Messages

4611

General Mach Discussion / Re: Steppers making noise but shafts not rotating

« on: August 11, 2012, 01:58:30 AM »

If a motor goes in one direction then you have found the correct ‘step pin’. The ‘direction pin’ has to be ‘Hi’ for one direction of rotation and ‘Low’ for the other direction so perhaps you have not found the correct ‘direction pin’ for that motor..

Tweakie.

4612

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: strange circle cutting

« on: August 10, 2012, 02:33:53 AM »

It could be backlash in one or both leadscrews or it could be a loose motor coupling / pulley etc.

Tweakie.

4613

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: My first attempt at a CNC build.

« on: August 10, 2012, 02:28:11 AM »

Hi Jammer,

You don't owe me any credit - you did all that on your own and a fine machine Elmer is 

Tweakie.

4614

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: The Laser Project.

« on: August 09, 2012, 07:52:02 AM »

I have been asked by Picengraver to test a beta version of his latest software ‘PicLaser’ and as I have no commercial interest in this product think it would be OK to post a few details here.

PicLaser takes a bitmap image and enables it to be converted to a dithered halftone (using one of a number of different, industry standard algorithms) then generates the necessary GCode to reproduce the image. It uses a unique method to create a laser ‘on time’ dwell which makes it just as suitable for high as well as low power lasers. I have not yet tried it using an impact magnet (my next task) but I have every confidence.

This was my first test piece with the laser, it is faux aluminium faced engraving laminate, with the image just slightly larger than life size and took around 20 minutes to complete. I have deliberately scaled the image up a bit and kept the focus tight so the individual dots are clearly visible but for portrait work it is generally considered best to de-focus slightly, producing a somewhat larger dot size which blends in a smoother manner.

Tweakie.

4615

General Mach Discussion / Re: Steppers making noise but shafts not rotating

« on: August 08, 2012, 11:50:09 AM »

Gecko makes good stepper drivers and the G540 is popular http://www.geckodrive.com/featured-products.html

Tweakie.

4616

General Mach Discussion / Re: Code running.....machine not moving.

« on: August 08, 2012, 11:19:23 AM »

Just a wild guess but the switched mode type of power supply or a voltage regulator or a stepper driver can shut down if it is stressed (excessive current / voltage / temperature) and only come back to life when the power is re-cycled.

Tweakie.

4617

General Mach Discussion / Re: Thread Mill Wizard - Slanted thread produced

« on: August 08, 2012, 02:01:40 AM »

Hi NGR,

Just out or curiosity, Is the 'out of square' always in the same direction ??

Tweakie.

4618

General Mach Discussion / Re: Steppers making noise but shafts not rotating

« on: August 08, 2012, 01:08:10 AM »

Ah, the steppers have that good dent feeling when I use a vise grip. Even with the motors connected to the board and power on, the vise grip is able to rotate the shaft with ease. So, can I guess the driver board is bad?

Hi CES,

That is perhaps not a good assumption to make. Steppers that have stalled can actually have less torque than when they are not powered at all.

The fact that you have 3.3 Volt logic output from your Parallel port card is more likely to be the clue to the problem. If it was me, I would obtain a PP card with 5 Volt logic output and try that before anything else.

Tweakie.

4619

General Mach Discussion / Re: CNC conversion to Mach3 possible?

« on: August 07, 2012, 11:13:50 AM »

Hi Robby,

That is one beautiful looking router.

IMO yes it could be converted to run GCode via Mach3 etc. but it would almost certainly involve a lot of work with electrical knowledge and skills being required.

Tweakie.

4620

General Mach Discussion / Re: Steppers making noise but shafts not rotating

« on: August 07, 2012, 10:45:59 AM »

Hi CES,

Just a thought, but if (with everything switched off) you rotate the steppers by hand and can feel a magnetic detent (a sort of cogging) then they are probably good and it is more likely that it is the driver board which is bad. If the steppers rotate freely without any cogging that would indicate that the rotors are not magnetized and in that case they may well behave much as you have described.

Tweakie.