Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / laser cutting NOVICE/ROOKIE question

« on: December 05, 2015, 09:06:27 AM »

I think I am going to buy an old a2, 420 by 600 or 2' by 1.5' laser cutter.
Its an older model, so wish to do the mach 3 conversion to it.
This particular machine has a moving bed.
it is a RF air cooled machine rather than a glass tube water cooled unit.
The first question is.......
I 'think' its a mere 30w laser, the purpose of its purchase is to cut up to 10mm acrylic,
can I not simply 'using sheetcam tng' set the machine to cut in two or more passes?
I.e. set sheetcam to raise the bed on the second and third pass?
seems too simple..................................................
-simply guessing the power can only cut into the material 3-4mm or 1/4 inch at a time,
does it need to blow the dross out the other side? I think it has air assist.
do they actually vaporize the material?

I gather all the smaller lasers machines use nema 17's? - so I stay 24 volts?

last question is, I don't think I am overly concerned of the machines speed,
so - do I need worry too much about laser on/off - How is this actually controlled

Thanks in advance

2

General Mach Discussion / whats with the mini vfd's currently for sale?

« on: September 21, 2015, 03:58:36 PM »

are they the same internal giblets as the earlier things simply packaged tighter?

I think I am wanting a water cooled .8kw spindle = 65mm 4 bearing
 and mini vfd
vfd's state .75kw and not .8kw

is that correct?

I don't want more than 1hp and that's what it is...
says its 2 amps?

next jump at say 1.5kw is 2 hp and pulls 7 amps

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MINI-0-8KW-ER11-WATER-COOLED-SPINDLE-MOTOR-0-8KW-INVERTER-DRIVE-VFD-FOR-CNC-/271881269449?hash=item3f4d62f0c9

just want to be able to switch it on and it be quieter than my mains fed router.

3

General Mach Discussion / pulse output capabilities ess

« on: August 26, 2015, 03:08:15 PM »

http://warp9td.com/index.php/products

erm the Ethernet version says cw and ccw - the usb version says no

do them servo drive doofers want cw and ccw pulse output signalling

anyplops, I have 'finally' bought some sevo motors that match my drives - Panasonic minas a4 @ 200w
maddt1207 and the matching motors

so am I correct in thinking I am buying an ess for mach 4

just been having a read up, my mach 3 is working on windows 10

does that mean mach 4 and ess will work too.
LASTLY
I buy the ess for mach 4 - what else do I need, does the ess plug into something else and then to the drives
thank you

4

General Mach Discussion / hello, just changed computer to a windows 8.1 machine

« on: March 02, 2015, 01:46:40 PM »

anyway, the x axis limit switch used to work, now it does still switch, turns the led on and off on the breakout board - usb leafbox 200 hz xulifeng  thing

but it doesn't bounce back = stays in the emergency stop mode if you like on homing, I then have to switch it all off and pull the axis away from the switch to get going again.

do I adjust the switch mechanically - or is there a setting I can alter

I did have to set the kernel speed to 45000hz to get ot going, as its didn't like 25000 - just wiggled about a bit.

any suggestions? - move the switch forwards?

thanks

5

General Mach Discussion / Hello, where is the 'sticky' with the currently available mach4 motion devices

« on: February 22, 2015, 05:39:42 PM »

might I be so bold as to ask for
1. a picture of said item
2. price of said item
3. spec of said item
4. link to download page of plug-in of said item

6

Mach4 General Discussion / so the ess and 4 work?

« on: January 02, 2015, 07:05:32 PM »

great,
what is foxing me is there doesn't seem to be a pin out step and dir +/- diagram for the ess, does that mean I simply 'have' to use

http://www.aquickcnc.com/store/3-axis-unipolar-cnc-controller/

does that also mean that the limit switches are on the controller and not the ess, so its impossible without, not knocking it am just unfamiliar with it

I 'suppose' I do like the fact that its all together on the one board with a single power input for motors

are the chips similar to a tb6600?

does it want a 5v feed and the motor feed @ 36v

are the connectors to the right for limit switches

why then is it not bundled with the ess?

I don't need spindle controll or anything bar limits

are they making a single output 36 volt 10 amp psu - ar a psu that has both 5v and 36 v capability

hmmm

I have loads of server  5v psu's - the little ones, and loads of fans 5v

so I suppose all you need is the ess, that driver board a little 5v power unit and a 36v 10 psu in the box = box can be ereal small = like that.




also whilst on, I take it a cat5 cable simply can't supply the 5v for it and the limit switches?

