Messages

4021

General Mach Discussion / Re: CO2 Laser and also Mach4 questions

« on: March 27, 2015, 04:22:20 AM »

As you are aware, commercial laser machines (at least in our price range) do not run Gcode as standard (the FSE lasers may be an exception if you are bold enough to buy from them) so you are pretty much limited to the Chinese software and CorelDraw.

If you do decide to tear out the controller in favour of Gcode then perhaps browse through this thread http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,12444.0.html 
(as it has become very long I suggest you scroll through looking for the images then only read those posts which may be relevant to your requirements).

As for greyscale engraving, Art has developed a plugin with Arduino for Mach4 but so far he is, I think, the only one who has got it to work at this moment in time.
Mach3 already has an engraving plugin, which I find is excellent but not everyone has found it easy to use. The mach3 pluging will only work with the parallel port so external motion controller’s are not supported at this time.

A 40Watt CO2 laser has plenty of power to work with Cermark / Thermark / etc. so no problems there (other than the cost of the compound).

Hope this answers some of your questions.

Tweakie.

4022

General Mach Discussion / Re: Stepper motor working in 1 direction only!

« on: March 26, 2015, 01:28:41 PM »

Hi, could someone help me ? i have only started cnc a few months ago and have made a controller which worked fine the stepper driver is Chinese (24V-50Vdc) actual 48Vdc.

I have now made a second but i am having some problems as below.

Steppers erratic movement and will only run one way, motor step/direction is set up as my previous driver
X - Step pin 2, dir pin 3 and so on for 3 axes.  No home/limits set, no e-stop set by unchecking the input ports and pins set up correctly as is in Mach ports & Pins settup.

My stepper drivers are Chinese which i have used before (24V-50Vdc)
The input voltage to these however is reading 24Vdc. I am wondering if this the marginal voltage is the problem.

Any help will do please, thanks

What is the maker and part number of your stepper drivers ??

Tweakie.

4023

Share Your GCode / Re: DXF Crab

« on: March 26, 2015, 03:23:58 AM »

Nice work Pontbil - thanks for sharing.

Tweakie.

4024

FAQs / Re: Cutting thick materials on a mill

« on: March 25, 2015, 11:58:49 AM »

Check that your Gcode uses G01 moves for the X and Y then edit the Gcode to reduce the F*********x (feedrate). Alternately, the Feed Rate Override slider can be adjusted downwards (main screen).

Tweakie.

4025

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Sudden stop mid program

« on: March 24, 2015, 10:47:19 AM »

Unfortunately there is electrical noise almost everywhere and input signal wiring (especially if operating at 5 volts) can bring the noise back to the CNC controller and cause the problem you describe.

Perhaps check that your limit switches are wired with shielded cable which is properly grounded (at the controller end) as this is a common source of problems if they are not wired correctly.

Tweakie.

4026

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Sudden stop mid program

« on: March 24, 2015, 04:33:24 AM »

Do you have limit switches or other 'inputs' which could be picking up electrical noise ??

Tweakie.

4027

General Mach Discussion / Re: CNC Wrapper Arcs problem

« on: March 20, 2015, 08:49:43 AM »

Hi Russ, I have no idea but I am sure Terry will know.

(I incorporated the wizard into my 1024.set and it works just fine here).

Tweakie.

4028

General Mach Discussion / Re: CNC Wrapper Arcs problem

« on: March 19, 2015, 03:32:55 AM »

Hi Bob,

I know it does not address your original question but you may want to take a look at Terry's wrapper wizard http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,23216.0.html

It does not have any problems with arcs, it's free and is just so simple to use. 

Tweakie.

4029

General Mach Discussion / Re: Hall of shame

« on: March 16, 2015, 08:27:01 AM »

I read so many posts about pirated software and for that life of me I can't see why anyone with such a big investment in a CNC would even consider not paying the $175 for a license.

I'm retrofitting a Shizouka mill now and after I get it running and verify Mach will work for me I'll buy the license ASAP.  A 500 line limit is something I can't live with :-)

We have found that in many cases, where people buy machines / controllers / etc. from China, they are supplied with a disk containing a copy of Mach3 together with a pirate license and often these disks come with additional, pirated CAD / CAM  software. Those purchasing and using these components are often unaware that the license is fake and genuinely believe they have purchased the real thing. Once it has been pointed out to them many then go on to buy the genuine licence having found there are a few machine operational problems when using the fake license.

As you say $175 is a small price to pay for such excellent software.

Tweakie.

4030

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: recently putchased bobcad post help please

« on: March 13, 2015, 01:38:39 PM »

Tweakie,  With BobCad you are talking about the wrong end of the horse.

(;-) TP

Wrong end of the horse - I like that. 

BobCadCam are such a pita with their persistent sales badgering I feel they should be made to take some responsibility with their after-sales back-up and not keep passing it on to others to sort out.

If I never hear their name again I would be absolutely delighted, split open a six pack and may even start smoking again. 

Tweakie.