Messages

4631

General Mach Discussion / Re: Epilog Summit Laser Retrofit

« on: April 28, 2014, 11:10:53 AM »

I wasn't suggesting you build the whole controller, just the tickle pulse generator. 

However, a lot of people have built my laser controller now and it seems to be successful - I certainly don't have any problems with it.
My PIC programmer is years old and I can't even remember what type it is but I think any PIC programmer would be OK as long as it is capable of HS (20Mhz) mode.

Unfortunately PCB's cannot be laser cut and mine was intended to be isolation routed. If you were to acid etch the PCB please remember to leave all the background copper as this forms an important GND plane.

My recommendation, if you decide to build the controller, is that you do get a complete PIC programming package which will allow you to change the software, if necessary, to suite your particular current or future needs. It's all good fun as long as you can find some way of justifying the expense. 

Tweakie.

4632

General Mach Discussion / Re: Epilog Summit Laser Retrofit

« on: April 28, 2014, 04:04:28 AM »

Will a simple G1 move cut a line if it's prefaced by the M11P1 commands?

Yes it will - but you will also have to have a G0 or G1 movement following the M10P1 to turn the laser off at the end of the line.  

With regard to the tickle pulse I have concluded it is better to use a separate tickle pulse generator (I have described a typical circuit here http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/files/28.htm).

Hope this helps,

Tweakie.

4633

General Mach Discussion / Re: G81 Canned cycle problem

« on: April 28, 2014, 02:52:45 AM »

A very interesting suggestion Acrodoc - thanks for posting what could be a workable solution. 

Tweakie.

4634

General Mach Discussion / Re: "run from here" problem

« on: April 27, 2014, 12:03:23 PM »

Ahh - I think I understand (perhaps) 

Thanks for the explanation Ian.

Tweakie.

4635

General Mach Discussion / Re: Limit Switches

« on: April 27, 2014, 07:40:59 AM »

Hi Nick,

Mach3 will back off until the switch de-activates.

You are probably, dependant on the quality of your switches, seeing 'switch bounce' which is confusing the issue. This problem can usually be resolved by fitting miniature 0.1uF capacitors between each switch input and GND at your breakout board (or where you have connected the switch wiring to your controller). A secondary solution is to increase the Debounce Interval in Config / General Config.

Hope this helps,

Tweakie.

4636

General Mach Discussion / Re: Router spindle runs independent from Mach3

« on: April 27, 2014, 07:32:50 AM »

Hi Barry,

You will probably need an additional pcb board (dependant on what you already have) to convert the Mach3 PWM signal to the correct control voltage for your variable speed inverter. A possible source of parts http://www.cnc4pc.com/Store/osc/index.php?cPath=25&osCsid=de85501f8281f01a901b4b484450b0dd

Section 4.6 of the manual gives some more details http://www.machsupport.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Mach3Mill_Install_Config.pdf.

Tweakie.

4637

General Mach Discussion / Re: "run from here" problem

« on: April 26, 2014, 12:25:46 PM »

I've already solved this - I did it years ago - I was seeing if YOU wanted to have a go - that's all.

Ian, you are such a tease 

Tweakie.

4638

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: Upgrage Parrallel CNC machine to Arduino

« on: April 26, 2014, 09:45:58 AM »

Hi Sayed,

My best advice, assuming you want to use Mach3, is to fit a higher quality controller to your machine (such as the Gecko G540 or similar). 
GRBL is OK but extremely limited compared to Mach3 but at the end of the day, the choice is all yours.

Tweakie.

4639

General Mach Discussion / Re: Machine wont zero after Homing

« on: April 26, 2014, 02:11:40 AM »

My post has been deleted as it fell on deaf ears  

Tweakie.

4640

General Mach Discussion / Re: "run from here" problem

« on: April 24, 2014, 07:26:22 AM »

(;-) I worked on that one for well over a year. Without success, well it could be done with a LOT of block deletes statements but that was a PAIN in itself.

But I will review it ONE more time

(;-) TP

No block deletes needed.

The suspense is killing me 

Tweakie.