue of plunging to machine coordinates?

Thanks
Ben

2

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: SmoothStepper Motor Steps Per Unit

« on: January 15, 2019, 11:32:50 AM »

status message in the lower left of the screen.
What does it say?

Status message says: Axis 3 commanded while disabled..

Also, I did some more testing and I don't think the machine is flexing. It's very rigid. I noticed that when I very quickly tap the jog key the motor rolls forward and then right back into the samp position. It looks like it's the motor itself doing the bouncing motion. Is this just because I'm tapping the key so fast something isn't registering?

3

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: SmoothStepper Motor Steps Per Unit

« on: January 14, 2019, 11:31:07 AM »

10 microsites per fullstep is built into the G540.

Thanks!  So I got this all setup and calibrated. I'm having a few issues:

1: When I put jog speed way down low and attempt to bring the end mill close to the part to touch off by continually tapping the arrow key I have mapped to jog, I see the head doing a small bounce back. Am I just not sending enough of a signal or something by having the jog speed so low and then doing a tiny tap on the jog key?

2: When trying to set backlash compensation on the Y axis no matter what value I put it doesn't seem to be compensating. I've checked that it's the correct motor. I did see that I was setting it in Mach vs the SmoothStepper plugin, and that I did not have the backlash compensation enabled in the SmoothStepper plugin, but I was able to get the compensation to work on the other two axis, so im thinking that's not the issue. I haven't had time to check what happens if I try to set it via the SmoothStepper plugin.

3: I'm running a demo of Mach 4. Is this why the return to work zero button doesn't work? I am guessing that's what I press when I want to return to X0 Y0 Z0 that I've set? It's not working.

Thanks!

3:

4

Works in progress / How do i make a tab that is just a tool path view in Mach 4

« on: January 13, 2019, 12:10:18 PM »

I'm trying to make a screen that I can switch to that is entirely just a tool path view, but all the tabs in the current default screen set leave the other controls at the bottom. How can I keep this layout, but be able to switch to a full screen view of the toolpath?

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Mach4 General Discussion / Re: SmoothStepper Motor Steps Per Unit

« on: January 13, 2019, 11:54:50 AM »

In that case your 40000 steps per inch would be correct.

20 TPI  x  200 full-steps/rev  x 10 micro-steps/full-step  =  40000

Thanks! Just curious where you got the 10 micro-steps info from?

6

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: SmoothStepper Motor Steps Per Unit

« on: January 12, 2019, 08:49:53 PM »

Hi,
tell us about your machine..
Craig

Hi Craig,   It's a Taig mini mill with a acme 1/4-20 TPI lead screw that is directly driven by the nema 23 stepper. Working in inches. Using the Ethernet version of the SmoothStepper board.

7

Mach4 General Discussion / SmoothStepper Motor Steps Per Unit

« on: January 12, 2019, 07:35:21 PM »

I'm running a SmoothStepper ESS with a Gecko breakout board. I'm having to set my nema 23 motor steps per unit to 40000 to get correct travel. Is this common? Seems high.

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Continual issue of Z zero being automatcially changed.

« on: May 01, 2018, 10:36:33 AM »

Hi Craig,

   I also have been saving out separate files for each tool, and even each operation sometimes. Looks like I need to clean up my code and understand what it is doing on a deeper level. I've found a way to turn off all M6 and G43 commands. I've just completed a new enclosure for my cnc and will be testing soon. Thanks for all your help. It will be such a relief to not worry about my Z changing all the time!

Thanks,
Ben

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: Continual issue of Z zero being automatcially changed.

« on: April 30, 2018, 03:10:33 PM »

Hi,

  No, it doesn't have ATC. I manually change tools by opening the collet and then zeroing Z each time.

Thanks
Ben

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: Continual issue of Z zero being automatcially changed.

« on: April 30, 2018, 01:19:08 PM »

Hi Craig,

   I think you are on to something! Totally makes sense. I've done some searching based on what you mentioned and found a forum thread that outlines my exact issue. It provides the required post processor modification!

Going to make this change and see if it provides an end to my zeroing woes.

Thanks so much. I'll let you know how it goes!

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-computer-aided/mach3-how-to-i-remove-g43-from-post/td-p/7168904