Messages

1

Others / Re: Ezilathe - Tools for the CNC lathe

« on: April 15, 2015, 12:30:23 PM »

Now running fine, it was the file name spelling mistake that was the problem.

2

Others / Re: Ezilathe - Tools for the CNC lathe

« on: April 15, 2015, 03:47:54 AM »

Thank you! Looking forward to giving it a try.
Richard

3

Others / Re: Ezilathe - Tools for the CNC lathe

« on: April 14, 2015, 03:46:28 PM »

I have created a folder C:Esilathe and extracted the files to it. I have also copied the contents of the Sample Metric folder to this folder including materialm.txt.
However when I try to run Esilathe.exe, I get a message saying 'C:\Esilathe\Materialm.txt does not exist. Please copy to C:\Esilathe'

What am i doing wrong? Windows won't let me use \ as part of a folder name.

Thanks
Richard

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problem with transfer to new PC

« on: December 16, 2014, 07:39:44 AM »

All now fixed. This what I was advised on the Denford Forum:

"go into the bios and set the parallel port settings to EPP"

This works but I have no idea why!

Richard

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problem with transfer to new PC

« on: December 15, 2014, 01:02:42 PM »

OK... a USB keyboard works perfectly. So, that's one problem solved. But the spindle still doesn't go. I can hear the relay click in the control box when I press ' spindle on' but nothing else.
Thanks
Richard

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problem with transfer to new PC

« on: December 15, 2014, 12:42:21 PM »

Is your spindle being controlled by a different relay now?

is the keyboard plugged in ? 

Is the cable from the computer to the machine seated all the way?

1. No, no hardware changes.
2. Yes- but on checking it with notepad I have discovered it doesn't work!!!!! in fact, no keyboards are shown as installed so that issue is nothing to do with Mach.
3. Seems to be OK and works fine when swapped back to old PC

Thanks!! Very useful, at least one problem is identified.
Richard

7

General Mach Discussion / Problem with transfer to new PC

« on: December 15, 2014, 11:11:59 AM »

The old PC started to throw up a blue screen every now and again so I decided to swap everything to a newer one. I did it this way:
"What I do is install  Mach3 on the target machine.
then Copy the C:\Mach directory and all its files over to a USB stick and then to the new machine C:\Mach directory." (as desribed by TP on the forum).

All settings have transfered perfectly as far as I can see.
Running Windows XP on both machines. Noew one is P4 2Gz.

However:
1. Keyboard jog controls don't work.
2. Spindle won't switch on manually.

A program will run, the machine works correctly, but the spindle doesn't start although the correct rpm appears in the window
Jog works correctly using a shuttle express

On the diagnostics screen, under 'Port 1 Pins current state', there are three green lights in positiions 4,5,6 from the left.
Nothing wrong with the machine, still works as before with the old PC.

Any ideas? Thanks!
Richard

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Lathe Arc Question

« on: December 24, 2012, 08:56:50 AM »

BTW,
Once you have the shape done, and if you have a drilling device which you can install on the carriage, then you can drill holes using the lathe macro drilling cycles, thus not have to remove the pipe from the lathe.
Just a thought,
RICH

Thanks for the suggestion! I have a very nice cnc milling machine which does this job, and a lot more, using Sheetcam.
Cheers
Richard

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: Lathe Arc Question

« on: December 24, 2012, 08:53:56 AM »

Richard,
LazyTurn is free, has a manual / is documented, and does outside profiles. Have a try as it may just do all you need to do.
As far as the tool is concerned you can create a parting tool and define what side the cutting edge is.

You need to pay attention to the figures in the Arc Motion write up. Figure 9 captures what can influence the generated G code.Figure 16 provides a visual as to g2 / g3 motion for front and rear tool post. Thus a lot of combinations and different motion.

RICH

Lazyturn would do what I want but for some reason the post isn't working, it just produces an empty file. I'll take another look.
The Arc Motion doc. is great, I just need to go very slowly!
I'm making all these bits by hand right now, but it's catch-22- CNC is much faster but I have to stop making stuff to teach myself, and time is short.
Cheers
Richard

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: Lathe Arc Question

« on: December 24, 2012, 08:45:24 AM »

This would make any metalworker wince and is not catered for in any normal CAM package!

Not at all, there are tools specifically meant for grooving and turning, normally called MDT (Multi Direction Turning) tools. I have one from Seco and use it at times for odd shapes.
Heres a tool path showing one being used in Dolphin.
Hood

Didn't know that- that's really what I'm doing with a parting tool sharpened down the sides. I have a demo of Dolphin but I can't get into it somehow, it's faster to write the fairly simple code by hand. I use Sheetcam on the mill and am more or less OK on that.
Cheers
Richard