Messages

71

General Mach Discussion / Setvar parmeters

« on: November 12, 2008, 07:52:13 PM »

I found them in the user manual but I cannot find a reference to Call SetVar(1000,*********) I am assuming this is the tool offset parameter.  Can someone point to where these values are listed in the Wiki or manual?

Thanks

72

General Mach Discussion / Re: I'm lost

« on: November 04, 2008, 03:53:40 PM »

Thought I would show how I retrofitted my PC tower with the Gecko G540.   Power supply fit nicely in the bottom inside and you can see the plug and switch on the lower left.

The Gecko's are a huge improvement over the Xylotex and the G540 is very competitively priced.



Dan

73

General Mach Discussion / Re: I'm lost

« on: November 01, 2008, 12:48:31 PM »

For over two years I had a Xylotex based controller that I purchased from KDNtool.  I had it running my mini mill with the two Pacsci motors and two generic NEMA 23 motors.  Everything was working well no issues for two years.

A while ago the power supply blew in the KDNtool controller and the Xylotex board was effected, I was limping along but the board needed repair.  I was going to get the Xylotex fixed but I then decided to throw out the old controller and buy the Gecko G540.

I know have a Gecko G540 and a Keling 48v PS. 

The Z axis losing position had nothing to do with the spring or the head.  Somehow NOT having the pulse rate set to 5 and/or the shireline 1/2 step on (don't know which helped I did not test them separately) causes the Z to lose position and it causes the shuttlepro to not work properly.  I never tried to disconnect the shuttlepro I did download the latest driver and I also tried Mach version 3.xx just to see if that would help.

As I stated I don't know why but that is the way it is.  I am one the road most of today but would be happy to post some photos later.

Dan

74

General Mach Discussion / Re: I'm lost

« on: November 01, 2008, 10:10:29 AM »

It is a mini mill head with a spring attached.

75

General Mach Discussion / Re: I'm lost

« on: November 01, 2008, 06:48:10 AM »

I had a Xylotex controller for about two years then the power supply blew and fried the board.   

I got it working but I don't really know why or even exactly how.  The only thing I can tell you is that I have two Pacsci motors on the X-Y and two generic NEMA 23 motors on the Z and A.  When I first set up the machine I focused my efforts on the X-Y.  All seemed well.  Then I started cutting parts and the Z displayed the issues above.

I changed the pulse rate to 5 and checked the 1/2 step sherline mode and now the shuttle and z work fine.  The Pacsci motors are unaffected by the change. 

For me every time I make a change to the electronics there is a week or two of guessing what settings will work.  I tried the Gecko XML file but that was actually more trouble then it was worth.

The Gecko G540 gave me a huge increase in speed and stability.  The Pacsci motors are amazing motors with the Gecko controller.  Overall very happy with the new system.

76

General Mach Discussion / Re: I'm lost

« on: October 30, 2008, 10:54:11 PM »

Well I tried both 1/2 step sherline mode and setting the pulse to 5.  I have gotten farther then before and the z is working correctly after about 20 minutes.  I will run it more tomorrow.

Before it acted like a buffer got full.  I would lose position on the Z and not be able ot use the shuttle then I would exit mach and restart the program and the shuttle would respond normally.

Dan

77

General Mach Discussion / I'm lost

« on: October 30, 2008, 10:03:18 PM »

I have been continuing to struggle trying to get a new G540 to work properly.  Every time I think I got it I end up not even close.

For some unknown reason I am losing position on the Z.  I tried tuning the motor down to a velocity of 25 and acceleration of 5 and nothing changed.  On a 3d contour I am losing 0.2" of height in 10 minutes of running for some reason always gain height.

Also I have no idea why when I turn my shuttlepro dial real slow the DRO changes on the screen but the motor does not move (all axis).  Once that happens I can crank the shuttlepro and the DRO responds but not the motor.

I tried updating the Shuttlepro driver.  Tried a different version of Mach3 .  Turned backlash on/off, CV on/off, enhanced plusing on/off.

I checked electrical connections.  Mechanical connections.  Ran the drive test.  1.8gz Pentium V, Geckco G540, Keling 48V PS, 2 pacsci motors and 2 generic 276oz Nema 23 motors.

I am lost on what to do or even try.

Dan

78

General Mach Discussion / Dial Indicators

« on: October 29, 2008, 04:57:23 PM »

Testing the backlash on my mill I grabbed my BesTest .0005" dial indicator and set it on the mill table to check the movement.  Find out that when I increment the table the indicator says something different.  Drive myself crazy checking everything mechanical, electrical, and software over and over. 

For one test I grab a inexpensive Yuasa dial gauge to do some 1" measurements.  Everything looks fine. Took out a third indicator an Interapid and come to fine that my BesTest is not working correctly. 

If someone would have told me the indicator was wrong I would have scoffed at them "My B&S indicator is 25 years old and never has been wrong!" 

Dan

79

General Mach Discussion / Re: Xylotex to Gecko G540

« on: October 27, 2008, 04:22:24 PM »

Fixed and everything works great.

I found that I needed to double the resistor to 2.5k because the wiring for the PACSCI motors are labeled as serial wiring and I was wired in parallel.

I had the native units in MM and the setting screen set in IN. Changed the native units to IN and set the steps to 10,000 and everything works great.

Thanks to all that offered advice.

Dan

80

General Mach Discussion / Xylotex to Gecko G540

« on: October 26, 2008, 08:41:01 PM »

After a long run with no issues with a Xylotex controller the power supply blew and fried the board.  So I decide to try the new G540 module from Gecko.  So far I got it installed with no issues.  But now I have a few questions.

I am using two PACSCI Powermax II P22nrxd-ldf-ns-00 motors rated at 1.25A and 65V on the X and Y axis. My questions are:

1) There is very low torque on the motors.  When I used the Xylotex these had a LOT more torque when they were not moving then now with the G540.  I assume the only way to increase the torque is to increase the size of the resistor from 1.2k to something higher?

2) In the tuning window with the Xylotex the "steps per" was set to 8000 with the G540 I had to change it to 800, I used a indicator to figure this out.  That does no make sense to me since I did not change the motors.  But I could not find any information either way.  Just does not seem correct to me.

All help is much appreciated.

Thanks

Dan