Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: feed rate behavior

« on: November 14, 2009, 04:43:16 PM »

There is absolutely *nothing* to be gained by running the Mach3 kernel speed any faster than the fastest step rate you require.  All it does it eat up CPU bandwidth, and potentially create problems.  Few machines seem capable of running reliably long-term above a 45kHz kernel rate, regardless of what the driver test indicates.  If it works at 35kHz, and gives you the rapid speeds you need, then run it at 35kHz.  Going faster buys you nothing at all.

Regards,
Ray L.

Thanks for the info. But this is moot since I get the problem from 25khz on... changing to higher frequencies was just done for troubleshooting.

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: feed rate behavior

« on: November 14, 2009, 11:13:15 AM »

Interesting! Will try to slow down the cpu as soon as I fix the power supply of the CNC. Apparently the bridge rectifier need to be mounted to a heat sink when driven above 3 amp... The supplier forgot to mention that. Replacing it with a 25 amp.

Where can I get the XP optimization file?

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: feed rate behavior

« on: November 13, 2009, 09:58:27 PM »

Recently bought Mach3 R3.042.032

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: feed rate behavior

« on: November 13, 2009, 06:22:56 PM »

Tweakie: your suggestion sounds good. I did run the DriverTest.exe and the screen shows a nice straight line with a small spike from time to time.

I have the same effect whether I set the frequency at 25K, 35K, etc... I don't remember how high I went...

The PC is a pentium running at 3ghz, XP pro and barely anything else. I would think that would be plenty for this application. But obviously something is screwing up the pulse train when in the normal screen and using the arrow keys to jog.

Further details: It does this no matter which axis, X,Y or Z. It stalls while going either direction. Same if jogging more than one axis simultaneously.

Thanks to all for your help. Will dig more into this. Seeing these axis move at 600ipm with the acceleration set at 20 has fired me up... I want that capability all the time...

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: feed rate behavior

« on: November 12, 2009, 10:26:43 PM »

how about something going on with the pulse train from Mach 3? it's not a question of power. The motor stall not by a lack of power. Maybe there is a difference in how the pulses are generated while in the tuning window and while in the normal control window. I don't know, but the motors run much smoother while I in the tuning window.

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: feed rate behavior

« on: November 12, 2009, 08:54:02 PM »

Yes, done the "save" thing everytime I did a motor tuning. Sorry, I should have mentioned I have been working in robotics and cnc machine for 25 years. It's just thie Mach 3 software behaves weird. The jogging does not run slow, the motor stalls when running over 200IPM. But in the tuning window, I can run the motor past 600IPM smoothly....Why?
Yes, I set the feed rate to different rates... 100IPM, ok. 200IPM, ok, 300 IPM, stalls when reaching ~220... But in the tuning window, as I said, I can run it no problem over 600IPM...

7

General Mach Discussion / feed rate behavior

« on: November 12, 2009, 08:27:31 PM »

Hi! I built this CNC router with aluminium extrusion frame, linear bearings, stepper motors, etc. Everything moves as it should but, in the motor tuning window I can run the axis up to 600IPM with an acceleration of 20, and when in the normal running screen and jog the axis with the arrow keys, I can barely run at 200IPM before the motor stalls... I tried at 25 and 35khz, no difference, tried different pulse width, no difference.

Any ideas?

8

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: October 06, 2009, 05:39:26 PM »

Hi, after playing with a Carvewright, I'm building my own CNC router, 2' X 4'. See my blog for pics. Cnc is almost complete and I just installed the license on the Mach 3. Fun!