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Topics - hollydog

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SmoothStepper USB / Mach3 & Smoothstepper Satisfactory Outcome
« on: March 10, 2011, 02:30:51 PM »
    Having just read the thread we have just been through this procedure with a satisfactory outcome. Initial problems where switching on a florescent tube, tool grinder, clicking stop button on Mach3 the U.S.B. Led would go out, pro gramme not responding. Only way out to reload windows & start agn. The mains power supply was fed from the house. Having 3 phase in the workshop  a new supply for the computer was installed from L1 this used for the computer and stepper drives. The auxiliary relay box with its own P,S. fed from L3.    When switching off the same result. In my build a mains filter is fitted to each transformer supply also in series with the aux. relays a thermistor of 4-5 amps current  with a 100 ohm & 0.1 across the contacts( Mill, Vacuum waste, Vacuum table. ).
               Using the computer case as a central point, connect an earth wire to the smooth stepper metal box, stepper P. S. and drives.   In my case removing the smooth stepper C4 & R5 made no difference. A new U.S.B.  cable was fitted but no difference . Fitting a suppressor across the manual switch cured the tool grinder,the motor being a capacitor start motor, before when switching off, would knockout Mach3  you could even see this on the red disc drive l.e.d. One mod worth doing is fitting a 25- 50 mf. condenser across the common feed going to the smooth stepper end of travel limits input. When these micro switches where gently tapped with a handle of a screwdriver out goes Mach3  so with the mill & steppers in operation a small amount of vibration could  cut mach3.
              Its a job to quantify but the main improvement in my case was fitting earth leads from the computer case to each item, mach3 would still knock out but the Red U.S.B. flashing feed light still good.   Fitting the suppressors across switchable items cured the crashes , its now a reliable machine.  
      
                

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FAQs / PCB Boards
« on: March 18, 2010, 08:26:34 AM »
PCB`S is it possible to scan in a simple one sided board from black and white paper print out and with a suitable programme machine with mack3. I do not want to design the board in eagle etc.
                                               Hollydog

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FAQs / Straighening Thread Bar
« on: January 02, 2010, 11:37:19 AM »
Sometimes rolled ACME ,thread bar etc comes slightly bent. After trying one or two ideas a simple clamp was made up from a piece of suitable angle iron to straighten the bar. This consists of two fingers blocks about 9" apart approx. With a tapped hole on the opposite side in the centre to take a M12 setbolt. This clamp is simply put onto the bar at the high point and by slowly adjusting the M12 setbolt with a piece of plastic on the end to protect the thread the bar can be adjusted straight. . The high point can be found by watching the bar rotate or by a good rule against along the centre line of the bar. But take it easy don`t bend it to far. Some idea can be obtained was remembering the position of the adjusting spanner.

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FAQs / Engraving at an angle
« on: December 31, 2009, 11:21:03 AM »
Using Mach 3 on win. XP 2000 P4 2.0G sets up OK with ruler on the X & Y but when in a known good Gcode programme slants at 20 degs. Htkeys seem reasonable on the stepper movement but when in the programme sounds noisy on the Y . Steppers have been changed around and drivers but still the same. Using Arc Eurotrade steppers and driver boards all opto isolated. We have changed most  only the control board to go and any suggestions on the computer ?

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