Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / Problem with using mill with 3d print head

« on: November 12, 2014, 11:03:47 PM »

I recently made a print head to attach to my mill so I can make 3d printed items.
The last print I made something strange happened and I am trying to determined what happened.
The print resembles a large box 8x8x9 inches. As the box was printing it started to curve to one side. At first I thought I was loosing steps  but I ruled this out because the dimensions of the box we're correct. The curve was only in the -y direction. The wall on the x axis side was straight.
I have been using Cura as the software to make the gcode for Mach3
The only change I made to my machine recently is I started using a UC100 motion controller.
I never had any problems with this machine and the machine has been working as a 3d printer but this was before the UC100.  Any ideas would help. I would like to trouble shoot this problem before I try to make this print again.
Thanks Paul

2

General Mach Discussion / XHC Mach3 4-axis control card

« on: November 04, 2014, 12:51:07 PM »

Hello,

I have been looking to upgrade from parallel port to using USB port. The XHC 4-axis motion control card looks interesting to me because my mill is set up for 24v controls.
I have been looking around but I have not found much information about the cards. Does any anyone have any experience with these motion controllers?

Following is a link to the controller I have been looking at.

http://www.automationtechnologiesinc.com/products-page/breakout-boards/cnc-mach3-usb-card-xhc-mk6-4-axis-motion-control-card-usb2-0-interface-wshell

Thanks

3

General Mach Discussion / Mach4 question

« on: October 07, 2013, 08:23:07 PM »

Hello
I have a mill where the spindle drive can accept a step and direction signal but the resolution is very high. At full speed the step signal would need to be 104kHz. This is much to fast for Mach3 but would it be possible to control a signal like this with the new version of Mach4. I am trying to decide to attempt to use another method of controlling the spindle speed or wait for mach4.

Thanks,
Paul

4

General Mach Discussion / Encoder Problem

« on: March 09, 2012, 09:16:22 AM »

Hello,
I have an encoder attached to a stepper my plan is to use it to determine if the stepper loses steps. But I am having a problem. The encoder and stepper DROs match when moving in one direction but when the machine returns back to where it started the DROs do not match. For example Starting from 0 and moving to 1” the DRO will match after the move but when the machine is returned to 0 the DROs will no longer match. This is also true if the move is in the negative direction 0 to -1" and back to 0.

The calibration  per unit is about 12000 for the encoder. Could the encoder be to high of a resolution (but then why would this happen in only the return)?

Any thoughts on the problem.

Thanks,
Paul

5

Brains Development / Z-Axis Safety

« on: January 26, 2012, 04:07:18 PM »

I have an issue with the Z-axis on my mill occasionally falling. This is a problem I have to work out with the hardware but I am thinking of a safety that could be implemented with Mach3.
My thought is to add an encoder to the motor that would be calibrated to the same units as the stepper motor. Mach3 would then compare the DRO’s and if the 2 numbers were different by a set tolerance an E-stop would be triggered also engaging the Z- axis brake.
Any thoughts if this is possible or ideas to make this happen?

Thanks,
Paul

6

VB and the development of wizards / Rotary tool changer

« on: January 22, 2012, 01:38:03 PM »

I am trying to setup a rotary tool changer in Mach3 and I am having trouble figuring out the VB code. The tool changer has 21 positions it can rotate cw and ccw but it only has a sensor that indicates when a tool pocket is in position.
My thought is when Mach3 is started the tool that is in the spindle would be input into Mach3. When a new tool is called the current tool is put in the drum. Then the drum wouldrotate to the called tool. The sensor could indicate the tool as they pass. The macro would have to detiemine to rotate cw or ccw (for the shortest distance) then count the signals from the sensor.

Any suggestions?
Paul

7

VB and the development of wizards / Mach3 Shutdown

« on: January 17, 2012, 09:37:03 AM »

When Mach3 is closed by clicking the “X” in the right top corner can a VB script be ran before the shutdown happens?
I am using a modbus device and when Mach3 shuts down some of the outputs stays active. I want the outputs to turn off before exiting.

Any Suggestions?

Thanks,
Paul

8

Brains Development / Mach Running Signal?

« on: January 16, 2012, 11:55:47 AM »

Hello,

I am looking for a way to close a relay when Mach3 is running but is not effected by the E-stop.
I tried using the Macropump but my relay opens when there is a E-stop.

Thanks,

9

Brains Development / multi axis selection for MPG panel

« on: March 21, 2011, 12:59:10 PM »

Hello,

I am working on converitng an older mill to Mach3. The current interface has buttons to select an axis for use with the MPG. The problem is the buttons are momentary and they have an indicator light. What I would like to do is when a button is pressed it will select the axis and light the light in the button and when another axis button is pressed it will cancel the first selection and select the second lighting the button. I have been trying to do this with a brain but I have 2 problems I cannot have 2 outputs (1 for the axis selection and the second for the light) the second is getting the first axis to cancel when the next axis button is pressed. Currently my panel is setup for 4 axis but I am only using 3 at this time.

Any suggestions or examples are appericated.

Thanks,
Paul

10

dspMC/IP Motion Controller / dspMC and Pokeys

« on: November 28, 2010, 01:01:59 PM »

I am in the planning stage of converting my mill to mach3 and I will be using the DspMC/IP for the motion control.  I am thinking of using a Po-keys device to for the front panel inputs. This could eliminate a large bundle of wires. Can the dspMC and Po-keys work at the same time in Mach3?

Thanks,
Paul