Messages

4081

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: Tool length offset to an Arduino

« on: April 02, 2013, 03:35:29 AM »

Hi Bozidar,

Thanks for posting your excellent video. 

(I have difficulties clearing the mineral filler from laser cut acrylic (Corian) and currently use two air nozzles, alternately pulsed but I can see the advantage in sweeping the nozzle directions so you have just set me off on a new project  )

Tweakie.

4082

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie with TB6560 1st time testing problems

« on: April 02, 2013, 02:53:07 AM »

To get back to the subject of slaving one axis to another.
direct quote from another source:
"In Mach, go to config->ports and pins->motor outputs.  Change the check mark or x in the "Dir LowActive" column so it is opposite between X and the slaved A axis.  This will cause the motors to be slaved together, but to rotate in opposite directions, which is required since they are mirrored in position to one another."

If the motors are indeed 'mirrored in position', (which is likely for a rack and pinion setup) then 'yes'.

Can I interpret the 1/2"-10, 5 start  acme screw's lead screw pitch (mcmaster-carr says 1/2" travel per turn) into metric format namely 12.7mm per turn.

Yes.

Tweakie.

4083

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbee Question... More than one machine, only one Mach3 install

« on: April 02, 2013, 02:24:33 AM »

I know you can setup different profiles in a Mach3 installation, but do they allow you to run more than one machine?

Yes it does.

I only have one Mach 3 licence but I run 3 entirely different machines (only one at a time) using a different profile (called from a shortcut on the desktop) for each without any problems or issues.

Tweakie.

4084

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie with TB6560 1st time testing problems

« on: April 02, 2013, 02:10:16 AM »

Hi Gary,

Slaving the X and A axes.

As said, I am not an expert at this because I have never had occasion to actually do it but…

In Motor Tuning make the settings exactly the same for both the X and A axes and save the settings for each.
In General Config uncheck the A-Axis so it makes the A axis Linear.
In Slave Axis select X to A then restart Mach3.

You should now have both these axes slaved.

Tweakie.

4085

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie with TB6560 1st time testing problems

« on: April 02, 2013, 01:51:33 AM »

Hi Gary,

Assuming I understood your description correctly this is how I arrived at the figures…

Your steppers are 200 steps per revolution – that is 1.8 degrees per step.

When you set 1/8 micro-stepping (8 micro-steps per 1.8 degree step) this increases the steps per revolution to 1600.

You have a gear reduction of 20 tooth to 60 tooth which equates to reduction of 3:1

You have a 20 tooth pinion running on a 1.5mm pitch rack so one revolution of the pinion moves it 30mm along the rack. This makes the equivalent lead-screw pitch 30mm.

Tweakie.

4086

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie with TB6560 1st time testing problems

« on: April 01, 2013, 12:44:14 PM »

Hi Gary,

I don't use slaved axes so I am not the best person to ask about this one.  

I calculate your steps per at 160 assuming I got everything right.

Tweakie.

4087

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie with TB6560 1st time testing problems

« on: April 01, 2013, 11:49:33 AM »

Hi Gary,

It depends on your leadscrew pitch and if you use Imperial or Metric as it is perhaps better to arrive at a nice round number but I would recommend that you set your driver board to 1/8 microstepping (dip switches 5 & 6 OFF) then Al's calculator should help you to arrive at the correct steps per unit. http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,16315.0.html

Tweakie.

Addition;  More info here http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,12512.0.html

4088

General Mach Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: March 31, 2013, 06:07:36 AM »

Hi MP,

Welcome to the forum.

Perhaps best to post your question as a new topic in the general section - it will receive more coverage there and I am sure someone will be able to help. 

Tweakie.

4089

Share Your GCode / Re: Demo Gcode

« on: March 31, 2013, 04:04:58 AM »

Bit of an educational project here with more details in this thread http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,24021.0.html

The material I used was 1.5mm thick polycarbonate. I have kept the feed-rate low but you may want to increase this using the FRO slider. The overall size can be scaled, if you wish, by using the X & Y axis scale DRO’s.
This tool-path has been created for use with a 2mm diameter end-mill with the X and Y zero (datum point) centre of the stock and Z zero with the tool touching the stock surface.

Tweakie.

4090

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie with TB6560 1st time testing problems

« on: March 30, 2013, 02:32:42 AM »

Excellent news Gary. 

Problems are so often caused by the most basic things which we (myself included) overlook or take for granted. 

Tweakie.