Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / F-Engrave - V-Carve Quesiton

« on: March 08, 2013, 07:23:40 PM »

Hello all. 

I am playing with F-Engrave and am very impressed by it.  I'm getting some really neat stuff out of it.  I'm running it on a Windows 7 64 bit computer and then running the code through Mach3 and it's working fine, but I think I have a setting that is off.  I can't get deep V-Carve action.  I'll attach a couple pictures and see if folks have any suggestions.  What I'm shooting for is a clean V-Carve cut as shown on the F-Engrave download page.  I'm sure it can do it, just not sure what to adjust.

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af71/lazerworks/f-engravesignquestion009.jpg

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af71/lazerworks/f-engravesignquestion010.jpg

Thanks,
Zig

2

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / A new homebuilt CNC machine - amazed the thing works!

« on: January 16, 2013, 11:10:47 PM »

I've learned a lot so far while building this machine.  I've always tinkered around with wood and mechanical projects but never built something like this.  It has been a learning process to say the least - I look forward to learning more from this one and then building the next one.

Here's a little YouTube clip of this machine in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uU5HLpbRKg&list=UU3RIdlSCWn1w0Quh6zm6M1A&index=1

Zig

3

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / 95% Completed DIY CNC Build

« on: January 09, 2013, 09:54:56 AM »

Most of the machine is completed at this point.  Still need to do some finishing off, wire in some switches and neaten up the whole build.  And now I need to learn how to fly this thing...

A quick YouTube video of the current status.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGYKe11JUVo&list=UU3RIdlSCWn1w0Quh6zm6M1A&index=1

As per usual - I'm always open to suggestions and comments. 

Thanks,
Zig

4

General Mach Discussion / TB6560 Dip Switch Settings - Question

« on: January 07, 2013, 07:50:24 PM »

Just wondering what other users of the TB6560 driver have their dip switch settings set at for a 24v power supply and Nema 23s.

Many thanks,
Zib

5

General Mach Discussion / Stepper Hiss - Noise

« on: January 07, 2013, 03:56:35 PM »

I'm new here - been poking around this forum for a month or two and have built (90% done) a CNC machine.  I can drive the X, Y, and Z steppers all around and everything seems to be working okay.  I still need to fine tune the speeds of everything, but for the moment I'm getting good response.  The thing that is really annoying is the hiss wine chirpyness of the steppers when they are idle. 

When I turn on the power supply for the three steppers (nema23 units) they start to hiss, then when I turn on the computer they really hiss, and when I start Mach3 they go nice and silent.  But as soon as I reset all DROs the symphony of hiss begins.

I've seen some posts about an idle setting.  I'm open to suggestions.  Many thanks.

Zig

6

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / CNC Build Proceeding - Cheap Couplers...

« on: January 03, 2013, 05:48:16 PM »

Just working my way through this CNC machine build.  I like to tinker and converted some lead screw nuts to couplers with a cheap tap and die kit.  Works pretty well but I have cracked one bit. 

I usually make videos of my progress.  Here's a couple of the latest little YouTube videos.

I'm always open to suggestions.  Pro and con.  And as I work my way through this build I'm already planning the next machine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0sTrSkoDs0&list=UU3RIdlSCWn1w0Quh6zm6M1A&index=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pKzInAQ7Dc&list=UU3RIdlSCWn1w0Quh6zm6M1A&index=2

Zig

7

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Write Wizard - Having some trouble

« on: December 24, 2012, 04:27:59 PM »

I've been playing around with the write wizard and can't get it to send any code to Mach3.  It keeps giving me an error and won't transfer.  I'm new to Mach3 and am learning as I go here.  All suggestions are welcome.

Many thanks,
Zig

8

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Cam Program - A couple quick questions for a newbie

« on: December 23, 2012, 11:54:31 PM »

Hello all,
My CNC build is coming along great.  All axis are moving and I've installed the X axis stepper and lead screw.  All steppers are operating.  Very thrilled about the progress so far.

At the moment I've stepped away from the machine to tinker with software.  The Mach3 interface is working.  For the CAM side of things I've tried a bunch of open source programs to generate G-code (VirtualMill, Blender, and Google Sketchup with the Platzboys (sp?) plug in) but I'm not able to import the G Code into Mach3. 

What are others using for the CAM software side of things?  Any open source stuff that works easily to get the code in?

Many thanks again for the help I've been given before,
Zig

9

General Mach Discussion / Yes - Another TB6560 Motors Not Running Thread...

« on: December 19, 2012, 10:13:07 PM »

I've researched a few of the other threads on this topic and am following a couple that seem active on the issue, but I thought I would start a new one with a few more specific questions.  Thank you for indulging me.

I have Mach3 running on an XP desktop computer.  The computer is plenty powerful enough to run Mach3 per required specs.  The program will run cleanly on the screen with the RoadRunner sample. 

I have the TB6560 board (the blue one) and all three NEMA 23s are connected.  I'm pretty confident that the wiring is correct per online research and data sheets, but who knows at this point.  The power supply is a 24 unit.

Here's what happens.  I power up the board and turn on the computer.  The motors all whine and the shafts are locked.  The LEDs are all lit on the TB6560 board.  It stays in this state until I open Mach3.  When I open the program the motors unlock and stop the whine.  The board is still on and the little cooling fan is blowing.

When I start the RoadRunner sample I can see it run on the screen fine, but no motor action.  When I click start on the screen I can hear the relay on the board click.  And when I hit stop on the screen I can hear the relay on the board click off.  I can see the X and Y axis LEDs on the board sorta flicker at what would appear to be receiving G-Code data for each axis.

I've reset the pin outs for what I've stumbled to online and through this great forum, but I think I am still just having a configuration problem. 

This is my first CNC build.  I've built this machine from scratch and feel like the CNC bug has bit me - I'm already planning the design for my next machine!  I realize that this TB6560 is not the best board around, but I thought this would be a good project to just dip my toe in the hobby and learn from.  I just need to get this thing configured...

Any and all suggestions are very welcomed

Many thanks,
Dan

10

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / New Built - Beginning Stages

« on: December 07, 2012, 11:08:03 PM »

I like to tinker and kind of go off in my own direction with projects.  I'm building a CNC machine that is loosely based on the buildyourown machine designs, but I'm changing a few things.  To keep costs and complexity low, I'm using drawer slides and 3/4" ply. 

I always throw together YouTube videos of my projects.  So here's the first part of this project.

Feel free to hit me with comments.  Positive or negative.  All suggestions are appreciated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JX7JI47Uo0&list=UU3RIdlSCWn1w0Quh6zm6M1A&index=2

Thanks,
Zig