Messages

2901

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

« on: March 12, 2015, 06:02:56 AM »

Excellent work my friend - are you going to be making some more for the other Welsh BMW riders ?

Tweakie.

2902

Tangent Corner / Pancakes.

« on: March 11, 2015, 06:19:03 AM »

What a cool, or should I say hot, CNC project. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR2ibLNW_wo

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1853707494/pancakebot-the-worlds-first-pancake-printer/widget/video.html

http://www.kinneirdufort.com/news/flippin-brilliant-pancakes-dont-get-batter

Tweakie.

2903

FAQs / Re: Proxxon FF500 cnc setup for Mach3 help

« on: March 11, 2015, 03:23:11 AM »

I may be wrong but it is my understanding that the FF500 controller uses RS232 serial communication with the PC. That being the case it would probably be easier to just substitute the controller with one that has either Parallel port, USB or ethernet communication with the PC. Please be aware that some of the Chinese 'all in one' controller boards are dire but others can perform extremely well (some internet research before purchase may be good).

Hope this helps.

Tweakie.

2904

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: USB Smooth Stepper & Mach 4

« on: March 11, 2015, 02:34:56 AM »

Great news Bill - when you get the time please start a new thread and post your experience on setting-up and using the PMDX with Mach4 - this will no doubt be of interest to many others that follow.

Tweakie.

2905

General Mach Discussion / Re: AC dimmer via Mach3

« on: March 10, 2015, 03:27:13 AM »

Check out  SSR's (Solid State Relays) - many types are 'opto-isolated', require less than 10mA drive current and can be driven directly from the Mach3 PWM signal (spindle control) and will switch a/c mains voltages proportionally with the PWM waveform. As they switch at the 'zero crossing point' of the mains a/c there is little or no EMI noise produced by their operation and this may offer a solution.

Tweakie.

2906

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Willis Microcut bed mill Anilam to Mach3 & Viper retrofit

« on: March 09, 2015, 12:20:13 PM »

Nice work Jderou, thanks for posting the pictures and information on the electronics refit.

Tweakie.

2907

Bargain Basement / Re: Bargain Basement Rules

« on: March 08, 2015, 05:45:25 AM »

Suggestion: What about removing "Sold" items instead of letting them clutter up the postings for months/years. Some "Sold" items are over two years old...

Good call - I have deleted some of the SOLD items (going back to 2007) - will delete a few more of the very old stuff as time permits.

Tweakie.

2908

General Mach Discussion / Re: Parallel Port ID - Help Please

« on: March 08, 2015, 03:01:54 AM »

Hi Tweakie,

thanks for the reply.  Can I ask in my original post above.......... my Device Manager description detects my Parallel Port as (LPT3) CCF0

does this mean that ALL my port references in Darwin and Mach 4 should be set to PORT 3 ?

Thanks
John

No, that is just the PC's identification. In Mach3 & Mach4 you use (or rather set everything up as) Port 1.

Tweakie.

2909

General Mach Discussion / Re: Parallel Port ID - Help Please

« on: March 07, 2015, 10:35:42 AM »

Never loose enthusiasm my friend - it will all be worth the effort, in the end. 

Tweakie.

2910

General Mach Discussion / Re: Fresh install of XP, stick with pre service pack or update to SP3 & latest?

« on: March 07, 2015, 06:51:12 AM »

Going to do a clean install on a new old computer, no i'net access or network. Dedicated to Mach 3 only. Should I use the original pre service pack XP which is fast & unbloated or should I go to SP3 and install all the latest updates? It's a P4 2gHz 2GB RAM

In my opinion...

If it's a PC which is dedicated to the machine then just install XP and forget about any updates. If you are going to be running the later Mach3 plugins (such as Klaus's video screen) then you may need to install the SP3 but again forget about the updates.

Tweakie.