Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problems threading on the lathe

« on: March 24, 2009, 05:48:12 AM »

I am following this thread with much interest as I am encountering the exact same kind of threading problems as narrated by others here.

I am using the index pulse of a differential encoder as a feedback to the spindle and it was pointed out to me that the index pulse width may not be enough for Mach3.

Can someone tell me what is the minimum pulse width or better pulse time (milliseconds?) needed by Mach3? I may use a 555 to stretch the pulse width or time. I know that this may depends on the kernel speed and I am running at 60 KHz kernel speed.

I have tried the Mach3 3.042.24 with PP and it is much better already. However, this is the first time that I encounter my spindle (1 Kw - for a Sieg C6 mini lathe) slowing down to also zero RPM even under no load when threading at a set speed of 300 RPM. Did anyone else encounter this same situation?

Weedy

2

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: CNC Pipe Bender

« on: January 21, 2009, 08:06:16 PM »

Zafar,

If my cnc wire bender project pushes through, then you are the man behind the success

I used Illustrator to create vector graphics as it allows me to readily revise, change, move, and create effects. I then export it as png format. If changes need to made, I can always go back to Illy to make the changes. Drawing programs like Paint Shop, Photoshop, etc. takes much longer to make changes or corrections as it is in bitmap format.

3

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: CNC Pipe Bender

« on: January 21, 2009, 07:53:28 AM »

Hi, Poppabear.

Thanks for the compliment. When the EStop button is pressed, it turns green and has the wording "PRESS TO RESET" in lieu of the "PRESS TO STOP" and it alternately flash red and green.

4

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: CNC Pipe Bender

« on: January 21, 2009, 07:14:43 AM »

Hi, Zafar.

Nice CNC Pipe Bender. I am in the negotiation stage with a customer to cnc retro their Japanese made small diameter CNC Wire/Tube Bender that uses obsolete/discontinued standalone hardware pulse generator card, Vexta old stepper motors/drivers.

Zafar has been very gracious and kind in assisting me to understand how he did his retro as his and my prospective projects are very similar.

Attached pictures are:
1) The actual cnc wire bender machine
2) My unfinished Mach3 screen to control the CNC Wire/Tube Bender

5

Flash Screens / Re: Mach3 Flash OEM .fla: "Mach Nation 11-20.fla"

« on: June 10, 2008, 01:49:01 AM »

I downloaded the Mach Nation swf, put it inside Flash folder of Mach3. Downloaded and installed Adobe Flash Player. Run Mach3 and load the Mach Nation flash screen and it works beautifully. Attached is a screen shot of the Mach3 Mill in Mach Nation flash screen.

Initial test seems to show that I cannot change the Spindle Speed, and cannot CLEAR the error message.

Weedy

6

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Macro VB Script for Lathe Toolchanger

« on: December 26, 2007, 06:56:33 AM »

Hi Helmut,

I have not touched yet the macro vb for the toolchanger safe position codes. I think I will be including the safe tool change position in the macro when I finalize my setup. The offset is taken care of by the tool table if I am not mistaken.

If you look at this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oVD7mrY9zw), you will notice that every time a tool change is being made, it goes back to a safe tool change position.

Can you elaborate further with your problem in positioning in incremental coordinate mode?

Thanks,
Weedy         

7

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Macro VB Script for Lathe Toolchanger

« on: December 25, 2007, 10:00:43 PM »

Hi Graham,

Thanks for the encouragement. I need it as I am still relearning all those programming techniques.

Weedy

8

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Macro VB Script for Lathe Toolchanger

« on: December 25, 2007, 09:59:11 PM »

Hi Roo,

Glad to be of help. I learned the hard way by reading and analyzing practically all the macro posts and relearning programming. Those knowledge were stale for several decades already.

Do let us know how you are progressing as I am eager to know how it works out eventually. If you can post your final working macro with the offsets, so much the better. I am still learning the idiosyncrasies of how the lathe tool offset works as I have no practical experience with machining.

Weedy

9

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Macro VB Script for Lathe Toolchanger

« on: December 25, 2007, 10:20:03 AM »

I am not sure how your 4 inputs are configured but I would think there are 8 sensors at each tool positions 1 to 8. These 8 sensors are then converted into 4-bit binary thru an electronic circuit. Like so:

Position 1 - 0001
Position 2 - 0010
Position 3 - 0011
Position 4 - 0100
Position 5 - 0101
Position 6 - 0110
Position 7 - 0111
Position 8 - 1000

In other words, the 8 decimal positions are converted into binary to allow you to use only 4 inputs to Mach3.

The following VB script of Graham computes to the corresponding 8 tool positions:

    sensors=0
    While sensors=0
      if IsActive(OEMTRIG1) then sensors=sensors+1
      if IsActive(OEMTRIG2) then sensors=sensors+2
      if IsActive(OEMTRIG3) then sensors=sensors+4
      if IsActive(OEMTRIG4) then sensors=sensors+8
    Wend

Input4   Input3   Input2   Input1   ToolPosition
  0           0           0          1             1
  0           0           1          0             2
  0           0           1          1             3
  0           1           0          0             4
  0           1           0          1             5
  0           1           1          0             6
  0           1           1          1             7
  1           0           0          0             8

This is how it is computed:
1) For example, if you take the 7th row (0 1 1 1) and apply the vb script of Graham
2) Input 1 is active, so sensors = sensors + 1 = 0 + 1 = 1 (Initial seeded value of sensors is 0)
3) Input 2 is active, so sensors = 1 + 2 = 3 (Note: you have to take the preceeding sensors value of 1 and add it to 2)
4) Input 3 is active, so sensors = 3 + 4 = 7
5) Input 4 is not active, so sensors = 7 + 0 = 7 (that is your tool position 7)

The Case command can be written to correspond to the above 8 tool positions. The rest of the script will depend where is your tool safe position for tool change.

Hope this helps.

Weedy

10

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Macro VB Script for Lathe Toolchanger

« on: December 24, 2007, 11:22:10 PM »

Hi Roo,

The Macro given by Graham should give you a good start and let us know how you are doing.

If I can be of further help, feel free to post the questions. Though I am no expert when it comes VB scripting, it helps increase my knowledge by analyzing the problems.

Regards,
Weedy