Messages

3371

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need help with first retrofit project - won't run

« on: January 18, 2016, 07:01:52 AM »

Firstly, check the manufacturers data sheet to make certain that you have the correct wire connections for that stepper motor ( H256-28-4A I can’t seem to find that one to verify your wire colours). Check that your Xylotex Enable jumpers are in place.
If you are using the Parallel Port then check in Device Manager for the address of your LPT port and check that the correct address is entered in Mach3 for Port1 & that it is Enabled. Then check the Xylotex data sheet to make sure you have the correct Step and Direction pins set in Mach3 (Ports & Pins / Motor Outputs) also that the Step and Direction Ports are set to Port 1.

Tweakie.

3372

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

« on: January 17, 2016, 10:47:49 AM »

you mean by combining M11/M10 and pwm like you did with optocoupler?

At the moment I don't see a better way.

You are probably right about the S### delay in Mach3 although in Mach4 the S### is, if anything, too fast 

Tweakie.

3373

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

« on: January 17, 2016, 01:45:43 AM »

I already had a look at it but noticed it was more about grbl setups. Can it be fitted to Mach3 setup?

I think it can (at least it did when I last used it) but you would have to check with them.

For your vector engraving why not just modify the Aspire post-processor to include the M11/M10 commands for the On/Off operation and use your control board's PWM output to control the power level.
Another possibility...
If your control board was set-up so that 100% PWM was full power and 0% was no power or Off then the M11/M10 would be unnecessary and you could control your laser just by the PWM (assuming it is capable of switching fast enough).

There is plenty of room for experimentation so perhaps just try various methods and see what suits you best.

Tweakie.

3374

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

« on: January 16, 2016, 11:19:12 AM »

Take a look at PicLaserLite http://www.picengrave.com/ it is, I think, more suited to diode laser operation than the Mach3 plugin.

Tweakie.

3375

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

« on: January 16, 2016, 07:40:43 AM »

Many thanks for the link, I really do like that corner tree.

At that size it is a job for a purpose built vinyl cutter (rather than my CNC machine, which is essentially a wood router) but I can call on a friend who has an A2 size vinyl cutter that I can use.

Tweakie.

3376

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

« on: January 15, 2016, 08:14:45 AM »

As you say 'very limited' I can only cut the size of the machine bed at any one time. I have done many multicolored, some laminated and some interleaved.

I certainly like your large wall decorations, perhaps you would be good enough to share the .dxf or Gcode files for that work ??

Tweakie.

3377

Promote and discuss your product / Re: Free G76 Macro Helping program for Mach3 Turn

« on: January 15, 2016, 07:19:09 AM »

Have you now settled on using Mach3 version R3. 043.062 for both Parallel Port and ESS operation. ??

Tweakie.

3378

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

« on: January 15, 2016, 06:59:07 AM »

6 years on and I am still cutting vinyl (sticky backed plastic)  

Che Guevara (when alive, he was loved in South America, hated in North America and to this day there is still divided opinion around the world) he is certainly a topic of discussion but I think this will always remain an iconic imiage. I have included my .dxf file if anyone else wants to cut this image.

Tweakie.

3379

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 Controlled embroidery Machine

« on: January 14, 2016, 02:14:01 AM »

That is just brilliant  (my best was 240 stitches per minute, with a 300 stitches per minute target, and painfully slow compared to Kiefer's video).

I am most interested in learning more about your software and the machine configuration.

Tweakie.

3380

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 and Windows 7

« on: January 13, 2016, 06:44:49 AM »

It is always best to have a dedicated PC (not connected to the net and without any other software) for operating your CNC.

Mach3 will work just fine with Win7 32bit

Backup the following:-
XML(Profile) – This stores you’re settings for Mach3, if you lose it you will need to re-setup you’re ports and pins, motor tuning, etc.
Screensets
Macros/Brains
Mach1Lic.dat license file

Or perhaps make a backup copy of your complete Mach3 folder.

Install Mach 3 then copy (into the new Mach3 folder) your original .xml file and your Mach1Lic.dat license file. If you have any special screensets or brains then they need to be copied over as well (not forgetting the bitmap folder for the screensets).

Tweakie.