Messages

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 issues with new computer

« on: December 03, 2017, 07:05:24 PM »

I'm willing to try anything at this point thank you, The CNC is hooked back up on the old XP computer right now, I'm at 200,000 lines and good so far. That's the frustrating part, it is completely random with the XP computer, but the new computer won't run it smoothly, again that doesn't make any sense to me, why would an old computer work fine (other then loosing steps) but neither new ones work with the new technology breakout boards and drivers??

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 issues with new computer

« on: December 03, 2017, 06:11:20 PM »

SainSmart 4 Axis Mach3 USB CNC Motion Controller Card Interface Breakout Board with 3 SainSmart TB6600 CNC Micro-Stepping Stepper Motor Driver 4.5A

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General Mach Discussion / Mach3 issues with new computer

« on: December 03, 2017, 05:48:11 PM »

In short, for the past 7 years I've been running an CNC dedicated old Windows XP computer with mach 3 with no anti-virus, no anti malware, no internet connections. I have always had intermittent problems with loosing steps. I have changed driver boards, I've increased the size of my motors to more then double original, I've rewired it a couple times, changed the LPT cable, but would still loose steps at random times.

My last few projects have been between 300,000 and 400,000 lines of code (8-10 hours of cut time), so fairly large files. After ruining about $200 in wood and unknown number of hours from these lost steps, I decided to try upgrading to a USB breakout board and individual motor drivers. It didn't change, on my current project the first attempt lost steps around line 90,000 (about 2-1/2 hours in), the second attempt lost some at 20,000 (only 30 mins into program), a third attempt lost some around line 177,000 (about 5 hours of cut time), the forth attempt ran the whole program (8-3/4 hours) without any program issues.

Now I'm trying to repeat this project with no luck, again it started randomly loosing steps. Because I now have a USB board, I tried hooking up my laptop (running windows 7, Celeron Dual-Core 1.90 GHz 4.00 GB RAM on a 32 bit operating system) to see if it was the old computer is having some type of glitch that was interrupting the steps even thou the USB board was suppose to eliminate that. The laptop jogs everything perfectly, full speed, nice and smooth, but when I tried to run this program, it jogged from home to its starting point flawlessly, but then it started cutting. It was pulsating the stepper motors. Very noticeable on a slight z axis incline, the Y axis motor speeds up, then slows down, then speed up then slows down. These "pulses" and the uneven speeds of all the axis is taking the program almost twice as long to run. So I thought maybe my laptop just wasn't quite big enough, fast enough or plain not capable of running the CNC.

So, I grabbed my one office computers (windows 10) and temporarily hooked that one up, turned off everything that didn't need to be running and it does the same exact thing as my laptop. This computer is an Intel Core i7-2600 @ 3.40GHz with 8GB of RAM with a 64 bit processor, custom built, usually runs 3 screens and ANY multiple programs at the same time including AutoCad and 3D software while being on the internet. Way bigger and faster then I should ever need to run this CNC, but it won't run it efficiently. I've checked and double checked all my setting, I've tried changing as many settings that I know of to try to solve this problem with no luck.

ANY suggestion are welcome!!!

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Nagging software issue

« on: July 18, 2010, 10:55:11 AM »

I've noticed that Gecko is mentioned more times then not in alot of different posts, I will check that out as well, again thank you
Will

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Nagging software issue

« on: July 18, 2010, 10:18:47 AM »

Rich and Gerry, thanks so much, I'll will try these adjustments that you have suggested, and will do better research on all the components when i build my own larger table. One last question for now, I was a little shocked when this came through with composite nuts, I figured they would have been brass, I also found that using a silicone base spray on them has helped greatly reduce the vibration and wear from the dry nut and screw. Do you suggest any other lubicant or trying to find brass nuts?
Will

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Nagging software issue

« on: July 18, 2010, 10:12:24 AM »

OK, now looking at the motor specs, they are 166oz motors, well you know what, not sure on much of the technical info of all of this, so here is the link to all the info on my motors
http://catalog.orientalmotor.com/item/stepping-motors--1068/pk-series-stepping-motors/pk266-02a?

