Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / limit swtich not hooked up but still getting triggered anyways

« on: January 18, 2014, 05:50:28 PM »

I had a problem similar to this before I had non shielded wire on the limit switches. If I remember correctly I changed the debounce and the problem went away.

Not the case this time. the limit switch activated a couple times when running code and then it totally stopped. I can't get the limit switch error to reset at all. router turned off reset computer everything.

This has been a very healthy machine for the past two years with few problems. The motion controls came from build your own cnc. is there a chance my b.o.b. is toasted?

2

General Mach Discussion / mach 3 homing/ E-stop switch woes.

« on: October 17, 2012, 04:06:11 PM »

Hi there


I have just recently rebuilt a machine for a friend. It is moving on all the axis and I can get mach 3 to auto set the homing and limit switches when I jump a wire across the break out board. but when I go to test the homing and e-stop at the switches I am not getting any reaction.

I have checked the wiring to make sure I was getting a good signal and there is very little resistance in all the wires. The "bob" and the parallel ports seem to be working fine.  I have also checked the ports and pins in mach 3 and they register as what I assigned with the automated setup of inputs function.

I should add the I tried a debounce of 2000 with no luck. I might need more or less but not sure.


Thanks for reading

Alonzo

3

General Mach Discussion / mach 3 not moving the motors after the regular problems are checked.

« on: October 11, 2012, 11:09:08 AM »

Hi there

I am hooking up mach 3 to a probotix pbx-2 3 axis kit. I have set the ports and pins to probotix's specs, I have made sure the parallel port address is correct. I have checked to make sure the max nc is not turned on. I did the driver test and it is good to excellent.

The only thing I can think of is re install windows xp and mach 3.

Do any of you have any other suggestions?

Thank you,  Alonzo

4

General Mach Discussion / need help hooking up spindle

« on: October 08, 2012, 06:25:31 PM »

Hi there I got an older cnc machine running a dos based program at an auction. It is a D&M mill 4 from a tech school. I am in the middle of updating it to run mach 3.

I have buillt my own cnc router but have not had any expirence with wiring up a spindle to the break out board, or configuring it in mach 3.

The board we are going to use is a Probotix pbx-2 b.o.b. what ports and pins should I use for this?

I have three wires I need to hook up to the bob for the spindle to run. One wire is the max, another wire is the min, and the last wire appears to be a on/off/ direction? I am not really sure because I can't find any schematics for this board.

If anyone can help me get these signal wires hooked up to the pbx-2 board and tell me how to configure mach 3's ports and pins for the spindle I would be very grateful for your expertise.

A Gentelman just ask me what kind of VFD I was using. Please note that the spindle says, "110v dc" so I do not believe it requires one.

Also would like to hear from anyone who has the D&M mill 4 cnc setup and how they updated it


Thank You and have a great day.

Alonzo

5

FAQs / hooking up an older spindle relay to mach 3

« on: October 08, 2012, 10:43:00 AM »

Hi there I got an older cnc machine running a dos based program at an auction. It is a D&M mill 4 from a tech school. I am in the middle of updating it to run mach 3.

I have buillt my own cnc router but have not had any expirence with wiring up a spindle to the break out board, or configuring it in mach 3.

The board we are going to use is a Probotix pbx-2 b.o.b. what ports and pins should I use for this?

I have three wires I need to hook up to the bob for the spindle to run. One wire is the max, another wire is the min, and the last wire appears to be a on/off/ direction? I am not really sure because I can't find any schematics for this board.

If anyone can help me get these signal wires hooked up to the pbx-2 board and tell me how to configure mach 3's ports and pins for the spindle I would be very grateful for your expertise.

Also would like to hear from anyone who has the D&M mill 4 cnc setup and how they updated it


Thank You and have a great day.

Alonzo

6

General Mach Discussion / just had to reload mach 3 now I am having problems setting my limits up

« on: February 14, 2012, 04:10:46 PM »

I had the machine almost operational; homing switches worked, estop worked, limit switches worked, all the axis where calibrated,  but I was getting an open gl error, had to install a video card, and reinstall mach 3.

Now I am having a heck of a time getting mach 3 to auto setup on the ports and pins, anybody have any suggestions as to why mach 3 is not recognizing my input signals?

Thank you, Alonzo

7

General Mach Discussion / mach 3 not loading files.

« on: February 14, 2012, 03:23:42 PM »

I am having issues loading mach 3 files. I go to file click open and select an lcam file I just made,  it shows it has loaded the file, but there is nothing displayed for the g-code, nor does the tool path show anything. What am I doing wrong?

8

General Mach Discussion / How do I fix an open gl error?

« on: February 07, 2012, 06:08:10 PM »

here is the lazy cam command history line for line

load project
post file
attaching to mach 3
no mach 3 found running
load complete

after that,  I get the box saying, "an open Gl error occurred: invalid value"

This new b appreciates your help.
Alonzo

9

FAQs / Best way to skin this cat.

« on: February 06, 2012, 12:51:40 AM »

The version of auto cad I have does not offer the option to save in a .dxf format, only .dwg.  which lazy cam does not seen to be recognizing. How do I get around this?


Thanks, Alonzo

10

General Mach Discussion / limit switch woes

« on: February 05, 2012, 03:01:03 PM »

Hello to all, Hope you can give me a hand.

here is the deal, every time I configure my x++,y++,z++,   and apply the settings, hit reset and try to move any axis, mach III informs me a limit switch has been tripped.

Machine is nowhere near any limit switch.  I have tested the limit switches and all the wiring, the pins are putting out a constant 4.97 volts. They are wired in serial. I have disconnected wires from the breakout board and measured limit switches  resistance while moving the machine, no change in resistance. I switched the pin that was being used for the switches no change.

I have ran out of ideas where the problem could lie.

Also on a less serious note, why does the z axis move up when I am trying to home it? Shouldn't it travel down?

Thank you,
Alonzo