Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / loosing the z axis position during cutting???

« on: October 03, 2011, 03:49:02 PM »

I have no other way to title this, but let me elaborate,

I use cambam to generate G code and run a program in Mach 3. My lead screw for the z axis is an m8 metric thread with a pitch of 1.25mm. my x and y axis are on a sprocket and chain system and can attain much higher speeds than the z axis. When cutting tonight and 1200mm / min, it seems that the z axis gets out of calibration / position or something as half way through the process, mach 3 shows 3mm above surface, but the spindle is virutally on the wood. ( at position zero) then later, it's even further down at -2 or -3 and mach 3 says the spindle should be at 3mm.

I am not sure but could it be when the spindle jumps over the triangular tabs which cambam makes, it is a little too fast for the metric lead screw to wind up and wind back down again?

It is really frustrating as you could imagine as I loose good wood in the process and waste.

any comments or assistance would be greatly appreciated,
Thanks
Thys
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2

General Mach Discussion / What TPI for new cnc machine?

« on: October 03, 2011, 03:33:20 PM »

Hi All, a question posted to a good cnc friend Tweakie, but he advised me to rather hear what the forum had to say, so your input would be greatly appreciated.

I am busy designing a new machine and want to use it primarily for cutting wood on a flat table. I am thinking of a cutting area around 1.5m square.

I am able to have my own lead screws (ACME) cut to whatever pitch I want. I wanted to ask you advice on this. What tpi would you recommend me going for based on the application. I would like to cut in the range of about 1000 – 2500 mm per minute and accuracy, although important, is not critical to the 0.01 mm. Or do you think that is a little fast for cutting wood?

If the lead screw option in the wrong one, what other method would be advised for moving the axis (plural)

Any comments would be appreciated
Thys

3

General Mach Discussion / what software has this interface?

« on: August 08, 2011, 07:45:29 AM »

hi guys, have a look at this image software snapshot. do any of you recognise the interface. what software is this?
thanks
Thys

4

General Mach Discussion / What 3d program to use to design and render furniture

« on: June 17, 2011, 06:36:12 AM »

hi all, I would really like to learn one package and one package only to design and render furniture, and somehow export to Mach3 or cambam, to cut out on a cnc machine. does anybody have any recommendations as to what 3d package you use for a similar or same purpose? any help would be appreciated. what i have in mind is that flat pack furniture you find cnc machines are able to cut out.

regards and thanks
Thys
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5

General Mach Discussion / y axis stalled? during cutting - please help

« on: June 07, 2011, 03:15:18 AM »

Morning all, please would you assist with some advice is possible

During a "profile" operation (using Mach 3 and cambam to produce the G code) cutting out a cheese board for a friend, it seems that my y axis stalled during cutting causing the router to turn in off the path which it was following resulting in a deep cut into my material piece. It is wierd in that it happend on the third pass going past the same spot twice already without an issue.

Some additional information is that I was cutting at 500 mm/min with a Metric 8 treaded rod with a pitch of 1.25mm, and at 4mm deep cuts per pass with a 6mm double fluted router cutter. I didn't feel that the router was under extraordinarily high load, or that the lead screw was dirty possibly causing the lead screw to exceed max torque and jam. I was wondering what the max operational rpm of the Keling KL23H286-508B stepper motor is as it was running at about 400rpm to give me a 500mm/min linear travel. This may be a little high, but I cant see the specs for this motor on the keling site.

There is a lot of detail in here so I understand if it's a bit of an issue to help, but if there some help out there, I would appreciate it.
ta
Thys

6

General Mach Discussion / Please help with feed rates for MDF - burning the wood!!

« on: June 02, 2011, 03:49:54 AM »

Hi Gents, please could you assist in giving me the approximate spindle speeds, feed rates and depth of cut for cutting mdf. I am currently cutting with 5 and 6 mm cutters and it seems to be burning the wood.
My spindle speed is difficult to measure but is between 15000 and 25 000 rpm. My feed rate may be the problem as it is quite slow, 500mm / min = about 20ipm. I am cutting at a depth of about 4 mm per cut for both the 5mm end mill double fluted carbide cutter and 6mm double fluted router cutter.
Appreciate your help in advance
Thys

7

General Mach Discussion / motors not turning - please help (newbie)

« on: May 06, 2011, 06:11:34 PM »

Hi Guys, I'm Thys. A newbie to this forum and to cncing. I have just built a mdf cnc machine, motors fitted, software loaded and drivers and power supply wired up etc, but I cannot get the motors to turn using simple g code to move them.
I have Mach3 loaded and am using g00 x1 and similar ro try and move the motors.

When I switched the power supply on for the motor drivers, I could hear them initialise and I even heard a little jump on the motor the first time I send a command through, but now nothing. I see the numbers moving on the computer screen, but no action on the cnc machine. Please could a ""saint"" help me!! Did I mention, it's midnight!

kind regards
Thys