Messages

1301

General Mach Discussion / Re: lost steps on y after a z move.

« on: August 21, 2017, 03:30:23 AM »

Hi Buchanan,

Could you attach your .xml file.

This is in your Mach3 folder titled <your profile>.xml (typically Mach3Mill.xml). Copy and rename the file to Buchanan.xml and use the 'Additional Options' to attach to your post.

This file will let us check your Mach3 settings, and hopefully spot a problem.

Tweakie.

1302

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: dro reading Zero when G code says different. Newby

« on: August 18, 2017, 10:59:31 AM »

Hi 53Hudson,

There is a short tutorial for adding attachments / pictures here;  http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,24585.0.html

Tweakie.

1303

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: The Laser Project.

« on: August 18, 2017, 08:09:21 AM »

Thanks Art.

I used a GaAs meniscus lens in this attachment (first time I have used one) and I must say that I am really impressed with the tiny dot size that it can produce.
Now to change out my other GaAs Plano-convex for a meniscus. 

Tweakie.

1304

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: Advice needed - wiring solid state relay

« on: August 18, 2017, 05:41:33 AM »

The MCTC4825JLB that you have linked is a temperature controller rather than just a solid state switch.

I use SSR's on my machines to control spindle, laser, etc. and I find the a.c. type of SSR more useful than the d.c. types. The SSR's that I use are like those in the attached picture.

This type of SSR can be operated by 5 Volts at <10mA and can switch up to 480Vac at 25 Amps (large heatsink required for large currents). The big advantage of these a.c. SSR’s is that they switch at the zero crossing point of the mains waveform so can switch loads without creating noise spikes as may be caused by a standard relay.

Wire sizes required are related to Voltage and Current (Watts) and would be the same for an SSR as a standard relay.

Hope this helps.

Tweakie.

1305

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mill Spindle Speed Control - DC Motor

« on: August 18, 2017, 05:22:15 AM »

Hi Keith,

Welcome to the forum.

For spindle speed control Mach3 sends a 0% to 100% PWM signal at TTL level (5V or 3.3V peak). The PWM duty cycle is controlled by the Gcode S### command and turned on / off with the Gcode M3,M4 / M5 commands.

It is up to a connected board (BoB or motion controller) to convert this PWM signal into the 0 to 10 Volt (or whatever) signal required for a VFD.

Hope this helps.

Tweakie.

1306

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: The Laser Project.

« on: August 18, 2017, 04:38:36 AM »

I needed to engrave a number of assembled parts which were too deep to fit beneath my laser nozzle. The solution would be a time consuming disassembly and re-assembly of the items or modification to my laser lens system.
As the combined mirror / lens assemblies (usually fitted to the commercial laser machines) are cheap to buy (from China) I decided to give it a try. Making a small bracket to fit the new mirror / lens assembly to the machine (in place of the existing lens assembly) replacing my vertical laser beam with a horizontal laser beam and creating a new Mach3 profile to swap the Z axis with the Y axis everything worked beautifully.
There are safety issues with having a horizontal laser beam on an open frame machine and I have not yet worked out the best / most foolproof solution but I am working on it.

Tweakie.

1307

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: Advice needed - wiring solid state relay

« on: August 18, 2017, 01:57:06 AM »

Hi AndyMenzel,

What is your question ?

Tweakie.

1308

FAQs / Re: Intermittent inaccuracy

« on: August 15, 2017, 11:13:31 AM »

The problem appears to be during the Jog cycle, when the steppers make a sudden noise and stutter.

That sounds like you have one or more stepper motors stalling.

Try reducing your Velocity and Acceleration settings by 50% in Motor Tuning (save the changes for each axis) and see if this cures the problem. If it does then experiment to find the fastest, reliable speeds that suit your machine.

Tweakie.

1309

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Tool Zero Code w/ Wait for Probe Confirmation

« on: August 15, 2017, 02:01:55 AM »

I think you will find that the above script only zero's the Z axis but it does show adding a message box.

If it's of any interest the full article for X - Y - Z zero position setting is here http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/files/17.htm

Tweakie.

1310

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Triple edge zero finding plate problems

« on: August 14, 2017, 06:59:11 AM »

Hi Ian,

I am pleased to hear that all is now working well and congrats on converting that script from Imperial to Metric 

Tweakie.