Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / CAM Webinar Wednesday 21st

« on: July 20, 2010, 02:27:28 PM »

I'm giving a free webinar using RHino 3d. T-Splines, and Mach3 to make a part.
Feel free to sign up here:
http://tinyurl.com/2abvkua

Maybe you have never seen Rhino, T_Splines, or RhinoCam. Then this gives a nice overview.
I promise it will be faster paced than a family slideshow from last years beach vacation...

Cheers
Lemo

2

General Mach Discussion / G54 problem....

« on: July 01, 2010, 11:18:10 AM »

I cannot get rid of the work offset definition. It drives me batty right now.

I cleared the table and all offsets are zero. The way I want it.
Now X,Y,Z are having values in them. 5,4,3 inches.. whatever.
Now... if I set those to Zero. The selected work offset table has those values.

When I rebuild the toolpath it shows that the machine would move through the wall to get there.

I clear the table again. The values are back in the x y z dro fields.
I exit. Do not, or do, save fixtures. Come back, and the same game starts all over again.

Al I want is to have all tables ZERO and the DRO values ZERO.

How can I do this? I feel I miss some setting, have to disable a function???

Can't mill right now. So ideas, swift kicks into the right direction, would be highly appreciated.

Cheers
Lemo

3

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Finished my 4th axis

« on: March 30, 2009, 11:16:01 AM »

I finally had the time to make my 4th axis. It's pretty feisty. All heavy components so I can suspend a log in between....
There was no space in the cabinet for the machine for the 4th axis. So I made an external power supply, and bolted the gecko right onto the frame for cooling.
Now it's completely mobile. Power and step and direction and it runs. Thirteen steps per degree gives me plenty of accuracy.
A few days later I finished the equally feisty tail stock. MT3.... I have a 'regular' life center, a life chuck, and a life spur for it. All work great.
The little Gecko got a cover in the meantime. Just in case I mill some AL....
For wood... I would not really care if the gecko becomes a tad dusty.
The 1.5" steel rod is supported by two angled roller bearings which sit in three inch thick aluminum blocks.
If that get's bend... I don't want to be around and see why!

4

General Mach Discussion / Large files

« on: March 29, 2009, 07:59:47 PM »

Is there a G Code line limit in Mach3?

And is there a way to subsequently (batch) process .nc files?

I have a few rather large g code files and would love to split them and have them processed one after another.
But I do not want to run to the machine every twenty minutes....

Cheers
Rainer

5

General Mach Discussion / Hotkey's List ???

« on: February 02, 2008, 11:17:17 AM »

Hi all

I am looking for a list of all the alt and ctrl key combo's build into mach3. Recently I am fumbling on the keyboard resulting in anything from scary to comical results as Mach3 does 'something' I did not expect. I also reached a really nice and cool jog screen, which I could not reach again as the keycode is eluding me.

I took a look at the documentation and that doe snot contain a full list, but the instructions on how to set a code up if you choose to do so.

A little help in locating the master list would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers and a great weekend!
Rainer

6

Tangent Corner / Happy New Year!!!

« on: January 02, 2008, 08:28:37 AM »

Happy New Year all!

My plan is to take over the world this year.....

What are the plans of the Mach team in 2008?

Is Quantum dead?
Will there be progress on the GRex plugin or is everybody playing with the new and shiny Smooth Stepper Plugin exclusively?
Will there be solutions for the curve/corner/constant velocity issues (Like a precission addition for the Gcommand as EMC does it...).

Ahhhh the curiosity...

Lemo

7

General Mach Discussion / Stepper Torque Fall Off...

« on: June 30, 2007, 10:56:17 PM »

I am looking for information regarding the torque fall off of stepper motors over the RPM bandwidth they support.
Specially Mach3 -> Gecko -> 600-1800Oz/Inch motor.
My focus is on the range between 0 and 800 RPM. 0 is easy, that's the rated holding torque.
After that it goes down hill. But how fast?  Guesstimations range from 20% to 65% left at 1000RPM.
Any pointer to more information or where to find motor curves would be great.
Lemo

8

Tangent Corner / cutting threads?!

« on: June 20, 2007, 10:35:06 AM »

I wonder what tools I would need for my small taig mill to cut threads?
A v-cutter would probably do for my 4-th axis and the outer thread... but how can I cut a thread into a hole with the mill?
I try and cut threads more for an ornamental reason into 1-2 Inch wooden rods...
Thanks for some pointers!
Lemo

9

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / My first two 'parts'

« on: June 06, 2007, 12:51:04 PM »

Here are my very first parts I made after engraving the road runner into pink cunstruction foam to learn how to control the beast.


What a blast to make those!
Cheers
Rainer

PS:Top one is not brass.... just brass powder on brushed on wax. Still had no gut's to cut metal with it...

10

Tangent Corner / Tool change puzzle...

« on: June 05, 2007, 06:41:15 PM »

I am puzzled.... ha!

Now, with the help of the friendly pro's here I am milling my heart out.
Never thought it's so much fun to make stuff.

It's time to leave the comfort zone and actually make something which requires more than one tool to finish.
Right now I am V-Carving, flat milling, ball end mill milling. Now I generated a new tool path and that requires a couple of tool changes to make things look real good.

I am having a small TAIG mill where the only automatic tool changer is that monkey sitting hypnotized in front of it.

How do I go about that? I know... it's a rather basic question, but how do I change the tool in between the jobs so that Z zero remains correct?
As it is in real life... my reference Z corner is one of the first victims of my activities. So I can't go back there and try and set it up again.
Are you using a reference block somewhere else on the table? A little jig? HELP!

Any hints for the mechanically challenged?

Cheers
Lemo