Messages

1

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Rapid height - plunge clearance between each pass

« on: July 11, 2012, 12:11:24 AM »

Just thought there was some function in LC that made it possible not to go to Rapid Height for every pass. It does not make sense to go from z-2 to z+2 just to go down to z-3 in the same xy coordinate...

I know the piece of code that i posted is not a good example because of the X changes after each pass.

2

LazyCam (Beta) / Rapid height - plunge clearance between each pass

« on: July 10, 2012, 03:51:21 PM »

Hi.
I have used lazycam for a while now, and also bought it.
I have a problem though. When i do multiple passes, lets say i cut 9mm total with passes of 1mm, the Z goes up to rapid height and/or plunge clearance betwwen each pass...
This is very time consuming and reallly annoying!
I have searched the net for solutions but so far i have found nothing.

Here is an example of code generated with lazycam:

N5 (File Name = holdertillimitswitch on Tuesday, July 10, 2012)
N10 (Default Mill Post)
N15  G91.1
N20 G0  Z2.0000
N25 M3
N30  X15.0000  Y15.0000
N35  Z0.1000
N40 G1  X5.0000  Z-0.2500  F7000.00
N45 G0  Z2.0000
N50  X15.0000
N55  Z0.1000
N60 G1  Z-0.5000 
N65  X5.0000   
N70 G0  Z2.0000
N75  X15.0000
N80  Z0.1000
N85 G1  Z-0.7500 
N90  X5.0000   
N95 G0  Z2.0000
N100  X15.0000
N105  Z0.1000
N110 G1  Z-1.0000 
N115  X5.0000   
N120 G0  Z2.0000
N125  X15.0000
N130  Z0.1000
N135 G1  Z-1.2500 
N140  X5.0000   
N145 G0  Z2.0000
N150  X15.0000
N155  Z0.1000
N160 G1  Z-1.5000

There must be a solution to this?

Regards Nic

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: G540 output problem and reset fo estop

« on: March 02, 2012, 12:21:04 AM »

Ohh. How could i miss that override button!?

Yes the reset button is only for stopping mach and not the mill. (it will stop hen it doesn't get signal from mach anyway).
I agree that safety should be thought about and everyone chould do what they can to make the mill safe.
But i think the g540 estop is enough for my small mill.

Thanks for the replys - I learned something new again

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: G540 output problem and reset fo estop

« on: March 01, 2012, 03:38:45 PM »

I know that the estop in the g540 is not a real estop. I would use a relay to switch of the 230V to my dc supply. It is not a good idea to switch off dc power with high current, unless you use a diode to protect things. And as Jeff says in some cases it would have to be a certified safety relay or other safety measures as mentioned in DS/EN ISO 13849-1. But this is just a hobby machine, so I don't bother.

The right way then is to press the estop and turn my steppers by hand if i get stuck at the limit switch

The relays I thing for the VFD I could try, but the inputs on my VFD is sink, and the 0v on the VFD and gecko have the same potential. I have not measured the current draw but i recond it is less than that of a small DC relay.
But okay it is worth a try

I don't want to switch a contacter for the VFD supply. I like it small and simple. I will live with the drawbacks then

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: G540 output problem and reset fo estop

« on: March 01, 2012, 12:10:08 AM »

Yes if i hit the e-stop the motion stops and the gecko led goes red. I can now move the steppers manually. If i press reset it also stops, but the led is green and i can not move the steppers manually.
The spindle will stop in booth ways since my e-stop goes through the g540 and my spindle vfd is started by the output from g540.
I don't get it.. other cheap driverboards wil disable when hitting the reset button in mach...

Do you use the output to enable the contactor? and do you have the same problem as me? as i wrote in the first post the output enables when i turn off the power to the gecko, but only the output where the relay is connected. If i measure on the other output there is no contact to 0V. It is like the internal resistance for the outputs are to low...?

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: G540 output problem and reset fo estop

« on: February 29, 2012, 03:36:36 PM »

If i e-stop my g540 the diode will be red and i can move the steppers by hand. But if i release the e-stop the diode goes green again without me having to press the resetbutton in mach3. On other driver boards i had to press the reset button in mach3 to enable the board again...
This is a good feature since you can then use the reset button in mach3 to disable the driver board and eventually move the steppers by hand if they reach a limit switch for example.. As it is now i have to turn the power of to get the stepper away from my limit switch and then turn on the power again! or i have to press my e-stop button.

Regards Nic - and thank's for the reply's so far

7

General Mach Discussion / G540 output problem and reset fo estop

« on: February 29, 2012, 10:24:42 AM »

Hi. I am the happy owner of a gecko G540.
I have a problem though, or two that is.

I use one of the outputs to set my VFD drive in run mode and start the spindle. The problem is that if the gecko is off the output goes on... but if i turn on the gecko the output goes to off unless i enable it in mach3. The resistance between 0V and the output is to low to not enable the output when the gecko is without power. I can off course always turn the gecko on with the VFD and there is no problem. But when i turn of the system, the VFD will start to spin for a second until the capacitors in it has discharged...
What to do!?

Then i have another little problem. If i press the big reset button in mach the gecko does not disable!? So if i press my emergency stop and release again, the gecko just enables without me having to reset it in mach3.. For security reasons i really wan't the mach3 to do disable the gecko when i hit the reset and enable when i hit it again.

Help will be appreciated!

Regards Nic

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Max speed Gecko

« on: October 31, 2011, 06:02:01 PM »

Hi.
Hmm.. I don't think i need more speed for now. It's a small machine and at 3750mm/min I get the speed I need. I just wanted to test the maximum speed for fun

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: Max speed Gecko

« on: October 29, 2011, 10:18:11 AM »

Okay, with the kernelspeed set to 45KHz i get 6750mm/min, without loosing steps
Damn, if i had just bought a gecko to start with. It is worth all the money...
And that is on my home made router made out of 21mm plywood with real ballscrews and pillowblocks on hardened steel shafts.

Regards Nic

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: Max speed Gecko

« on: October 29, 2011, 09:54:58 AM »

ahh, yeah I guess i knew that, just needed to rest my head for a while.. Yes i know, but i am just eager to see how fast i can go without loosing steps