Messages

2601

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Milling Is Off Center

« on: November 23, 2015, 04:15:12 AM »

There is a lot of 'trial and error' required to get each axis Velocity and Acceleration to their optimum values.

This is what I would do...

Just one axis at a time - increase Vecocity until the axis stalls on fast jog (shift + arrow key) reduce velocity by 30% and save changes. Do a similar thing with Acceleration.

Tweakie.

2602

General Mach Discussion / Re: Defining material, 0/0 point, etc.

« on: November 23, 2015, 01:55:02 AM »

Hi Frank,

Towards the beginning of your Gcode there should be an F*********x command (eg. F600) change this (and any other repeats of the F*********x command) to a higher value and save the changes. Check that you specify a high enough feed-rate in the CAD/CAM software that you use to create the Gcode.

If your spindle only has an 1/8" chuck then, unfortunately, you are limited to the available cutters that you can use. Also your spindle motor may not have sufficient horsepower to drive a larger diameter cutter.

Check out ebay for "V groove cutter" there should be lots to choose from, including different angles (not 1/8" shaft though).

Tweakie.

2603

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 soft limits reverse axes

« on: November 22, 2015, 11:37:36 AM »

Excellent explanation Bob - thanks for posting the information.

Tweakie.

2604

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Spindle Problems

« on: November 22, 2015, 11:33:39 AM »

I don't think you will be wasting your time posting anywhere on this forum.

Tweakie.

2605

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problem with Post file from MC5 to Mach3...

« on: November 22, 2015, 11:22:22 AM »

Hi Adam,

Sorry, my fault, I did not explain it very well.

If your CAD/CAM software is always going to create arcs using Absolute IJ Mode then mod. the post processor you are using to create the Gcode to include G90.1 at the start of the code (if it uses Incremental then G91.1 at the start of the code). This will save you having to make future changes to the IJ mode manually.

Tweakie.

2606

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problem with Post file from MC5 to Mach3...

« on: November 22, 2015, 10:41:15 AM »

Hi Adam,

Ahh. looks like the dreaded crop circles.  

Config. / General Config. change the IJ Mode (located centre of screen) then regen. toolpath.

Perhaps mod you post processor to include the correct G90.1 / G91.1 (at the start of the Gcode) to avoid this in the future.

Tweakie.

2607

General Mach Discussion / Re: setting up a new xp system for Mach3

« on: November 22, 2015, 10:35:55 AM »

 

Tweakie.

2608

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: suddenly will not stop stepping

« on: November 22, 2015, 01:42:04 AM »

Just out of curiosity, what type of machine controller (stepper driver) are you using ??

Tweakie.

2609

General Mach Discussion / Re: Defining material, 0/0 point, etc.

« on: November 21, 2015, 11:22:35 AM »

I think you will find F-Engrave very easy to use.

This was a test in MDF and a sample in Oak.

Tweakie.

2610

General Mach Discussion / Re: Defining material, 0/0 point, etc.

« on: November 21, 2015, 03:23:11 AM »

Hi Frank,

I cant find any information in the manual for defining material size, setting a "home point", 0/0 point... even when I look at the screen and see that Mach3 is starting dead center on the graphic, and I manually move the spindle to dead center on my chunk of wood, bring the spindle down til the point touches the surface, hit the "Ref All Home" button so everything is at "0"... when I hit the start button the spindle moves to some strange and exotic location before it drops and starts the routing process... nowhere near where my mathematical, Type A mind thought it was going to go.

It’s all good but don't hit the "Ref All Home" button just Zero each DRO's then hit  "Start".


If you are using a "V" bit then you may wish to consider V-Carving for your lettering. There are many commercial softwares that generate the correct Gcode for doing this but there is a free software that may also be of interest to you - http://www.scorchworks.com/Fengrave/fengrave.html
It does a pretty good job and I have used it for some quite large signs with great success.

Hope this helps,

Tweakie.