Messages

2781

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: Impact engraving plugin

« on: August 10, 2015, 04:09:58 AM »

I was wondering since I'd purchased the driver board listed earlier if I could simply connect a laser like this one from jtechphotonics up to the board and simply use a toggle switch to control either the laser or the impact engraver.

You could use either a magnet or a laser with the plugin but the device drive requirements would be different for each. For example, the diode laser would require it's own, dedicated, current controlled power supply.

Tweakie.

2782

General Mach Discussion / Re: Machine gets wacky after tool change.

« on: August 09, 2015, 12:59:01 AM »

How do i install other versions of mach3. Is there a place on the mach 3 site to douwnload older versions.

If you look in FTP Downloads / FTP Server - Main Menu / Mach3  you can find all the available versions.    http://www.machsupport.com/software/downloads-updates/

Tweakie.

2783

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: Impact engraving plugin

« on: August 08, 2015, 01:10:34 AM »

Just to clarify, if using DotG, then the Gcode it produces (with the modified post processor for Mach3), I don't need to use the impact engraver plugin at all. Just load the gcode and run in Mach3. Correct?

That is correct.

However, there are subtle differences between the end results produced by each method. Dot-G relies on dot-dithering (a one bit process) to produce the 'illusion of shade' whereas the plugin uses an 8 bit process to produce 'shade' without the necessity for a dot-dithering algorithm.

Tweakie.

2784

Bargain Basement / Re: Conect Lathe in UK possibly for sale, wondering if there is interest?

« on: August 07, 2015, 08:40:42 AM »

Nothing as sophisticated as that, just a big hammer and an angle grinder

 

Tweakie.

2785

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Tangential CAM program

« on: August 07, 2015, 08:35:22 AM »

So, my question is: Does anyone know of a good CAM program that will generate the A Axis inputs for a tangential toolpath (including lifts between angle adjustments) and still allow me to assign individial lines from a single layer DXF to their own toolpaths?

Vectric Aspire (v. 4.0 onwards) has the 'drag knife' equivalent of a tangential toolpath Gcode generator which basically overcomes the problems you mention but it costs $$.  

Tweakie.

addition...

Its a 'plug-in' so should be usable with other Vectric products.


Edit -  Correction made to my description, in the light of experience 

2786

Building or Buying a Wood routing table.. Beginnners guide.. / Re: Future upgrade of first build

« on: August 07, 2015, 08:30:39 AM »

Another thing I forgot to mention is the fact that the driver is only capable of either full or half step, and I am not going to attempt to try and get it to half step as it means soldering a +5vdc supply onto the drive boards themselves as I said these boards were built originally for a labeling machine and not for a CNC!!!!!!, but they were free. So with just full step available when it is running and say going in a circle the noise from the Y axis stepper as it slows down at the base of the circle is awful to say the least so my thinking is if I can micro step that should remove the noise from the steppers?

Sorry if I ask to many dumb questions.

Stewart

Hi Stewart,

Unfortunately you are stuck with the full or half step that your drivers provide (micro-stepping is only provided by the actual stepper driver chips so you will need to change them to get it ). Gecko G540 comes to mind 

Tweakie.

2787

General Mach Discussion / Re: Machine gets wacky after tool change.

« on: August 07, 2015, 02:25:59 AM »

I did not spot anything unusual in your .xml file so I am pretty sure it's not that which is causing your problems.

The unexpected and non-requested behavior mentioned in your last posts would suggest that a complete re-install of Mach3 should be done.
Make a back-up of your existing Mach3 folder (to preserve .xml settings, screen sets, macro's, etc.) before uninstalling & deleting Mach3. Then make a fresh install - I suggest version R3.043.056  (only because that's the version I use and there have been a number of reported problems with R3.043.066).

If that does not completely resolve the issues you are having then I would perhaps suspect a bad RAM memory chip ??

Tweakie.

2788

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: Impact engraving plugin

« on: August 04, 2015, 12:05:57 PM »

Hi Vogavt,

I think the choice of and the actual setting-up of the magnet is still a matter for much experimentation but if this helps…

I use a stroke length of approximately 1 mm and strike the work when the magnet is energised. Obviously, the shorter the stroke length the faster the operation but the less the impact force. As you have mentioned, the small tool tip size allows us to get away with this but it’s still all a matter of compromise. If you are using a stepper driver to power the magnet then you will be striking the work on the release stroke so the return spring pressure will also figure in the equation.
For my set-up I have tried to keep the mass of the moving parts low, the pulse length short and the operating voltage high but I am still learning with all this.

Just as an example this image was produced using the M10P1 / M11P1 commands to operate my magnet from Gcode produced using Dot-G. The post-processor used is exactly the same as for laser work it is just the feed-rate that has been changed.

Tweakie.

2789

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Error reported by SS.

« on: August 01, 2015, 08:18:16 AM »

Hi Robert,

Hitting Stop causes an immediate termination of program execution which looses exact machine position so it is always best to use Feed-Hold (which stops the machine in a controlled manner) then, when all movement has ceased, you can hit Stop.

Tweakie.

2790

General Mach Discussion / Re: boxford vmc190 conversion costs

« on: July 30, 2015, 03:53:06 AM »

This is what I did with mine. http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/files/14.htm

Tweakie.