Messages

1

Forum suggestions and report forum problems. / Re: Pulley Setup and Selection Mach 3

« on: December 17, 2007, 09:05:47 AM »

Setting up pulleys in Mach 3 is super easy.  Just fill in the pulley setup screens and Mach does the rest.  I calculated my gearing and calculated the max Spindle speed for the RPM of the motor (set for 55Hz), and entered that as the max value.  This can also be accomplished by by direct measurement of the max spindle speed with a tach.  Anyway, works fine and now I'm happy (again).
Bill
 

2

Forum suggestions and report forum problems. / Pulley Setup and Selection Mach 3

« on: December 06, 2007, 11:07:17 AM »

I posted the following in the zone but have not had a response to date.  Hopeing to get some help here!!!  Anyone?


I can't seem to find the info in the users manual on how to set up the pulley selection criteria. The manual does not match the current screen I'm using. It speaks of ratios and such and the current screen has only pulley number, min speed and max speed for each of 6 pulley choices. Is that all that it requires??? I'm assuming that you set the gear (low or high and 1, 2 or 3 on my lathemaster ZAY), set the VFD for a given freq, say 40 hz) and measure the spindle speed for each setting. That would be the maximum speed and of course, 0 would be the minimum).
Here is the situation.
I just installed a hitachi vfd and leeson motor. The motor is only a 2 hp (mistake) and it stalls on low rpm torque requirements (1200 rpm (22 hz)?). I've tried unsuccessfully to adjust the L200 vfd for higher torque, but can't seem to wrap my head around the users manual!!!
So, it seems like the correct path is to use my lathemaster head gearing to run higher rpm and gear down for torque. I plan on cutting a hard steel for gun parts.
Also, the manual speaks of changing the pulley selection on the dro. I can't seem to find an input for "pulley" on the spindle speed dro!!! I hope this is a matter of mach control technology outrunning the documentation. Can you select the pulley using a software command.
Forgive the questions, but I'm still trying to learn mach and basic cnc machining.
Bill

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach has lost it's mind

« on: July 27, 2006, 06:09:51 AM »

Hey Ynneb;
Sorry about the file.  No, the zero content of the file is not the problem, just a sscrwup on my part.  I'll try to attach it again.  I do not have internet connected to that machine.  This weekend I'll completely reload mach and optimize sxp.  It's a dedicated computer anyway and I'll let you know.  I'll attempt to attach the file again.
Thanks for all your help.
Bill

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach has lost it's mind

« on: July 25, 2006, 09:00:42 PM »

Hey Brian;
Baby yet???
I don't want to try the fix until mr.  ynnebb has a chance to study it for the malfunction.  After that, I'll wipe everything, and reload from scratch.
Thanks for the help.
Bill

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Taig CNC MicroMill - Mach?

« on: July 25, 2006, 01:01:20 PM »

Hey Jim;
Mach is great software and the support is unparalleled.  There are videos on the support page which basiclly, show how to set up mach from scratch.  I use mach3, the release version.  You should be able to setup your small milling operation by just by following the video instructions. 
Hope this helps.  If more help is needed, just post here with specific questions and take your setup one step at a time!
Bill

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach has lost it's mind

« on: July 25, 2006, 06:47:10 AM »

Ok Guys;
Here goes with the Info.  Hope it helps and I"ll not touch anything on the computer until I hear from you in case you want to test something. 
Compqaq Presario  346 Intel Celeron Processor, 512 MG Memory 100 gB harddrive - not hooked to the internet.  6 months old.
Phoenix BIOX Ver 3.06
ATI Video Card (part of the MB)
Start up menu is Compaq Connectons, Compaq Organizer, and Hot Sync Manager ( Used to upload my GPS System) at one time.
Added to MACH was the MacroPump and Build 7 Screens from my encoder interface mfg.  However, I turned off the macropump and loaded the default screens prior to the trouble.

Man, can I break something when just trying to make it better!!!!!!!

Yesterday, I tried running the Rodneymarker file (engraving) I'll upload to you and it seemed to be running fine until I got the +Nothing to Feedhold+ error then everything stopped and when I told it to continue, it reverted back to the first of the code.  I'll uplod the file.  Never got the file to finish running.
I couldn't get rid of the error so I rebooted.  I then tried my conversatoinal for surfacing.  It will not allow me to select aluminum or soft metals.  When I select the button, it illuminates briefly but goes out instantly once I release the button.
Mach revision number is R 1.84.001.

I"ll try to upload some files to look at!

BTW, when I loaded the macropump and screen 7 software, the conversatoinal button did not work at all.  It was there but there was nobody home!!!
Guess there is a bug there also for the macropump mfg.  Just my luck.
Guys, Heck, I'll load this thing up and send it to you if it'll help.  I know it's not your software but if I can screw it up, someone else can!  For me it's just a hobby but for the other guy, it may be his livelyhood (probably didn't spell that right so forgive).
Bill

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie Needs Help!!!

« on: July 24, 2006, 01:35:56 PM »

Hey Guys,
Forgive me for jumping in and if this doesn't apply, please disregard.  Unfortunately, my only experience is with Servo's but in my setup useing g320's, if I do not get my 5v reference voltage from the mach computer, my system will not function either.  The reference ground for the step and direction is not there.  Everything appears normal but the motors would not spin.  Could this be happening here???
Bill

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach has lost it's mind

« on: July 24, 2006, 10:20:15 AM »

Hey Briane;
First, congrats on the new girl.  Hope things are progressing well for ya and the ladies.
I have completely recovered my system using the compac recover routine.  However, it also retained the programs on the system so the system has changed somewhat.  I tried early this morning to duplicate the problem but something different was happening and I had to quite and come to work.  I'll try again this afternoon. 
Is there a way for me to completely remove Mach from the system?  I'd like to start from scratch and just get rid of the problems I'm haveing.  The error message "Nothing to Feedhold" is scary, since I have no code listed. 
I would reformat my drive but the system came preloaded with xp and of course I don't have the disk.  If I could remove all traces of Mach and then reload, maybe things will be back to normal.   
The XP uninstall routine doesn't remove everything.  I know this since I used it, removed all mach programs from the system and reloaded the ver. 1.8 (release version) and all my setup was there.  That tells me that some of the files are retained.
Any help will be appreciated.
Bill

9

General Mach Discussion / Mach has lost it's mind

« on: July 23, 2006, 02:52:10 PM »

Hey Guys;
Help!!  Mach3 is doing some crazy things.  Started yesterday when I loaded a conversational routine to surface a blank.  I used a .75 mill and had the start surface set for -.012.  I couldn't get it to preview and finally cancelled.  Lo and behold, the code was there.  However, I started getting error messages such macro error, multiple characters on a line and bunches more.  The crazy part, is the the machine crashed zhead crash without me touching anything or a program running.  It just starts moving the axis at random.  The Dro's are changing and the preview screen has what seems like random lines being drawn as toolpath!!!!
I relaoded mach several times but when using that surface wizard with the negative value, it's nuts.
Also, when trying to run a program, I keep getting a "Nothing to Feedhold" error and I can't clear it. 
I'm using a new compac desktop but the damn thing has me going nutz.
Also, I've noted that when I rescale, the dimensions in the toolpath dro are wrong, at least I think.
Both softward, mach and newfangle are purchased and legal.
Any help anyonw?
Bill

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: Ref. All Home - Limit tripped Will not ref.

« on: June 15, 2006, 06:20:22 AM »

Thanks Brian;
I did that very thing yesterday and cleared up my problem.  Guess I should have read more before I posted.
Thanks again!!!
billyjack