Messages

2551

General Mach Discussion / Re: HOW configure on Mach3

« on: February 15, 2016, 05:58:54 AM »

Your motor step size is 1.8 deg. (200 steps per revolution) and I would suggest a micro-step size of 10. This equates to 2000 steps per revolution and the dip switches from 4 to 8 would be set OFF, OFF, ON, ON, OFF which is exactly as your picture shows.

Tweakie.

2552

Tangent Corner / My Electronic Juke Box.

« on: February 15, 2016, 05:36:51 AM »

Just a bit of fun really but it always took me far too long to find the particular CD that I wanted to play in the workshop so I had an idea…
Based on the principle of the IPlayer/Ipod/Ipad I used a Win10 tablet (with some modified software) to become my electronic juke box. It uses it’s Wi-Fi to download the tunes from my CD’s stored in the cloud and it’s Bluetooth to stream the audio to my speaker system. Almost perfect except for two major problems…
1) Windows Update – With Win10 you can defer updates but you can’t actually turn them off and they do cause problems. The solution was to store all the music on the tablet’s SSD then disable the Wi-Fi. Surprisingly, I been able to rip some 80 CD’s to the SSD and it has hardly made a dent into it’s storage capacity – just another 100 or so CD’s to go and I will be there.
2) The tablet’s 10 inch screen size is just not big enough for my sausage sized fingers. I have tried using a rubber tipped stylus but I really need a larger sized touch screen.
To the rescue came this Win10 based, self-service, kiosk, which was used over the 2015 Christmas  period at the London Westfield ice skating rink - basically for just dispensing tickets. It has a 21 inch touch screen (just right for sausages) and can sync with my master PC for transferring over the completed music data base etc to it’s own SSD. Although it has it’s own ‘low level’, built-in, sound - the selected music is still streamed, via a Bluetooth link, to my sound system so it just requires a mains power connection to do it’s thing. I still have a bit of work to do but it looks good for sweet music in the workshop from now on.

Tweakie.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

2553

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Add a laser to my CNC

« on: February 15, 2016, 04:50:25 AM »

Hi Bob,

Perhaps all the more reason for motion controller developers to support the M62/M63 commands ??

In my case (as shown in the linked video) I am combining the A axis direction signal (a modified logic AND) with the PWM on an Output# (as a laser power control method this is described in a bit more detail in my Laser thread). As a result Estop turns off the Output# and also the laser (the A axis direction signal is not passed through without the Output# being active). I appreciate that not everyone would want to use this method but it is just one way of achieving the desired result when I only had limited tools available.

Tweakie.

(I had to check a few things for accuracy so this post was deleted, corrected, then re-posted)

2554

General Mach Discussion / Re: Another newbe with a 3040Z CNC from China :(

« on: February 15, 2016, 03:35:40 AM »

And how to mill so the object will not fall out when you mill it to the bottom

Most CAD/CAM software will allow you to create the Gcode with 'tabs' to stop the finished part from falling out. Another option would be to mount your stock onto the spoil board with double sided sticky ( as well as the clamps, if necessary ) that is usually enough to hold the finished part in place. There are also other options - as you are starting to discover, CNC is a never ending journey of learning.

Tweakie.

2555

General Mach Discussion / Re: HOW configure on Mach3

« on: February 15, 2016, 02:27:46 AM »

Rather than repeat everything here, the Mach3 manual contains full details of how to go about its' configuration in relation to your particular stepper motor and your chosen micro-stepping. http://www.machsupport.com/help-learning/product-manuals/

Your maximum stepper motor current is shown as 5A and your stepper motor driver dip switches should be set to this figure (or just slightly less [4.45A]) - refer to your equipment manufacturer's data sheets for more details.

Tweakie.

2556

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Add a laser to my CNC

« on: February 15, 2016, 01:44:27 AM »

Nope still does not work. The laser will stay at a lower power. Hmmmmmmm?

Pedio,

It is still very early days with Mach4 and the development of motion controllers and although it may some while into the future, one day, I expect they will all support the M62/M63 commands.
From your testing it is apparent that you cannot switch your laser beam on/off by using the PWM signal so why not just use an imaginary axis direction signal as mentioned and demonstrated here…  http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,31495.msg218362.html#msg218362

Tweakie.

2557

Others / Re: Ezilathe - Tools for the CNC lathe

« on: February 14, 2016, 03:35:36 AM »

Excellent work, really excellent work (I dread to think of the time and effort that you have put into this).

Tweakie.

2558

General Mach Discussion / Re: Educational Sources???

« on: February 13, 2016, 07:53:07 AM »

You may also like to spend some time looking at the CNC Cookbook site   http://www.cnccookbook.com/

Tweakie.

2559

General Mach Discussion / Re: what file to copy so mach3 on desk pc has same config as the one on my mill

« on: February 12, 2016, 08:00:15 AM »

Hi Tom,

In your machine PC Mach3 folder you will have the file <your profile>.xml (typically Mach3Mill.xml) copy this file and transfer it to your indoor PC Mach3 folder and you should then have all the same Mach3 settings in the house as you have in the shop.

Tweakie.

2560

General Mach Discussion / Re: CNC Help needed with Parallel Interface card - I think.

« on: February 12, 2016, 07:54:16 AM »

As Stew has said, please post your .xml file. The one that is located in the Mach3 folder named <your profile>.xml (typically Mach3Mill.xml). Copy it and rename it to uniquelydc.xml then use the 'Additional Options...' to attach it to your next post.

Tweakie.