Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / Keypad as jogging control doesn't work?

« on: June 11, 2013, 03:57:59 PM »

I am running Mach3 on Windows 7 Home Edition 32-bit. The title bar says "Not responding" but I can use the program. I use a keypad usually used for notebooks as jogging control. The keypad plugs into USB port. The keypad stopped working today and I don't know why. I can enter the numbers from keypad into Windows Notepad. The UAC is disabled. How can I fix the problem?

2

SmoothStepper USB / Help with SmoothStepper configuration

« on: May 16, 2013, 03:58:57 PM »

I have a PC running Windows XP, latest version of Mach3 software, latest version of SmoothStepper driver and plug-in, Probotix PBX-RF RF Isolated CNC Breakout Board, three MondoStep 7.8 Bi-Polar Stepper Motor Drivers, and three NEMA 34 Frame stepper motors. Before yesterday, the breakout board was connected to the PC's parallel port. After three ruined jobs in a row, I tried to find out what's wrong with my system. I decided to use USB SmoothStepper board. After configuring my system to use USB SmoothStepper board, I got my system working but there is problem with E-Stop tripping after the job is completed. I tried to set debounce  in Mach3 configuration window to 500 and 30 but E-Stop still trip. The manual for USB SmoothStepper board may need to be updated. How can I stop the E-Stop from tripping? I think that there is no common ground between PC, USB SmoothStepper board, and the CNC router. Do I need a separate power source for the USB SmoothStepper board? What about Kernel Speed in Mach3 configuration window? I set it to 45,000 Hz.

3

General Mach Discussion / Constant Velocity Questions

« on: July 31, 2012, 07:19:56 PM »

If I do a pocket cut of a rectangle, the inside corners are not "square" with the radius of the cutting tool. For example, I use 1/4" router bit so the inside corners should have 1/8" radius "fillets". On my "new" CNC router that can do 60 IPS, the inside corners have 1/2" or larger "fillets". How can I fix the problem?

4

General Mach Discussion / Touch plate and Probotix PBX-RF board?

« on: July 16, 2012, 07:38:42 AM »

My CNC router has Probotix PBX-RF board. Pins 10, 11, and 12 are for home switches. Pin 15 is for E-Stop switch. Is pin 13 free for touch plate?

5

General Mach Discussion / How to zero both program and machine coordinates after moving Z-Axis?

« on: July 11, 2012, 06:49:19 AM »

On my CNC router, the home switch for the Z-Axis is at the top. After clicking "Ref All Home" button, I move the Z-Axis so that the router bit touches the workpiece and zero the program coordinates. If a project requires two or more router bits, I have to reset the Z-Axis. Sometimes, the depth of cut is wrong. Let's say that I run a program to do pocket cuts at 1/4" using 1/8" router bit and then run another program to do profile cuts at 3/4" using 1/4" router bit. Even after moving the Z-Axis so that the router bit touches the workpiece and zeroing the program coordinates, the profile cuts are 11/16" deep instead of 3/4" deep. I can't zero the machine coordinates after changing router bits. How do I zero both program and machine coordinates after changing router bits and moving Z-Axis?

6

General Mach Discussion / How to Configurate Z-Axis

« on: December 05, 2008, 03:38:36 PM »

My CNC router has stepper motors and home/limit switches at the top of the Z-Axis, and at the home position of the X-Axis and Y-Axis. How do I configurate Z-Axis so that when the router bit is touching the workpiece, the coordinates are 0,0,0 after homing the axises? There are two coordinates - machine and other kind after setting up workpieces.

7

General Mach Discussion / Command to move Z-Axis -0.8500?

« on: September 26, 2008, 04:18:55 PM »

How do I set up a command to move Z-Axis -0.8500?

8

General Mach Discussion / Need help setting up SmoothStepper and Mach3 software

« on: September 03, 2008, 03:34:59 PM »

I need help in setting up SmoothStepper and Mach3 software. I installed the SmoothStepper driver and Mach3 plugin but I may have made mistakes while setting up SmoothStepper and Mach3 software. Under the "Plugin Control" menu, there should be two menu items related to SmoothStepper but I'm missing those menu items.

9

General Mach Discussion / Home switches don't work.

« on: July 10, 2008, 04:13:57 PM »

I installed the SmoothStepper V1.2 board into my system and I found out that the home switches don't work. They worked before installation of the board. How can I fix this problem? How do I start Mach3 software with the SmoothStepper profile instead of the Mach3Mill profile?

10

General Mach Discussion / Router bit not long enough for job

« on: July 08, 2008, 08:08:30 PM »

After using CAD and Cut3D programs to create a 3D part for a toy steam locomotive. The 3D part needed to be cut out of 1-1/2" thick wood board. After running the code in Mach3 program for about an hour, I found out that a nut on the Z-Axis carriage on my home-built CNC router will hit a hold-down clamp so I had to hit the E-Stop switch with about 1/4" remaining to be cut. I was using 1/4" diameter straight router bit for rough cutting. I think that the 1/4" diameter core box router bit will be too short and I may not be able to do finish cutting because either the Z-Axis carriage or the collet nut will hit the board. Any suggestions?