7

General Mach Discussion / this new usb -network? break out board set for 24volts

« on: November 17, 2014, 09:48:41 AM »

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-Axis-USB-CNC-Mach3-E-CUT-Motion-Controller-Card-24V-Interface-Breakout-Board-/281419748494?pt=UK_BOI_Industrial_Automation_Control_ET&hash=item4185ec948e

does that mean if its set to 24 volts for step and direction signals to servo drives, you can connect it network rather than usb

I can't understand it. Is it either or - I mean if you have one with powered 24volts and not powered by the 5v from the usb, do you then connect it network?
or do you still need to send it usb

so I simply need one of these a 24 volt power supply, can it be a little thing on a plug? - network address, panasonic minas a4 200w - 70mm pcd - 11mm shaft

you don't get a 24v power option in a pc power supply do you? i.e. hide this card in the bottom of the computer tower?
wireless network

run a servo stystem

8

General Mach Discussion / hello daft question..... can I run 3 12 volt fans inseries and feed them 36 volt

« on: October 10, 2014, 07:08:08 PM »

can I connect 3 fans in series 12 v 12 v 12v and feed them with a 36 volt switching powers upply?

also can I affix said 60mm by 60mm by 28mm server fans directly to the heat sink of my mini tb6600 drivers

I have breifly connected the fans up and they do 'work' i.e. they spin, but will they last?
the fans are 12v and .6amps

also will the motor interfere with the driver chip if its directly fitted to the driver or at least touching it

also i am 3 axis - the power supply is 36 volts and 9.7amps, the three outlets each go to x , y and z
I plan on connecting the fans to the z axis's terminals - is that correct?
the drives will be given 2.5 amps each if that makes any difference.....

IF YOU LIKE I plan on fitting the fans direct to the case sides and milling  vents into the sides 'like a server' then placing the drives to the fans and blowing out the heat.

do you need a picture?

also, i am running 7 core 1.5mm cy cables, 4 for motors 1 for a groundy type thing, my concern is - is 1.5mm cored cable too heavy for a limit micro switch.
on my other machine the cables for the switches are thinner and don't run in the main cables, they are 1.5mm core with the ground in them and the switch cables are real thin, as its going to be a plasma - i wanted them inside with the motor wires i think?

and lastly - ferrite rings on the mains wires before the psu, asm I correct in thinking I wrap the live and neutral around 2 ferrite rings and the earth has its own one, do I need to loop the wires around once or twice?

9

General Mach Discussion / just how deep does a plasma cutters water tray need to be?

« on: August 27, 2014, 06:18:43 AM »

I have bought another isel machine with 100mm travel on the z axis. <ballscrew beneath in the centre for x axis
IF my rapid is 10mm 3/8ths
IF my max material to cut is 5mm
DO I simply set my material supports at 85mm
IS 75mm 3 inches of water sufficient
?

or in real terms, can I simply bolt in 100 80-85mm bolts into the beds t-slot 'bed-of-nails stylee' and fashion the tank sides straight to the base too.

furthermore, IF I plan on only cutting 4 and 5mm steel plate, does this warp upon being cut enough to warrant THC?

/\ especially as the sheets will only be 500mm square= max

also can you reassur me that I do in fact want a pilot arc machine torch - a p-80 panasonic affair, as I have just received one.
min nozzle is 1.1mm = what ampers plasma cutter do I need, and thus what 'silent/quiet' compressor will suffice cfm wise.

and lastly, please would you be so kind as to explain sheetcam post processing with regards pilot arc ignition and the downward motion for gouguing / peircing - is this set in sheetcam, I think I am confused as to the 4 pin connector on a pilot arc plasma machine as one pair = switch on, the other two = pilot arc.

10

General Mach Discussion / z axis - ac servo motor with brake - does it unlock automatically

« on: July 01, 2014, 06:03:03 AM »

hello, in a panasonic minas a4 servo motor and drive combo, should I use a braked motor for the z axis, if so am I supposed? to use a braked motor on the z - axis
that said, does the driver control the unlocking of the brake automatically, or does mach need to send a signal 'enable' to unlock it.
or 'if you like' can you run braked motors on all three axis for holding? - are you supposed to do that?


thank you