Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: stepper or drive problem

« on: June 29, 2010, 12:50:16 PM »

I think my problem could be contributed to drives getting too hot. I am going to build a positive pressure temp controlled box to house my computer, power supply, and drives and shield the drives from the power supply a little better than they are now. This will get them out of the heat and dust of my shop. Also, when I finally got everything up and running, I never really "finalized" the wiring, etc. Need to just shut down and finalize everything. It's been running well. I'm fairly new to CNC machining but have used it most days for the past year, a couple hours a day and I have yet to even break a bit. Destroyed a lot of work pieces (shouldn't say destroyed but more... unsatisfactory results) but that is mostly due to the learning curve with my cam software. I'm using Aspire now and I love it. I've spent a lot of time watching videos & learning autocad, Aspire, and ecabinet software...need to spend a little more time with Mach. Thanks for the help.
--Rick

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General Mach Discussion / Re: stepper or drive problem

« on: June 28, 2010, 08:24:24 AM »

Thanks for the replies, I found a wire to the motor that come disconnected which caused the problem with the motor hold torque. Hopefully I caught it in time before any damage was done to either the motor or drive. It seems to be working fine now. I still have the occasional problem of my Z axis dropping a few thousands during a large file and on rare occasion my X as well. I'm going to contribute this to motors heating up and am going to change the way I run these files...not after the machine has been running for a while but when first starting up. I do wood carvings and signs and try to do a finish cut immediately after a rough with a larger tool as too not loose my zeros (do not have limits connected) It is extremely difficult to re-zero after a rough and get it exact although I will look into some methods I've read here posted by Rich. (doing math in the DRO from the edges of workpieces). I've been using Mach for a while but need to become more familiar with some of the other features. Thanks!
--Rick

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General Mach Discussion / Re: stepper or drive problem

« on: June 27, 2010, 10:46:12 AM »

Thanks for the reply Rich...and yes, I am running almost to the limit of my x axis. I'm impressed. How did you know this and what effect does that have on losing steps as I am not "to the limit"? Other than obvious, with the problem I am having. I'm also doing a raster cut along the x axis so there is that "jolt" each time it changes direction. I've considered this and thought slowing the speed would help.

--Rick

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General Mach Discussion / stepper or drive problem

« on: June 27, 2010, 08:45:56 AM »

I had an incident yesterday where my X axis stepper lost it's "grip" so to speak. That is it lost its orientation by a number of steps and it wasn't "locked" when not in motion. The ball rod could be turned somewhat easily when the motor should have been holding it in place. I have Superior Elect. SLO-SYN stepper motors with Superior MD808 drives. This happened after the  CNC had been running for a while and my Z had dropped down a couple of thousands. I had to stop the program and re-wind the code to start over, when doing this I noticed the X had also lost...or gained a few hundredths. I have occasionally had this problem with my Z dropping a couple of thousands during a large file which puts a line across my work piece. I have also had the same problem with my X on rare occasion and only on large files. Could this be the drives or steppers? Could heat be a factor? I have been meaning to build a temp controlled, positive pressure box to house my computer, power supply and drives but still have them sitting on top of my CNC in the heat...and dust of my shop. Any advice or opinions would be appreciated. Anyone also know of a good source for these drives and steppers? I can't afford down time and would like to keep some on hand as spares. Thanks.

--Rick

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Need help - slo-syn drives & steppers

« on: May 25, 2009, 07:18:27 PM »

Thanks for the info Mark. I finally got up and running a couple of weeks ago. A separate 5v feed to my parallel port interface card was what was needed. She works fine now. Just been trying out different cam software and decided to go with Vectric products. Seems to be very easy to use and I like the results for what I'll be using it for. Thanks again.
--Rick

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LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Lazy Cam manual or tutorials

« on: May 07, 2009, 10:40:12 PM »

Thanks for all your input. I'm really amazed at the willingness of this forums members to help and the expertise they bring with them. Thank you!
I'm going to put the squeeze my wallet a bit and go with v-carve. I'm anxious to get this machine going and do not want to fumble through a program.
I do not know enough of "cnc'n" in general not to have a manual or tutorials. A lot of terms are still Greek to me. The v-carve software seems to be
state of the art and very easy to use. It should fit my needs well. Thanks.
--Rick

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LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Lazy Cam manual or tutorials

« on: May 05, 2009, 07:38:20 PM »

Thanks for the reply Rich.
I do mostly woodworking but right now am machining aluminum parts for an extra router holder for my z and also a router lift for a table. I'm also looking at retrofitting a 40w CO2 laser. Quick change from spindle, router, laser. (spindle and router...easy, laser... probably dreaming)

My needs are fairly simple...Design simple parts, signs, engravings for wood, etc.. turn to code and cut.
 
Can Lazy Cam be my cam solution or should I go with a full cam program such as Dolphin Cam.
 
Is lazy cam a full cam program? In the first video, it was made to sound as if it was not.

I hate to purchase the license...although it is pretty inexpensive, only to find I will need a different program.

As I mentioned before, although I've been watching mach videos, asking questions, reading the forums, and owned my cnc for a couple of years, I just finally got it going.  So I am still quite green. I've been making quantum leaps with the hands on in the past few weeks though.

--Rick

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LazyCam (Beta) / Lazy Cam manual or tutorials

« on: May 05, 2009, 05:21:03 PM »

I am completely new to cnc but almost reached a milestone today designing a part in cad, opening it in my demo version of lazycam, generating code and almost...cutting the part. The code wants to cut the whole part in one pass even though I have the cuts per pass depth set and what I believe to be the part depth set. Just guessing but it only shows one layer...should it be one layer per pass?
Just playing now but from what I'm seeing...Lazy cam is for me. I have a limited budget and a lot in common with the name since I do not want to go back to school to learn a cam program. The problem is...Is there any more tutorials other than the two video tutorials in the support section? I would happily purchase a license if I know I can learn the program but will definitely need more help than the two video tutorials. I'm already teaching myself auto-cad and making progress. I don't want to overload my already overloaded brain but want to get up and making stuff asap.

--Rick

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General Mach Discussion / Re: AV vane operated position sensors

« on: April 18, 2009, 03:55:15 PM »

Anybody familiar with these switches and how you would wire them and configure in mach? When I supply 5v to the switch, the other lead is grounded when the switch is not made, then open when the switch is made. If I reverse the polarity on the switch, I have about 3.7v on the other lead at all times, when the switch is made or not.
--Rick

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General Mach Discussion / Re: AV vane operated position sensors

« on: April 18, 2009, 11:57:18 AM »

OK, I think I got it...just needed a 5v power supply and it seems to work as a regular normal closed contact.