I think they still should go much faster then I can get them to go.
Thank you,
Will

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: Nagging software issue

« on: July 18, 2010, 10:06:03 AM »

Rich, I know I need new nuts, and have compensated for the backlash already, but if I start right at the material height Z at 0.0000" by the time I get done with the project it is up from the surface of the material, so that tells me that the backlash is not this cause, because of gravity, it's loosing steps as I run it. I'm going to try slowing it down, which I'm still a little upset at the slowness already, I thought it would be faster.
as for the file, there is HUGE differnces, the origanal file is only 41.4KB were the new Easy3Mill file is 141KB
Yes I ran the driver test, my computer is ONLY for this machine, the only program on it is the Mach3, I'm not even on-line with it, and the driver test is as perfect as anyone could ask for
OK, clarification, on the V-Ref settings I have changed from 2-4V to get the different Amps to the motors, 4 is the max, 2 is the conservitive so my driver board wouldn't heat up too much

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Nagging software issue

« on: July 18, 2010, 09:53:29 AM »

Ok Thanks Gerry, I'll go out and try that this morning. I wish I had velocities like yours those would make my projects alot quicker. Another question, 10 tpi, max velocity of 60 ipm is a motor max rpm of 600, according to the manufactor graph the motors have a max rpm of 2500, I know that the toque goes way down but I should easily be able to get twice the velocity that I'm getting, here's the page with the chart
http://catalog.orientalmotor.com/image?cid=1002&imgname=pk266-02b_stc.jpg  
But if I try to increase the velocity more then 60 ipm the motors just sit there and chatter. I'm running at 1/2 step so 4000 step per inch. At full step, 2000, it's even worse, and if I go to 1/8 step, 16000, there is no difference from 1/2 step
Again, thank you for all the info,
Will

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: Nagging software issue

« on: July 18, 2010, 09:25:55 AM »

I currently have the X and Y axis set at max velocity of 45 ipm and accl of 15, and the Z at max velocity of 25 and accl of 8.5 all three axis have a total max of 60 ipm. I already have the Z in half of X and Y, So you think I should lower the Z accl in half again? 
thanks,
Will

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General Mach Discussion / Nagging software issue

« on: July 17, 2010, 06:17:02 PM »

Hi all,
A little background;-I have a no-name brand of CNC 2'X2'X4.5" router table made with:-Vexta PK266-02A step motors, 1.8 degree, 2A (one motor per axis)-Mechatronics Bi-Polar 3 axis micro step driver board. Initial run with Mach 3 program:-max velocity of motors was roughly 26 ipm -at any velocity in any axis, extremely rough movements, 2 axis movements were 2X as bad, to the point that it has worn out my comosite screw nuts after a mear 5 projects -Z axis would lose steps (simple 300 lines of code and Z would be up 0.060")-Roadrunner program would only cut 1/2 of it before the Z was above the piece and would be up about 0.150" at the end of the program

Things I have done: -Called company that made the table, they sent me a file called Easy3Mill.XML to be run inside the Mach3 program -Downloaded Easy3Mill.XML, NO CHANGE -Deleted the file Mach3Mill.XML, rebooted Mach 3 -Re-configured Port, Pins, motor tuning. Now I have max velocity of just over 60 ipm, very smooth operation in all 3 axis. I have run mutiple projects without issue using max velocity of 45 ipm on X and Y and 25 ipm on Z. BUT NOW IT"S BACK!!! Simple 28,000 lines of codes for a "V" router, after 17,000 lines the Z axis is up 0.060". Uninstalled Mach3 (not easy, over 60 files attached in various places after installation was done). Re-installed mach3, same issues as origanally, replaced Mach3Mill.XML with Easy3Mill.XML, worked ok, untill I reboot the program. Mach 3 rewrites the Mach3Mill.XML each time I reboot Tryed changing Kernal speed, using sherline mode, changed max velocity, changed voltage outputs to the motors from 2-4VDC.

My question is why does this Easy3Mill.XML file smooth out the movements, but still hasn't solved my Z axis issue?? How do I solve my "losing Z axis steps" Am I doing something wrong??