Messages

4761

General Mach Discussion / Re: HELP NEEDED URGENT

« on: January 15, 2013, 12:20:32 PM »

Hi Peter,

I appreciate that you are new to the forum but it is not productive, or indeed polite to start more than one thread relating to the same topic.

Tweakie.

4762

General Mach Discussion / Re: Urgent help needed. Setting up MACH 3

« on: January 15, 2013, 11:28:45 AM »

Using a multi-meter on continuity range, unplug one of your motors then identify the A / #A windings and the B / #B windings then check that they connect to the correct pins on your controller.

Using the multi-meter on dc volts range, check the output of your 24 – 30 Volt PSU and also check that it is connected with the correct polarity to your controller / driver cards.

From reading your technical data, it is my understanding that your controller has internal pull-ups and will operate without the charge pump signal.
Therefore;
With your PC switched off and the parallel port cable disconnected from the PC if you switch on your controller the motors should lock.

Tweakie.

4763

General Mach Discussion / Re: Urgent help needed. Setting up MACH 3

« on: January 15, 2013, 08:52:01 AM »

Peter,

I am still not certain if your stepper motors are locking up when you have everything powered on.

Do they lock ??

Tweakie.

4764

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Laser Diode Engraving

« on: January 15, 2013, 02:58:01 AM »

Excellent work John.

Wait till Zoltan sees those   

Tweakie.

(Just a note for others that follow - modern mirrors, depending on their origin, are almost always 'Lead-free' but precautions should always be taken to avoid inhaling the dust / fumes produced when working with all mirrors).

4765

General Mach Discussion / Re: delay in PWM pulse (LaserMode)

« on: January 15, 2013, 02:29:29 AM »

Hi bdn,

In Config / Ports & Pins / Spindle Setup - check that your Spin Up / Down Delays are all set to zero.

(I have found a number of problems using the Mach3 generated PWM for laser power control so no longer use it).

Tweakie.

4766

General Mach Discussion / Re: HELP HELP TO GET STARTED ON MOCK3 MILL

« on: January 15, 2013, 02:02:41 AM »

Hi Harry,

In Mach3 - Config / Ports & Pins / Input Signals - enable EStop and reverse the 'Active Low' setting. That should enable you to clear the condition.

Tweakie.

4767

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 and BlueChick v4.2 setup Very Confused Old Guy

« on: January 13, 2013, 10:58:27 AM »

If it’s any help, a very basic initial setup…

Load the Road Runner GCode, jog your X and Y axes to the lower left hand corner of your machine and then zero the X and Y axes DRO’s. Place the lower left corner of your work material here.
Jog the Z axis so the tool tip is just touching the surface of the work and then zero the Z axis DRO. Jog the Z axis so the tool tip is clear of the work surface.
Click on the Toolpath tab – this will show you the Program Limits (Maximum X , Y & Z dimensions). If it is too big for your work material then return to the main window and set the X, Y & Z Scale DRO,s accordingly (1.0000 = full size, 0.5000 = half size, etc).

Tweakie.

4768

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: continuous motion on a Zenbot

« on: January 13, 2013, 02:11:35 AM »

Carl,

Could be that you are using a laptop or other unsuitable computer ??

Tweakie.

4769

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

« on: January 12, 2013, 08:34:44 AM »

Thanks John, I have been searching for that link for ages 

Tweakie.

4770

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Some Lithophanes...

« on: January 12, 2013, 08:00:09 AM »

You are not wrong there Zig, beautiful work indeed, my congratulations Arbo.

For others that follow…

The free software ‘Mach1filter.exe’ (available somewhere here – if not then contact me) makes a pretty good job with creating the toolpath for rotary (spindle) machining of Lithophanes. (As with most image work the original image has to contain good contrast etc. and some practice will be necessary to achieve the best results).

Also the free software ‘Mach3 Impact / Laser Engraving plugin’ will enable Lithophanes to be laser cut. http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,12444.msg164439.html#msg164439

Tweakie.