Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / PC Specification??

« on: April 11, 2012, 02:25:03 PM »

Hi everyone
Just a simple question! I am in the process of tuning my steppers, when in config (motor tuning) I can get the motors to run sweet, smooth, & quick.
As soon as I save these settings and return to the run screen and then use the keyboard to jog they run rough and lumpy!!

I have read that the general consensus is when in the run screen the PC is using more resource than when in the config state.
My PC is a HP P4 3.0 with 1GB of ram, video card installed, clean apart from whats needed. At the moment I am setting using the demo version of Mach

So my question/s are
Can someone confirm the make, model, spec of a known PC that does the job of running Mach 3 well" ?
I am sure this question sounds simple but apart from buying / trying numerous PC's how can you tell?
Or
Are there other options out there to sort this problem that are cost effective?

Thank you for any help and guidence you can offer
Ex Apprenice

2

General Mach Discussion / Dual Monitor Display

« on: December 26, 2010, 06:58:21 AM »

Hi all
Just a quick question, Is it possible to set two different mach screens over two monitors?
For example, I would like to have the "run" screen showing on one monitor while having the "diagnostics" screen showing on the second monitor
I have been able to set up the graphics card to do all the various options of display, but cannot achieve having two different Mach screens showing at the same time

Has anyone tried this or is it just wishful thinking
Looking forward to some guidance on how (if possible) to set this up

Thank you and regards

Ex-Apprentice

3

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Plasma Torch Height control

« on: November 14, 2010, 04:30:16 PM »

Hi all
I am in the process of building my table and thought I would ask this question.
Can anyone tell me the best bit of kit to work with Mach 3, Sheetcam & a floating Z axis to control the torch height?
I have read many bits and bobs about various bits of kit that work and don't work, I am looking for something reliable, does what it says on the box and cost effective.
simple to set up and install.
Or is this the holy grail??
Really looking forward to some guidance, thank you in anticipation for some positive feed back

Ex Apprentice

4

General Mach Discussion / Plasma Table

« on: November 08, 2010, 09:05:02 AM »

Hi all
I know this is exactly a Mach question but I am sure there are quite a few people in the group who could comment and advise

I am in the process of building my plasma table (4m x 2m) the gantry will be driven both sides (slaved drive) via toothed belts
My question is this :

I am considering articulating the cross beam to each carriage, will it work?

The theory behind my thinking is as follows :
I have read and think I understand the independant homing of both the drives and this should take out any skew in squareness at that point.
making the assumption that the cross beam is perpendicular and that the machine doesn't loose steps or any other factor effects one side and not the other the cross beam should remain perpendicular?
If I articulate the cross beam to each carriage then this allows a level of tolerance in building the machine so instead of having a fixed assembly (welded or bolted) the assembly can skew
But each time it homes this should bring the cross beam back to square
making another assumption that the homing switches are spot on and true to each other
if the cross beam and carriages are fixed and not 100% square then the homing would be trying to bend the fixed assembly square ?

Looking forward to comments and advice
Regards
Ex apprentice

5

Mach Screens / How can I change a screen ?

« on: October 15, 2010, 12:34:03 PM »

Hi

I am running Mach R3.042.040 & Using the std Mach plasma screen and have noticed in the "Feed Rate " box
my units/min box dosent seem long enough to show my feed rates when running through a program.
I am set up in metric and the when the feed rate is above 10,000 value the first digit is hidden behind the edge of the display baox

Is it possible to edit this feature to extend the length of this box to showw all the digits??

As always thank you in anticipation for any guidance that can be offered

Ex apprentice

6

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / G Code to set Mach into reset at end of program/cycle

« on: October 15, 2010, 10:57:02 AM »

Hi

I am after a G code that I can put at the end of a program to set Mach into the reset mode.
The reasoning behind the request is when in reset my drive boards power down and will keep the motors cool while sat doing nothing
I can then press reset when I run the next program to bring the boards back on line ready to run

I have also posted this request under the other G code page??

Thanks in anticipation

Ex Apprentice

7

Share Your GCode / G Code to set mach into reset at end of program??

« on: October 15, 2010, 10:53:22 AM »

Hi
I am after a G code that I can put at the end of a program to set Mach into the reset mode.
The reasoning behind the request is when in reset my drive boards power down and will keep the motors cool while sat doing nothing
I can then press reset when I run the next program to bring the boards back on line ready to run

Thanks in anticipation

Ex Apprentice

8

Feature Requests / Motor RPM

« on: September 20, 2010, 02:15:14 PM »

Hi all
I am only asking, maybe it does exist somewhere, but I haven't found it yet??

A feature in the Motor tuning section that tells you the motor RPM, is it a simple count thing?? based on number of steps per revolution you set
can mach calculate and then display actual (calculated) RPM in a window on the Motor tuning page, might come in handy

Thank you

9

General Mach Discussion / Motors are buzzing???Help

« on: September 19, 2010, 08:44:16 PM »

So Far so good,I have connected motors to drive boards, set mach ports and pins, mach is taking control of the motors everything seems OK until??
When I power up the control box for the boards the motors seem to be buzzing, if I go into motor tuning I can alter the speeds and velocities on all Axis
and if I press the up / down keys the motors spin as they should, forward or reverse even the slave axis is working
BUT
they seem very erratic and some times seem to stall  or stop and just sit there sounding like they are spinning
They get rather warm so I have stopped playing and have spent time checking my settings etc all seem OK apart from the erratic running and stopping
The motors are not on the machine so no friction or binding they are just sat on the bench.
I have reset the motor drives back to full step rather than 1/4 step no change
Has anyone out there had this happen or can someone please guide me in the right direction

Soooo close yet so far away

10

General Mach Discussion / Just checking set up - first timer

« on: September 14, 2010, 11:42:34 AM »

Hi
I am right on the verge of connecting my driver boards, BoB, limits, inputs and outputs motors etc, etc
Now most of you older hands might be able to remember what it was like - All that hard earned money sat on a desk in front of you
With the chance you could see it all go up in smoke??? that very first time
So I thought I would ask the stupid questions now before I make that fatal assumption (I think I know what I'm doing).
This might seem very long winded, stick with me, please
PS Is there anyone in the southwest (UK) doing similar??

Machine = Plasma, Two drive on the Y axis, Z axis Floating Head, adding LCTHC at later date (PCI port addition)

Parr Port Pin   Signal      In/Output
1      Charge pump   out
2      X Dir      out
3      X Step      out
4      Y Dir      out
5      Y Step      out
6      z Dir      out
7      Z Step      out
8      A Dir (Slave)   out
9      A Step      out
10      Limits & Homes   in
11      Home (Slave)   in
12      Z Home       in
13      ????      in
14      14 output      out
15      E-Stop      in
16      16 output      out
17      17 output      out
18 - 20 PC ground   Ground      

Limits & Homes wired in series for Mach to sort,
soft limits
What am I missing