Messages

4201

General Mach Discussion / Re: cnc /mach 3 freeze

« on: January 11, 2014, 02:03:54 AM »

If you need help on this one I can only repeat Hood's request;

What version of Mach are you using?
Can you attach your xml please.
Can you send a link to the machine you have so I can see specs.

Tweakie.

4202

Forum suggestions and report forum problems. / Re: crash at Exit

« on: January 10, 2014, 07:47:28 AM »

Apologies, my poor choice of words. By 'no problems here' I meant that I have no problems with my setup of using Mach3 to control my laser. 

Perhaps try using an earlier version of Mach3 (some have reported having problems with ver. 066, although not with lasers). Earlier versions can be downloaded from ftp downloads tab http://www.machsupport.com/software/downloads-updates/

As said I now use ver. 056 and this is just fine for me.

Hope this helps.

Tweakie.

4203

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: Predator CNC Editor

« on: January 10, 2014, 03:39:33 AM »

When I took the BobCad class the instructor said to call BobCad and they would give you
that information,  They will sell me a service contract. 3 questions in 1 year for $200.00

Off Topic but is this what BobCAD-CAM call 'customer service' ??

Tweakie.

4204

Tangent Corner / Re: Pyrography.

« on: January 09, 2014, 12:17:50 PM »

Thanks guys. At the moment the resultant work is a bit scruffy looking but it can only get better.  

John, I am still experimenting with this and will provide more detailed info once I get a little further down the road.
The voltage I am using is adjustable between 1.5 and 2.5 volts and as we all know, at low voltage and high current the enemy is electrical resistance – even a fraction of 1 ohm can create substantial heating as well a voltage drop at the work surface – once I have this sorted I expect / hope to get some improved results. I am showing a reasonably steady 0.2 Amps current draw on the 240 Volt input to the transformer but output current has not been measured. Still not sure about electrodes, I am using copper at the moment but plan to try tungsten as well.

Tweakie.  

4205

Forum suggestions and report forum problems. / Re: crash at Exit

« on: January 09, 2014, 07:48:35 AM »

No problems here but I have reverted to using version 3.043.056.

Could you explain a bit more about "it does perfect but at exiting the mach crashes" how do you exit ?

Tweakie.

4206

Tangent Corner / Re: Pyrography.

« on: January 09, 2014, 05:14:16 AM »

Just my little variation on the theme. 
Low voltage, high current and stainless steel.

Tweakie.

4207

General Mach Discussion / Re: Squaring up a job

« on: January 09, 2014, 03:33:23 AM »

Hi Jim,

As Sam has said the Digitalmachinist article covers it all but you may also find this thread of interest http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,22932.0.html

Tweakie.

4208

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Plastic Injection Molding

« on: January 08, 2014, 01:35:26 AM »

Sounds like a very interesting project, I look forward to seeing the pictures of the build.

Tweakie.

4209

General Mach Discussion / Re: Optical Registration Mark Reading With Mach3

« on: January 07, 2014, 07:52:03 AM »

I don't have a programing background but how hard would it be to make a piece of software that would take a video, look for the registration markers based on the g-code (or dxf or whatever) and then compare their angle to the g-code and align to the g-code to what it saw ?

Because the machine’s camera is unlikely to be able to view the whole job in one frame and it would be a waste of machine hours scanning the total work area just looking for the markers my suggestion would be…

A software program (plugin) to view an on-screen display of the original artwork where pixel size versus steps per unit is known – using the mouse, the registration marker positions are located and stored, their position is then translated to the necessary X-Y co-ordinates for the machine to move the camera / machine head to each selected marker. The camera then centres each registration mark in turn or is used to determine the difference in the pixels position (not sure just how to do this yet but there must be a solution) and the difference between actual position and original image position of each marker is calculated. This data is then used to set the Mach3  X and Y scale factors (if necessary) and ‘local system rotate’.

It would be challenging project to do but, in my opinion, it is entirely possible.

Tweakie.

4210

General Mach Discussion / Re: Optical Registration Mark Reading With Mach3

« on: January 07, 2014, 02:49:07 AM »

The angle of rotation and linear scale aspects are no problem for Mach3 to resolve (as I think I demonstrated in my short video) but, as yet, there is no software to make the camera recognition of the registration marks automatic, it has to be done manually.

As I always say; everything is possible it just requires time and effort.

Tweakie.