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Messages - ALR

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1
I am wanting to cut mother-of-Pearl material for inlay work.  I am wondering what is the best method to use to hold the inlay while cutting.  I have obtained some bits for shell material and tried to hold the piece with double sided tape.  However, the tape didnt hold the piece rigidly enough and it moved during the cutting process.  Obvious concerns are holding tight enough during cutting but pliable enough to allow separation from the hold down method without breaking the MOP.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Art :)

2
General Mach Discussion / Re: G Code Skipping
« on: November 10, 2012, 02:53:12 PM »
Thanks.  Here is my zipped up code.  This does not have the change made below.  I changed my code to

G1 X1.2673
G1 Y3.2802
G1 X2.5
G1 X3.109

and my machine skipped exactly in the same spot.  Just about .25" short of the end of the move from 2.5 to 3.109 the machine skips.  When I move back to machine home I am now off of my original home x axis position by the amount of the skip.

Thanks again. Art :)

3
General Mach Discussion / Re: G Code Skipping
« on: November 10, 2012, 11:26:34 AM »
Tweakie,  I tried to email but dont see a way to attach a file to the email system in the posting's email system.  Here are three lines of the code.  The skip only occurs in the last line.

G1 X1.2673
G1 Y3.2802
G1 X3.109

Thanks.  Art

4
General Mach Discussion / Re: G Code Skipping
« on: November 10, 2012, 11:04:30 AM »
Thanks guys for your responses.  This is interesting.  I am also using CamBam for my G code.  The drawiing was generated using Sketchup.  The SKB file was converted to DXF that CamBam used to generate the G code in a .nc file.  Mach3 readily opened the .nc file.  I had to make a few changes to the code to get the depth correct and to force a stop to make a manual tool change, but, other than that the code has worked without problem except for this one skip. 

I will look for mechanical interference but I have moved the piece I am cutting to different location on the mill to look for that type of interference.

In the meantime I will try splitting up the one line into two steps in the x axis to see if that resolves the problem.

Tweaki,  I will email you the code since I dont know how to attach directly to this post.

Thanks.   Art

5
General Mach Discussion / G Code Skipping
« on: November 09, 2012, 06:17:21 PM »
Hey guys.  It has been awhile since I posted.  I have finally gotten a drawing into Gcode that is fairly simple.  Part of the job is to make a pocket .08" deep and about 2.7" square in a piece of wood with a 1/4 inch end mill bit.  The Gcode starts in the center and spirals out to the edge.  In one of the straight x-axis moves the gantry suddenly stops and the motor makes a sound likes it is skipping.  The next Gcode step is the y-axis move and it continues with no problem.  The x-axis skip occurs in only one of the Gcode lines repeatedly.  I have run the program 3 times and the skip occurs in the same location.  Each time with the wood repositioned on the table.  I have changed feed rate from 160 to 140 thinking that maybe that would resolve the skip but it didn't.  Any ideas? :-)

6
General Mach Discussion / Re: External EStop Requested
« on: March 06, 2011, 02:53:24 PM »
Thanks Hood,  The problem is mechanical vibration in one of the limit switches.  I felt a lot of vibration in the Y axis switch and loosened the screw holding it in place and the problem went away.  I tried a debounce interval of upto 3000 and it still tripped.  I am going to have to find a way to isolate the vibraiton from the router. 

One other problem I noticed is that the machine's soft limits have moved.  About have way through the roadrunner program the tool path seems to have shifted about an inch.  Could this also be associated with the mechanical vibration or could it be from electrical noise.

ALR

7
General Mach Discussion / External EStop Requested
« on: March 06, 2011, 01:33:54 PM »
I have now been able to run my home built CNC router.  I am learning to use Mach 3 and the machine.  I loaded the Roadrunner.tap g-code that came with Mach 3 into the machine and without the router powered the program went through the program without issue.  I put some material in the machine and set the soft limits to the material and started the program with the router running.  About 1/5 of the way through the code the program stops and the reset button is flashing with a message saying "External Estop Requested".  None of the limit switches have been triggered.  I can turn the router off and can reset the program.  Within seconds of turning the router back on the reset light flashes with the same message.  This is with no movement of any of the axis.

The diagnostic screen indicates that the e stop switches are not activiated.  I can manually trigger the estop ligh ton the diagnostic screen by manipulating any of the switches.

The power cord for the router is no where near any of the wires for the z axis or limit switches, so I don't think it is electrical interference causing the problem.  However, since the problem only occurs when the router is powered, I suspect it has to be electrical noise.  I have also checked all of the electical controls and none are elevated in temperature.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get around the problem? :)

8
General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 and Windows 7 64 bit
« on: December 14, 2010, 09:12:55 PM »
Thanks for all of the advice.  I have decided that I will swap computers and use the older 32 bit XP machine.  I have already swapped the parallel port and software.  I can use Mach3 to control output on the port pins.  However, I am only measuring 3.35VDC.  Is this enough to drive the breakout board?  If not, what needs to be done to get the voltage up?

9
Hello everyone. 

This isnt my first post but I am new to the forum.  My son and I are building a CNC router to be used in building guitars.  I have been a wood working hobbyist most o fmy life and have some programming skills but very little experience with the electronics side of computers.

We are in the Nashville, TN area.  I am very excited about CNC routing and anxious to get my machine cutting and learning how to use Mach3 and CAD software.

 :) ALR

10
General Mach Discussion / Mach3 and Windows 7 64 bit
« on: December 12, 2010, 11:00:34 AM »
Hello.  I have just obtained Mach3 and installed on Windows 7 64 bit system.  In a different post I heard from Klaus that these may not be compatible so I thought I would start a new post.  Is Mach3 compatible with 64 bit systems.  If not can the 64 bit system be modified in some fashion.  I found reference on the PC to a virtual PC system.  Does anyone have experience with this problem.  Currently, I am unable to access the LPT port with Mach 3.  I have performed the Driver test with no outcome.

Any help would be appreciated.

ALR

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