Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / Vista spindle tach as spindle index sensor?

« on: February 08, 2012, 04:28:39 PM »

The VistaCNC iMach USB spindle tach feeds a user DRO on the screen.  Is there a way to use the input as a spindle index for lathe threading?

Thanks,

Randy

2

General Mach Discussion / Subroutine reps DRO?

« on: January 11, 2010, 12:46:36 AM »

I posted a question to a thread which I now realize is over in the VB subboard.  I just want a DRO that shows which iteration a gcode subroutine is on.

If you don't normally read the VB subboard, could you please take a look at http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,7030.msg90039.html#msg90039 ?

Thanks,

Randy

3

General Mach Discussion / MDI history window question

« on: July 02, 2009, 04:31:10 PM »

I'm tweaking the Tormach screenset for my own usability and have run into a problem.

In the OEM version, the MDI input box is below the toolpath window.  I use it all the time, but wear bifocals and wanted to put it higher:

Unfortunately, when active the MDI history window obscures the axis DRO's since it is above the MDI box.

I can't find an option to move the history window, or specify the number of lines shown as I can on the gcode window.

Is it possible to to either?

Thanks.

Randy

4

General Mach Discussion / Control Hardinge spindle speed?

« on: December 12, 2008, 04:15:58 PM »

No, not using a VFD, that would be too easy...  Has anyone used Mach to control their Hardinge (well, I have a Feeler FSM-59, a Hardinge DV-59 clone) mechanical VSD in Mach?

I have a QRB1134 retrosensor pointed at the spindle handwheel, one half of which I painted white to give 1 pulse per revolution.  The sensor is feeding a Tachulator digital tach, but I can pull off the 1 PPR signal to feed back to the PC.

Controlling the VSD would involve acutating "higher" or "lower" solid-state relays to run the speed change motor forwards or backwards until the spindle pulse was at the correct frequency.  I'm a stepper-using guy myself, so I have no idea how this would be implemented in the software.

Just a "wonder if" idea for now... My lathe is a 3-phase, and I have a TECO FM-50 VFD generating the 60Hz 3-phase from 208V 1-phase input.  If I were to install a VFD-rated spindle motor ($$$) I'd need to also replace the coolant pump (more $)

Thanks,

Randy

5

General Mach Discussion / Weird jog behavior, possible noob problem

« on: April 05, 2008, 09:03:34 PM »

Hi all,

I am trying 3.037 (unregistered) in Turn mode.  I have the port and motor control pins and jog keys (left, right for Z axis and down, up for X axis) set up for the X and Z axes.

I have jog mode enabled.  Continuous jog mode does not work at all--"bare" arrow keys or "shift" arrow keys.

Incremental jog works on both axes, giving the right distance per jog.  But it travels at the current feed speed rather than the axis max speed.  And when in incremental mode, when I hold down the shift key, the axes continuous jog at the axis max speed.  But when I release the shift key, the axis incremental jogs at the current feed speed again.

I'm baffled!  Until I discovered that incremental jog worked, I was pulling my hair out thinking my parallel port card or cable was bad since nothing I did would jog the axes.

On my Tormach I am used to the situation where "bare" jog keys jog at slow jog rate, "shift" keys jog at full jog rate, and "ctrl" keys jog at the current increment.  I leave it in continuous jog mode to do this.

Have I configured something wrong on the new install?

Thanks,

Randy

6

General Mach Discussion / Installation hangs

« on: March 17, 2008, 11:59:49 PM »

I am trying to install Mach3 on my "new" PC without success.

PC is a Dell GX270 with a 2.4GHz Celeron with 512MB of memory.  OS is a severly nLited WinXP SP2.

Mach3 2.63 installer hangs almost immediately with the CPU pegged at 99% duty cycle.

3.037 installer doesn't even launch.  Nothing in the task manager at all.

For comparison, PCNC3 Release 1.7b (Tormach's customized Mach3) installs without a hitch.

I would appreciate any clues at troubleshooting this.  I want to try Mach3 for controlling my new lathe!

Thanks,

Randy