Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Screw Thread Pitch Control

« on: October 06, 2009, 07:41:30 AM »

Thanks Rich

I started to read the other thread but soon got lost in the techical stuff. Perhaps I should have another go - being an "old fart" though I have to read things 5 or 6 times these days before I can get my head round them.

Your answer is exactly what I was looking for.

Jim

2

General Mach Discussion / Screw Thread Pitch Control

« on: October 06, 2009, 07:00:54 AM »

I am currently retrofitting an Emco Compact 5 lathe to work with Mach3.

My plan is to monitor spindle speed but not control it dynamically from Mach3 and I've been wondering if that will be sufficient for thread cutting.

In other words does Mach3 dynamically control the velocity of the Z axis stepper motor to get the correct pitch regardless of spindle speed?

Thanks

Jim

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: 555 Timer index pulse widening

« on: September 07, 2009, 07:10:04 AM »

To recap I asked Chip for a copy of his schematic so I could build a circuit which would deliver a constant pulse width to Mach regardless of the frequency of the pulse. My purpuse in wanting to do this was to use the original timing slot on my Boxford 125TCL rather than physically making the existing slot wider. It was also my intention to drive the timer circuit using the output from the CNC4PC C3 spindle speed board.

The plan was to use an NE555 timing chip but when I went to buy it from Maplins here in the UK they didn't have any in stock so I bought the CMOS equivalent (ICM755) instead. The ICM7555 is a plug in substitute for the NE555 but is more susceptible to static but uses less power and has faster internal switching. I also used a variable resistor in the circuit rather than the fixed 1K one recommended by Chip. I did this so I could dynamically increase (or decrease) the width of the pulse sent to Mach.

Mach needs a index pulse width of a minimum of 200 microseconds and I set the variable resistor to deliver a pulse width of about 600 microseconds and connected everything up to the XYlotex board I'm using in the lathe. I set Index Debounce to 0 (zero) and and tried it with and without Spindle Speed Averaging.

The results were fantastic even with these initial, which are now final, settings. The spindle speed shown, with averaging on, is rock steady from 60 RPM up to 2000 RPM, the max I can drive the spindle at present. Even with averaging off the results were equally impressive.

I have attached screen shots showing the two scenarios.

Incidently the cost of the components was less than 5GBP - do we need to get the board manufacturers to add such a capabilty to their portfolio?

Jim

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: 555 Timer index pulse widening

« on: August 26, 2009, 04:50:43 AM »

Many thanks for this Chip

Here is my original message for those who may not have seen it -

Hi Chip,

In May 2007 you posted the message below on the forum and I've tried to download the IC555Timer.jpg file but with no success. Do you still have a copy you could post to me? I am in the process of converting a Compact 5 lathe to work with Mach and rather than cutting a wider slot for the index pulse I believe I can increase the pulse width electronically by using a 555 timer and your circuit may be just what I'm looking for. My plan would be to use the output pulse from a CNC4PC C3 board as input to your circuit Hope you can help.

Many thanks

Regards

Jim


Hi, Rick

On My Compact 5 Lathe the index disk is about 4.5" in Dia. with about a 5/8 " slot to allow Mach to have time to see the opto Puls.

You may be able to use your Index pulse output as it is and add a IC555 Timer to reset with a adjustable time delay, R1 Var. resistor.

Just A Thought Hear, Chip

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 IC555_Timer.JPG (171.97 KB - downloaded 130 times.)
 
« Last Edit: May 06, 2007, 12:56:59 AM by afn09556 » 

5

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Made a G-Code with SolidCam Mach3 is giving errors for it.

« on: July 24, 2009, 12:47:54 PM »

Mach will see a few errors in this file - I suggest you comment them out.

For exmple change

:11 (FINALDESIGN.TAP)

to

(:11 FINALDESIGN.TAP)


Others Gcode lines Mach doesn't like are

G99 G97 which occurs twice in the code - change them to (G99 G97) . That is comment them out by putting brackets either side of the Gcode.

I also see from the code that the tool starts and ends a long way away from the cutting area - G0 X150 Z200 - I suggest you change them to G0 X5 Z5 - you'll need to do this twice.


You have also probably used the Fanuc post processor in SolidCam as there isn't one that I'm aware of for Mach3 so you'll have to manually edit the Gcode everytime.

Hope this helps.

Jim

I have also noticed that your feed rate at F0.01 is very slow I suggest you change this to someting like F150 - assuming you are woking in mm rather than inches

I have

6

LazyTurn / Re: LazyTurn

« on: February 14, 2008, 06:58:04 AM »

Art,

Nice to see some dedicated activity for us turners, or in my case a complete novice so this development should really help the likes of me.

A couple of comments however -

1. Would it be possible to specify and show a clamp as representative of the chuck jaws so clash detection with the tool could be determined and
2. Would it be possible to show tool shape so again clash detection with the work piece could be determined.

Keep up the terrific work - did I miss something or haven't you just "retired"?

Jim

7

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Welcome to SmoothStepper forum.

« on: October 25, 2007, 11:01:40 AM »

Hi Greg

RoHS Certificate of Compliance.

My limited research into these certificates indicates that the companies which manufacture/sell the electonic products produce the certificate themselves.

A Google search on "rohs certificate of compliance" produces a number of examples of types of certificates which companies use - they all appear to be signed by a senior member of their respective organisations and copies are issued with each product sold.

I'm sure your company Tiger Technologies will be able to self certify and then issue your own bespoke certificate.

Hope this helps but please bear in mind I'm not an expert on this EU directive.

Jim

8

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Welcome to SmoothStepper forum.

« on: October 24, 2007, 06:20:54 AM »

Hi Greg

Good to read about the new board.

Will it be manufactured to meet European Union regulations so it can be sold here in the UK, ie will you be applying for a RoHS Certificate of Compliance?

I currently use Xylotex boards on my mill and lathe - wiil I be able to use them with the SmoothStepper?

Jim

9

Competitions / Re: ******Guess and win a G100 Grex******

« on: May 15, 2007, 07:42:03 AM »

My guess is 2,369,148 - but as with most things these days, according to my wife, I've probably got it wrong again!

10

LazyCam (Beta) / LazyCam 2 Pro Turn Error?

« on: May 08, 2007, 10:43:23 AM »

I have attached a couple of files. The dxf is from Autocad and the associated turn tap file generated by LazyCam 2.0x.

Mach 3 is hanging when trying to load the tap file.

LC is generating what looks like impossible k numbers in the gcode for Mach3 to process.

Apologies if this is already in hand for fixing or that my dxf is at fault.