Messages

4411

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: Impact engraving plugin

« on: August 30, 2014, 08:42:11 AM »

I have a crazy Idea on etching tombstones on it's site,I would go with a generator and a small machine that could be placed directly on the granite or mable.

Brilliant - there are a number of professionally made machines that do this task but they are not at all complicated so I think you could easily better their performance and design. 

The problem with SSR's is that they only switch at the 'zero crossing point' of the a.c. waveform so switching speed is limited to the frequency of the a.c. (here in the UK it is 50Hz and that is not really fast enough to be of any use).

Tweakie.

4412

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: Impact engraving plugin

« on: August 30, 2014, 01:41:45 AM »

Hi Jan,

I think that is one of those things you will just have to ‘try it and see’.

Basically, physics limits the speed in relation to the mass of the moving parts but I am certain we have not yet come up with the best possible design so I would be most interested in hearing the results of your experimentation.

Tweakie.

4413

General Mach Discussion / Re: Input, is not output!

« on: August 29, 2014, 11:36:54 AM »

Hi GC,

In Config. / Gereral Config. change your IJ Mode.

Ideally you generated Gcode should include (at the beginning of the file) the G90.1 if your circles have been drawn in Absolute Mode or G91.1 if they have been drawn in Incremental Mode. 

Tweakie.

4414

General Mach Discussion / Re: Computer running Mach3 turns itself off

« on: August 29, 2014, 07:09:05 AM »

A shot in the dark but it may be an over-temperature issue with your PC. Perhaps blow it all out with an air-line - paying particular attention to the PSU and the processor heat-sink cooling fins etc.

Tweakie.

4415

Tangent Corner / Re: Changing stepping driver / controller

« on: August 28, 2014, 11:19:05 AM »

I think you would be wise to start at say 1.2Amps then see if they get hot after 1/2 hour's running. If they are still cool to the touch then move up to the next setting etc. - at least that's what I would do. 

Tweakie.

4416

Tangent Corner / Re: Changing stepping driver / controller

« on: August 28, 2014, 08:56:35 AM »

Hi Scott,

Try it by all means but I think you will find that you need 2 power supplies to ensure reliable operation of your machine. If the hole spacings of your steppers are 47mm x 47mm then you have NEMA 23's.

Just one point - you really need to find out the maximum current rating of your unknown steppers in order that this can be set (dip switches 4,5,6) within your controller. One guy (on another forum) has just found out the hard way http://openbuilds.com/threads/electronic-nightmares.630/#post-6597

Tweakie.

4417

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: August 28, 2014, 06:06:38 AM »

Is it normal to think you know what to do and then to be completely confused the very next moment you read something?

Hi LGF,

I think so.

This is one of the problems with life in general – the more we learn, the more we realise that there is so much more that we don’t actually know - the cycle is never ending.  

Tweakie.

4418

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Making MACROS turn on OUTPUTs faster by inlining your code!!

« on: August 28, 2014, 05:40:02 AM »

Hi Steve,

The sleep trick certainly does work, although to a certain extent it spoils the smoothness of the motion particularly when engraving small text which has many short line segments. It will be interesting to hear how Art gets on with his laser and gating the laser switch to axis step pulses. Keep up the good work my friend. 

Tweakie.

4419

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: August 28, 2014, 05:15:30 AM »

is there any people who have information about the pins of ELMO EBAF servo drives; such as +-10 v and servo enable?
i want to rebuild old CNC MACHINE to mach3 and all drives are analog from ELMO EBAF
please share your information.

Hi Victor,

This pdf attachment may possibly be of assistance to you.

Tweakie.

4420

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: August 28, 2014, 04:56:21 AM »

Hi LGF,

Welcome.

You are not wrong, a homebuilt CNC machine is never truly 'finished' I completed mine (so I thought) 10 years ago and I am still adding stuff. 

Tweakie.