Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / G13 Circular pocket and cutter comp??

« on: December 12, 2008, 05:34:59 PM »

Is there a way of getting Mach 3 to understand cutter comp in a G13 circular pocket move?

If I run the code as follows for a 20mm diameter pocket and using say a 10mm cutter, mach ignores the D offset and thus produces a 30mm pocket!

G13 I10. D3 F200

This is how I would usually programme the circular pocket on my Haas (which obviously understands cutter comp completely!)

So does anybody know a way of utilising cutter comp in a G13 pocket cycle, or do I have to allow for it in my programme? ( Which is a pain in the A@@e when doing limited pockets!)

Thanks, Roy

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Is my 'underspec' pc causing my problems

« on: December 03, 2008, 05:04:06 PM »

Paul,

I have gone to the latest lockdown now, and at the moment, just cutting air the cutter comp seems to be working. None of the strange happenings I was having before anyway. I probably wont be machining anything until next week (when I have orderd material!). Then I will try out again.

Cheers Roy

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Is my 'underspec' pc causing my problems

« on: November 30, 2008, 10:36:40 AM »

I am using the 2.63 lockdown version, I see the 3.42.020 is now lockdown, so should I be using this now?

Thanks Roy

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Is my 'underspec' pc causing my problems

« on: November 30, 2008, 06:34:15 AM »

Hi Rich,

Attached is the file as posted from my cam system  OneCNC XR, This file will run fine on my Haas at work, but under mach has the probs as mentioned before.

If I load up mach, then load up this file, all goes well, moves to start point, (G00 X-34.369 Y26.432) Plunges in as requested, but when it gets to the G41 line it goes off in a diaganol movement to some strange position and just seems to keep going until i stop it! .However if I load another file then run that, then come back and re-load this file. It seems to work fine!!

Now I am puzzled??

Thanks, Roy

5

General Mach Discussion / Is my 'underspec' pc causing my problems

« on: November 29, 2008, 04:58:18 PM »

Now I have got my machine running almost as i want with mach, I am noticing a few glitches.

Are these due to running an 'underspec' pc. I am using an old HP Pentium 3 560mhz PC, Running the driver test on this says its all ok. And up untill now it seems to run mach 3 ok.

What I am now experiancing now I am actually machining parts is that sometimes when using cutter comp the machine goes to the correct start point, but when applying comp goes off in a completely odd direction to that programmed. If I now switch to another part programme 'B' and run that, all ok. Switch back to programme 'A' , now this runs as it should have the first time!!

Now I know there are some issues with mach and cutter comp, but this is strange.

Also occasionally and it seems randomly, I can not use the feedrate overide to speed up, although it will work to slow down.


So would any of this just be due to the 'underspec' PC being overstretched with Mach. I had intended to get a decent pc to run Mach once I had the machine set up as i wanted it, but I want to know if this is the cause of my problems before i go spending money!

Thanks Roy

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: m6 tool change issues and button script issue (rewind button)

« on: November 29, 2008, 04:44:54 PM »

I had similar problems with my machine on the toolchange.  (Manual toolchange)
What I did to overcome this was modify the M6end macro. I don't know if this is the correct way around it but I just deleted all bar the first line of the macro and now it works fine.

Roy

7

General Mach Discussion / Delay on Feed Hold

« on: November 05, 2008, 07:54:37 AM »

I now have my machine pretty much set up as I want it with Mach 3.

However whilst testing out various things last night I find there is a delay of approx 1.5 - 2 seconds from pressing the feed hold button until the machine actually stops feed.

Is there a setting for this somewhere that I have missed?

Thanks, Roy

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Rapids change spindle speed

« on: November 03, 2008, 06:42:30 PM »

Just been playing around with the spindle set up on the triac tonight. (brown & pestall inverter on cnc4pc c11 bob)

I have found on my set up I need to set the pulse width to 5 in order to stop the spindle speed altering with axis or mouse movements.

However i am now struggalling to 'calibrate' the spindle. It is fine at all other pulse widths, but set at 5 I have 150rpm fast at 1000 rpm, and 100rpm slow at 2500.

Any ideas as to the problem??


Thanks, Roy

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: Rapids change spindle speed

« on: November 01, 2008, 07:14:13 PM »

Glad you solved the problem.

I have almost finished converting my Triac with a CNC4PC board.  Trying mine tonight, I find I have this same problem (didnt notice before). I had a play around with the pulse width too, to no avail!

So I will try your solution tomorrow!

Cheers, Roy

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: Connecting spindle to breakout board

« on: October 27, 2008, 07:26:06 PM »

Well after taking this advice. I felt brave enough to have a go at wiring it up tonight.  Thanks to the Jim's post i wired the 'spindle on' relay to just be M3, I just joined the spindle fwd, and spindle com wires together, since I don't think i am ever likely to need reverse on this machine. The 12v output and ground to the 12v inputs on the board and obviously the 0-10v to the 0-10 on the board. Sorted the pin assignments as advised.

And it works a treat

I just need to adjust the voltage pot to get the speeds correct.

Thanks very much to all who helped me on this.  I may be picking your brains for the home and o/t switches next