Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Beginner question - Mach Input

« on: October 21, 2011, 11:56:13 AM »

I was wondering if there is any information on the Port 1 Pins current State area?  Why 24 Led's?  I would expect 25.  And why is the 4th LED lit when I have my E-Stop input tied to pin 15 on the breakout board?

Thanks for the replies and help.
Stephen

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Beginner question - Mach Input

« on: October 20, 2011, 09:38:07 AM »

I have no experience with connecting hardware to a PC so this is a good start.  Next I'll do some limit switches. 

I noticed my Diagnostics screen has more information than what is shown in the manual (Mach3Mill_1.84_UserGuide.pdf) Appendix 1, Screenshot pullout.  I have something like Port 1 pin status LED indicators.  Has there been a revision to the system that didn't get included in the manual?

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Beginner question - Mach Input

« on: October 20, 2011, 08:11:22 AM »

It works.  I get an external Estop signal.  Yeah!

I only used the portion shown in yellow (on the attached) for experiment/trial purposes.

4

General Mach Discussion / Beginner question - Mach Input

« on: October 19, 2011, 09:18:58 PM »

I have installed the demo version of Mach3 on a PC and I have a breakout board connected to the printer port.  I want to connect an E-Stop switch as my next step.  In section 4.14 of the Mach3 Software Installation and Configuration Manual there is a sample schematic.  On the upper right hand of that schematic there is a line "To E-Stop Input".  My question is where do I connect that line on the breakout board?  Do I use one of the breakout board inputs, pins 10-13 and 15?  

Attached is a picture of my breakout board.  Thanks to Chuck Hoelzen.

Stephen.

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Getting started with Mach3

« on: September 24, 2011, 10:58:21 AM »

I use OPB 916B or 917B
They have 5 wires, Red goes to a 220 Ohm resistor then 5v, White goes to 5v, Blue goes to an input , Black and Green go to 0v (Gnd on breakout)

Hood

OK.
I found the OPB 916B in the Allied Electronics catalog.  Also found an online pdf datasheet.  I'll order several. 

You said above, Blue goes to an input.  Does that mean pin 10-13 or pin 15 of the PC parallel port?

Thanks again
Stephen

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: Getting started with Mach3

« on: September 23, 2011, 05:14:38 PM »

Thank you Hood.

I googled "optical switch" and found:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slotted_optical_switch
On the bottom of the article was a link to a datasheet for OPB610 and OPB620 slotted optical switches.
I can figure out how to make a wheel with a slot and how to mount the optical switch.

I see the optical switch has 4 terminals (pins).  What do I connect to those pins?

-Stephen

7

General Mach Discussion / Getting started with Mach3

« on: September 23, 2011, 03:24:35 PM »

Hello group-
I was recently introduced to Mach3 by a friend who has a small engraver that is run with Mach3.  He and I also have a CNC Masters Baron CNC tabletop mill.  He has had his for ~10 years, I bought mine this past March.  I know how to use it and I am a competent machinist.  I am considering replacing the Master XU software with Mach3.

I have read the Mach3 Controller Software & Configuration Manual.  I also bought and read David Benson's book, CNC Solutions for the Experimenter.  I want to go slowly and understand what I'm doing and how it works as I go.  So I want to start with something that I can attach to my existing machine to display actual spindle RPM.  I believe an encoder will do this.  I don't think I would have problems with mounting the encoder (or other suitable pickup) to the machine - that part is mechanical.  I understand the general concept is to count pulses as it rotates but I have no idea what device, software, breadboards, cabling, power supply ... I would need or want.  And can I make the actual RPM display on a Mach3 screen?

Can someone recommend hardware that I can buy to measure actual spindle RPM?

Thanks in advance
Stephen.

8

*****VIDEOS***** / Re: My EMCO 120P

« on: September 21, 2011, 09:45:05 PM »

Good job.
How did you come across the Emco?

I bought it locally. It came with a bunch of tooling and manuals, but, no stands or transformer. 

pete

Did it have the operating system?
stephen.

9

*****VIDEOS***** / Re: My EMCO 120P

« on: September 20, 2011, 06:09:16 PM »

Good job.
How did you come across the Emco?

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: NEED HELP IN CNC MILLING AND SOFTWARE

« on: September 17, 2011, 03:36:02 PM »

... remote control that is hand held and has a joystick on it to jog around at the machine.  if the computer is on and you use the joystick sometimes the axis will just take off and you have to e-stop to  make it stop. i think this machine came with a ghost in it !!!!! ....

kevin

I bought a brand new CNC Baron from CNC Masters in March 2011 and it does the same thing.  I had to send the original control box back within the first 2 weeks.  Since then it is not as frequent but it still occurs sometimes.