Messages

4111

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

« on: March 28, 2015, 02:33:58 AM »

No reason you could not do that but I think it would be far easier to use Terry's wrapper wizard  http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,23216.0.html  This works brilliantly and is just so easy to use.

Tweakie.

EDIT OOps, sorry just realised you will be using the Chinese software rather than Gcode so yes, as long as the rotary axis is calibrated to produce the same linear dimension on the curved surface as the plane axis it will be replacing then it should work really well.

4112

Tangent Corner / Re: Another cool 3D printer

« on: March 27, 2015, 04:45:33 AM »

That certainly is true innovation thanks for sharing.

Tweakie.

4113

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.

4114

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.

4115

Share Your GCode / Re: DXF Crab

« on: March 26, 2015, 03:23:58 AM »

Nice work Pontbil - thanks for sharing.

Tweakie.

4116

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.

4117

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.

4118

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.

4119

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.

4120

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.