Messages

4141

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Isolation Routing PCB's and Local System Rotate.

« on: November 26, 2012, 08:31:21 AM »

This is the 10mm diameter webcam and home made mounting bracket ready to be fitted to my Z axis.

Tweakie.

4142

Share Your GCode / Re: Ford emblem G code

« on: November 26, 2012, 06:58:49 AM »

Hi Scuba,

Brands of the World perhaps http://www.brandsoftheworld.com/search/logo/ford  should enable you to obtain the vector image you need. Other software would be better but LazyCam (free with Mach3) should enable you to create the GCode toolpath.

Tweakie.

4143

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help with setup & controler

« on: November 25, 2012, 05:19:00 AM »

Hood has beaten me to it    but as it was already compiled here is my take on the situation...


Whilst others have succeeded with using the TB6560 it is really not the best controller for the job. Just browsing this forum will show you the many problems some have experienced with this device and most of them have now moved on to something better, which works.

OK, it costs a bit more but bearing in mind the quality and support / backup that you will get I suggest that you consider something like the Gecko G540 http://www.geckodrive.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=540
Gecko really do have a wealth of experience and the information available on their website is second to none.

Having said that and returning to your TB6560 problem – yes, your steppers should lock when power is applied so the problem may be with your Mach3 setup. Check that your X,Y and Z axis are enabled (Config / Ports and Pins / Motor Outputs) and that you have the correct port #1 address enabled – typically 0x378 (Port Setup and Axis Selection).

You need to be a bit wary because there are many, lack of knowledge / experience, errors on this website but there is some useful information regarding the TB6560 here http://whatisacnc.com/driver-board/tb6560/

In addition, you will also need to verify that the Mach3 license you purchased is valid license@machsupport.com as there have been a lot of fake licenses sold with the TB6560 boards and (from personal evaluation) they just do not work properly.

Tweakie.

4144

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Isolation Routing PCB's and Local System Rotate.

« on: November 25, 2012, 02:09:57 AM »

Hi John,

This is the webcam (endoscope) that I finally used. It is from China and available via ebay for < £20 UKP.

Tweakie.

4145

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Isolation Routing PCB's and Local System Rotate.

« on: November 24, 2012, 12:13:35 PM »

WELL - fitting a USB webcam to use with the on-screen video window could be considered akin to playing the lottery – you pay your money and take your chance. I had to smile when one member commented that ‘plug and play’ should be renamed ‘plug and pray’.

As the saying goes ‘third time lucky’. After two unsuccessful attempts the third ‘plug and play’ webcam works perfectly on both my desk PC and machine PC with either Brian’s or Klaus’s video window. So now, still using the same 3 buttons, Button A opens the video window and prompts for the Datum to be located, Button B prompts for the Reference to be located and Button C closes the video window, performs the calculation, sets the Local System Rotated and moves the spindle / tool to the Datum position.

This has proved much easier and quicker than using the cross-hair pointer so I now have some more work to make this a permanent addition to my machine.

(Incidentally the cross-hairs in the video window were in the process of refresh at the instant the first snapshot was taken which is the reason they are not actually showing in the pic.).

Tweakie.

4146

General Mach Discussion / Re: Pulse width help

« on: November 24, 2012, 09:01:49 AM »

I had my cnc running perfectly for about a month except it had a glitch that would randomly reverse anyone of the axis every now and then.

As Hood has said this could be a license issue. Best to check that your license is valid before spending too much time looking for a cure. The email address is towards the bottom of this page http://www.machsupport.com/purchase.php

Tweakie.

4147

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: New to Mach 3 - Can you help me set it up

« on: November 23, 2012, 12:27:46 PM »

Hi and welcome to the forum.

My best advice is that you read the Mach manuals http://www.machsupport.com/documentation.php then ask specific questions on the points that you are uncertain about.

It is, in my opinion, better that you learn the setup for yourself - then if anything goes 'pear shaped' you will have an understanding of the problem.

Tweakie.

4148

General Mach Discussion / Re: The keyboard shortcut for the A, B, C axis does anyone know

« on: November 23, 2012, 05:36:23 AM »

Try; Config / System Hotkeys.  (eg. click A++ then press your desired key, then repeat for the others etc. etc.)

Tweakie.

4149

General Mach Discussion / Re: toolpath is incomplete

« on: November 23, 2012, 02:12:33 AM »

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Purchasing the Mach3 licence will solve your problem http://www.machsupport.com/purchase.php

Tweakie.

4150

General Mach Discussion / Re: laser setings

« on: November 22, 2012, 01:55:17 AM »

You need to use Mach version R3.043.056 or later for the commands to work correctly.

Yes, you can replace the M3 with M11P1 and the M5 with M10P1 within your GCode. These commands switch output #1 so that has to be set (Config / Ports & Pins / Output Signals) to the LPT output pin that connects to your laser trigger.

Tweakie.