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1

Video P*r*o*b*i*n*g / Z Axis Touch Problem

« on: August 25, 2013, 06:34:48 PM »

  Need some help with a problem on the auto tool zero for the Z axis. I have had it working for over a year and a half on Mach Blue V3.2 , but today it quit on me. It worked correctly for a couple of times this morning and them seemed to loose its mind. Now when I select the Z axis touch button, it starts down slowly and moves for about a quarter of an inch, set for 2 inch max, stops then rapids further down for apx another quarter of an inch and then moves up to 1.25 and indicates in the message box that the axis has been zeroed. This all happens without it touching the touch pad. If I manually touch the tool with the pad, it recognizes the pad and again rapids further down and then back to 1.25.
  The only thing I have done different today was to calibrate the Z axis using the Set Steps Per Unit feature in the Settings Menu which I have used in the past without any problem. I had a hard copy of the script file which I used to compare with the file in the computer and everything appears ok.
Tried rebooting several times, but it didn’t help.
I would really appreciate any suggestions as to where to start to isolate the problem.

Thanks in advance.
Richard

2

General Mach Discussion / New Table

« on: November 27, 2011, 04:47:12 PM »

I have a couple of problems setting up a router table and was wondering if someone could lend a hand.
   First, I am having a problem with the homing function. When the Home All is selected the Z and Y axis home and back off the switch correctly, but the X axis hits the switch and don’t back off. If you try and back it off manually, it brings in a limit switch alarm. Once it is reset, you can back it off the switch.
   The second problem is a jerky cut when cutting circles and ovals almost as if it is cutting short straight lines and stopping at the end of each one. On the general configuration page, I have the Motion Mode set for constant velocity, Distance Mode for Absolute and the IJ Mode for Absolute. None of the CV Control options are checked.
Not sure what other options would cause this. I tried manually imputing a G64 command in the file, but it didn’t change anything.
Thanks,
Richard

3

General Mach Discussion / Rotary Axis Help

« on: January 07, 2010, 03:59:59 PM »

I would like to get some help setting up the rotary axis on a lathe I just completed. I am using a 3 axis driver with the X running parallel to the lathe base, the Z for the router and the Y set up as the rotary axis. I have set the Y steps in the motor tuning for degrees and if I manually enter a degree value, G1 Y360, it moves the correct amount. I also created a 4 flute file and if I edit the code and insert the 0, 90, 180, and 270 degree values for the Y it works.  I get a small step/bump on the Y axis from the inch values generated by the G code, but not the correct movement.
I’m not sure if there is a way to configure Mach to convert the Y inch values generated in the G code to degrees or if you have to use the A axis to accomplish that. If that is the case how would I set it up? I have looked on the forum, but didn’t see anything dealing with this.
This is my first attempt at rotary so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Richard

4

General Mach Discussion / Limit Switch Problems

« on: December 18, 2008, 09:25:03 AM »

I just finished a new router table and am having problems with the limit switches. Upon activating them in Mach, I am getting intermittent estops and the status indicates a limit switch opened. It does this even when there is no file running, so the switch is not actually opening.
I currently have two hobby tables and both have the same problem. Both machines use a Xylotex driver and Nema steppers. The switches are wired in series and the homing feature works. There is shielded cable on all the wiring which is grounded to a central ground. 
The driver is only a pass thru for the limit switches and does nothing as far as functionality goes. With the driver powered down I can manually operate a switch and get an led on the diagnostics page in Mach and cause an estop. That said, it never trips an estop with the driver board powered down. To me this eliminates the ac source and the ground as the cause or I would be getting estops with the driver powered down. As soon as the driver is powered up the problem begins randomly.
I have had both machines on at the same time to see if the hits were occurring simultaneously and they did not. Both took hits, but at different times. Mach is configured the same in both machines with the exception of the table size and motor tuning. To me, a noise spike large enough to trip an estop with the debounce set at 20,000 would have tripped both machines but it dont.
I initially thought there may have been a low voltage condition coming from the computer that might have cause Mach to think the circuit had opened, but if that were the case it would happen with the driver powered down since there is always continuity and it dont.
I am totally out of things to try and really need to get the limits working on the new machine. I would appreciate any and all suggestions.  HELP!!!

Thanks Guys,
Richard