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Topics - B3030

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1
General Mach Discussion / No Z Encoder in Mach3Turn, works in Mach3Mill
« on: August 03, 2014, 04:38:59 PM »
I have a Sherline mill and a Sherline lathe that have both been converted to CNC and work great.  I've included a set of disconnects so one set of stepper drivers and BOBs (CNC4PC C11 and C10) will drive either machine.  I'm able to swap out a couple cables and use either machine.  All three steppers on the mill, and both steppers on the lathe have CUI AMT-102 encoders.  The X and Z steppers and encoders on both machines are wired exactly the same.  I use the same motor/spindle assembly for both.  

In the Mach3Mill Mill profile I'm able to see all three stepper encoders on the mill work on the Encoder DROs on the settings page.

In the Mach3Turn Lathe profile I only see the X Encoder work on the diagnostics page.  Cannot get Z encoder DRO to work at all.  I thought I had a bad encoder on the lathe Z stepper so I swapped the X Encoder wiring to the Z encoder and saw movement on the X encoder DRO so I'm sure the lathe Z encoder works.

** Now here is where it gets weird.  I left the lathe attached and opened the Mach3Mill profile.  Keep in mind the stepper and encoder wiring is that same.  Moving the lathe X Encoder changed the Mach3Mill X Encoder DRO on the Settings page.  This was expected.  Now, when I moved the lathe Z Encoder, the Mach3Mill Z Encoder DRO on the Settings page worked!  It didn't work using the Mach3Turn profile but works with the Mach3Mill profile.  Same wiring, different profile.  I triple checked the settings in the two profiles and everything I know that would affect the encoder DROs matches.  Really only the ports and pins on the Encoder/MPG's should affect the encoder DROs.

I have customized screensets for both the mill and lathe but I reverted back to the standard 1024 screensets to eliminate that.  Still no Z encoder DRO in the Mach3Turn profile.



Does anyone have an idea why the Z encoder DRO would work in Mach3Mill and not work in Mach3Turn?  

B3030

2
General Mach Discussion / Mach3Turn gcode from CAD profile?
« on: June 24, 2014, 12:40:26 PM »
I've been using Mach3Mill with a router and mill for about 1.5 years.  I typically use a simple CAD program to output a DXF file to Vectric Cut2D, Cut3D or Aspire, which spits out gcode for Mach3Mill.

I'm now configuring a Sherline lathe for CNC.  I see the wizards in Mach3Turn, and will use them for simple parts to get started.  I also see that I can string together a series of wizard outputs.

Is there a way to convert a CAD-generated profile into gcode that Mach3Turn will accept?  As an example,  how would I create gcode for a part with many complex concave and convex curves?  I can easily create the profile in CAD, but creating it with the wizards seems like it would be much more difficult.

B3030

3
General Mach Discussion / M5 does not completely stop the spindle
« on: June 07, 2014, 08:34:32 PM »
I have a simple DC spindle on a Chinese router.
I'm using the Analog output from a CNC4PC C11 BOB to replace a potentiometer on a 1000W PWM Motor Speed Control that is driven by a 48VDC switching P/S.

The specs for the Speed Controller are as follows:
   Working voltage: DC 10V-50V
   Control Motor Power : 0.01-1000W (50V)
   Rated current: 30A(Max current 40A)
   Regulation range:5-100%

The spindle works fine and follows M3 commands to turn on, and "S" commands to change speed. The problem I have is that when I send an M5 code the spindle still rotates about 100-200 RPM.

The Speed Controller specs include the line: "Regulation range:5-100%".  Would that account for the spindle still spinning after the M5 command since it never commands it to 0%?

B3030

4
I have a Sherline mill that I have converted to CNC using a CNC4PC C11 BOB and Mach3.  I sometimes use the mill manually so I've been able to mount the Sherline encoders between the steppers and the handwheels.  I provided +5V power as required, and connected the two quadrature encoder outputs to two of the C11 input pins.  I configured those two pins with pull-up resistors on the board.  I enabled the three encoders on the Ports and Pins/Encoder/MPG's page, and set the correct port and pins.  I have the counts/Unit set to 32 for now but will verify the correct setting.

When I turn the handwheels I see only .0001 movement back and forth on the Settings screen's Encoder Postion DROs.  The C11 BOB has LEDs on each input to indicate the condition.  The LEDs flicker on and off as I turn the encoder...as the should to indicate the pulse trains from the toothed wheel inside the encoder.

I then slaved in a set of cheap VEX robot encoders (to replace the Sherline encoders) and I get the same result on the Encoder Position DRO's.

Is there anything else to configure in Mach3 to get the Encoders working? 

I appreciate any advise.

B3030

5
General Mach Discussion / Reload Mach3Turn
« on: January 07, 2014, 08:05:31 PM »
I've had Mach 3 up and running with a router for a year.  In a misguided attempt to minimize clutter, I deleted the Mach3Turn profile from the Mach3Loader screen.  Now I find myself on the verge of CNC'ing my Sherline lathe, and I don't have that profile.

Is there any way to restore that profile?

If not, what configuration files should I back-up if I end up re-installing Mach 3?

I appreciate any advice for this misguided novice.

B3030

6
I'm new to the forum but have searched and found no similar topics
I run a YooCNC 3040 engraver with a registered copy of Mach 3 Version R3.043.066.  The controller has the "NT65-3X" control board and a "PW3024" power supply/spindle control board.

It's been running good for a year to cut ABS and etch PCBs.  But I have always had to control the spindle manually.  I really want to have GCode spindle control.

I use a simple DC engraver motor (no VHD?).  My settings are as follows:

Output Signals Engine Configuration... Ports & Pins

   Motor Outputs
      Spindle
         Enabled - Checked
         Step Pin # - ?   Does this need to be set?  To what?
         Dir Pin # - ?   Does this need to be set?  To what?
         Step Port # - ?   Does this need to be set?  To what?
         Step Port # - ?   Does this need to be set?  To what?
        
   Output Signals
      Output #1
         Enabled- checked
         Port #- 1
         Pin Number - 1
         Active Low - not checked

   Spindle Setup
      Relay Control
         Disable Spindle Relays - not checked
      Motor Control
         Use Spindle Motor Output - Checked
         PWM Control - Checked
         Step/Dir Motor - not checked
         PWM Base Freq - 5 (default)
         Minimum PWM - 10%

This YooCNC control box has a switch on the back for "H" (hand RPM control via pot of front) or "M" (machine control via M3/M5).  I never could figure out spindle control so I always run it in "H".  Now I want to get the "M" mode working.

Questions:

Do the Output Signals Engine Configuration... Ports & Pins>Motor Outputs>Spindle fields need to be filled in if I want to use PWM Spindle Control? Para 5.3.6.3 says this is checked automatically depending on whether the  Output Signals Engine Configuration... Ports & Pins>Spindle Setup>Motor Control Use Spindle Motor Output is checked.  This is checked even if I want to use PWM Control.  What would I use to fill in the Step and Dir Pin and Port fields

Since I want to run the Spindle via GCode, shouldn't the Output Signals Engine Configuration... Ports & Pins>Spindle Setup>Relay Control> Disable Spindle Relays box not be checked?  Am I right here?

As I'm trying to get this figured out, do I need to input M3 and an "S" speed code every time i want to try it?  Could i just use Spindle Toggle on the Diagnostics screen to make a quick check?


I appreciate any comments and suggestions.

B3030
            

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