Messages

1031

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Trees.

« on: September 05, 2017, 07:48:28 AM »

Another is on the way.

Tweakie.

1032

Forum suggestions and report forum problems. / Re: Wanted

« on: September 05, 2017, 07:39:48 AM »

Good suggestion, so far we have managed with a 'Wanted' Ad in the 'Bargain Basement' section http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/board,42.0.html but I am sure the forum could always be improved.

Tweakie.

1033

General Mach Discussion / Re: All the Gear and No Idea (as to why nothing happens)

« on: September 05, 2017, 07:11:53 AM »

Hi Basil,

Config. / Ports and Pins / Input Signals / EStop - change the Active Low to a tick. That should reverse the operation to how it should be 

Tweakie.

1034

General Mach Discussion / Re: All the Gear and No Idea (as to why nothing happens)

« on: September 05, 2017, 06:50:10 AM »

Hi Basil,

I am not certain that your control box contains a spindle on/off relay (at least it cannot be seen in the photo's) and the port and pin data you posted earlier does not mention spindle control. I think you may only have manual spindle control at this moment in time.

Can you see a relay ?

Tweakie.

1035

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Using an M98 sub call as a GOTO

« on: September 05, 2017, 04:26:56 AM »

If your machine (Mach3 set-up) is set to operate in Metric units and your CAD/CAM working is in Metric units then your Post Processor should add a G21 towards the beginning of the Gcode file it produces.

Check that you do indeed have BobCam set to operate in Metric units.

Try adding a G21 to the beginning of your Gcode file.

Tweakie.

1036

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Using an M98 sub call as a GOTO

« on: September 05, 2017, 03:34:11 AM »

Could it be my post processor (mill plasma) that is set to inches?

Check your generated Gcode - does it contain a G20 or a G21 ?

Tweakie.

1037

General Mach Discussion / Re: All the Gear and No Idea (as to why nothing happens)

« on: September 05, 2017, 01:13:49 AM »

Hi Basil,

The next step is to decide if you will be working in Metric or Imperial units and calculating your Steps per Unit - there is a calculator here;  http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,16315.0.html

Once that is done then fine tune everything (setting Velocity & Acceleration in Motor Tuning) to obtain best and 100% reliable performance.

All this is best done with reference to the Mach3 manual as I have only mentioned the basics here.

Tweakie.

1038

General Mach Discussion / Re: All the Gear and No Idea (as to why nothing happens)

« on: September 04, 2017, 11:27:04 AM »

Excellent guitar work (I shall keep very quiet about my guitar playing  ).

Try initial set-up as attached.

Is Estop working ?

Pressing the Red Button on your controller should make the Mach3 on-screen Reset button flash red/green boarder. Releasing the red button on your controller (and clicking the on-screen button) should make the Mach3 on-screen button have a steady green boarder.

Tweakie.

1039

General Mach Discussion / Re: All the Gear and No Idea (as to why nothing happens)

« on: September 04, 2017, 08:05:24 AM »

Is this the " Step, Direction & Estop pin numbers (relating to the 25 way Parallel Port connector)"

Yes indeed sir, they look like the pins you should be assigning to the various Step & Direction, etc. functions (They will all be Port 1)

Tweakie.

1040

General Mach Discussion / Re: All the Gear and No Idea (as to why nothing happens)

« on: September 04, 2017, 06:25:19 AM »

Thanks 'Tweakie' unfortunately I am not au fait with Windows and PCs, I have always used Macs. So, I don't know how to do a screenshot in windows; so I've copied the Mac3 folder onto a portable dive (just for this purpose of doing a screenshot of the contents) and on the mac I CAN take a screenshot. There is no file <profile.xml> file but there is a file 'profile' that's a text file and it contains just the text :- Mach3Mill.
I appreciate your help..

Hi Basil,

Don’t worry about the .xml file as I see from your screen-shots that you have not yet defined any Mach3 configuration settings.
You need to find out (from your CNC supplier) the Step, Direction & Estop pin numbers (relating to the 25 way Parallel Port connector) so that these can be entered into the Mach3, Ports and Pins settings page. Once that is done you should be able to obtain machine axis movement.
Your CNC supplier may also be able to provide you with a fully configured .xml file which can be copied into your Mach3 folder – this will have all the Ports and Pins ready configured for your CNC machine.

The set-up procedure is laid out in the Mach3 manual which can be downloaded from here;   http://www.machsupport.com/help-learning/product-manuals/
There are also many helpful video’s relating to set-up and motor tuning etc. available if you browse the Newfangled website http://www.machsupport.com/help-learning/


Tweakie.