Messages

481

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 strange behaviour Z axis on lathe

« on: April 18, 2020, 01:11:37 AM »

Hi David,

The reason I mentioned this is that Mach3 is obsolescent and will not be changed in the future but the ESS is current and although Warp9 may have discontinued Mach3 support they may be persuaded to make changes to their plugin if the demand for Turn was present.

Just a thought.

Thanks for clearing up my M3 / Mach3 confusion 

Tweakie.

482

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 strange behaviour Z axis on lathe

« on: April 17, 2020, 01:13:35 AM »

I discovered that after the M3 command to turn the spindle on, the axis would then only obey the G1 command in an increasing direction. Example G1F100Z100 - works G1F100Z0 doesn't work, although M3 on the computer behaves as if it is working.
I then disabled the spindle in M3 and restarted M3 (this last is important), the GCode TAP file was then able to be run.

Hi David,

I'm getting a little confused here between the terms. Could you please re-phrase using 'Mach3' and 'M3'. Many thanks.

Thanks also for taking the time to explain your solution, I appreciate it would perhaps be a guess but do you think the M3 problem lies with Mach3 or the ESS ?

Tweakie.

483

General Mach Discussion / Re: N00b - DRO innacurate / calibration

« on: April 12, 2020, 08:00:30 AM »

I’m a great believer in learning ‘hands on’ and perhaps using the Mach3 manual as a reference guide   https://www.machsupport.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Mach3Mill_Install_Config.pdf
And, of course, the forum is here to help with any specific questions.

Just start making stuff and please post pictures of what you make, we all like pictures.

Tweakie.

484

General Mach Discussion / Re: N00b - DRO innacurate / calibration

« on: April 12, 2020, 06:40:53 AM »

Excellent result.

Now the learning begins 

Tweakie.

485

General Mach Discussion / Re: N00b - DRO innacurate / calibration

« on: April 12, 2020, 01:12:03 AM »

Sounds like progress 

Initially check that you have Mach3 set in mm Units (Config. / Select Native units).

Now you need to check the leadscrew pitch of your Z axis – I am assuming it is 4mm (one complete revolution of the lead screw moves the axis 4mm).
Steps per unit are calculated as follows…
Your steppers have 200 whole steps per revolution & at 1/8th microstepping that makes it 1600 steps per revolution ( 200*8 ). If your Z axis moves 4mm in one complete revolution of the leadscrew then to move it 1mm or 1 unit would require 400 steps (1600/4). This would make the steps per unit 400 in Motor Tuning.
You should repeat this measurement and calculation for the X and Y axis just to check that they are to be set at 400 steps per unit.

Next is axis direction…
Standing at the front of the machine, if you press the up arrow key on the keyboard the gantry should move away from you. If it moves in the wrong direction then change the Direction Low Active state for the Y axis in Config. / Ports & Pins / Motor Outputs and apply the change.
If you now press the left arrow key the carriage should move to the left. If it moves in the wrong direction then change the Direction Low Active state for the X axis in and apply the change.
If you press the Page Up key the Z axis should move upwards. If it moves in the wrong direction then change the Direction Low Active state for the Z axis in and apply the change.

One step at a time, we will get there 

Tweakie.

486

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Plunge cut with end mill

« on: April 10, 2020, 07:53:39 AM »

Not much help but that type of end mill was never intended for plunge cut and really does not make a very good job if forced to do it. Best option is to purchase the right tool, sometimes sold as slot drill, which has an end flute going to the centre. Just my 2 cents 

Tweakie.

487

General Mach Discussion / Re: N00b - DRO innacurate / calibration

« on: April 10, 2020, 01:56:51 AM »

Hi Burf86,

Something went wrong & I think you are using a different profile and picking up the wrong .xml file but I have removed my .xml download while I check it.

No worries though we can take a different approach…

Make the following changes to your Mach3 settings and save the changes at each stage.

In Config. / Motor Tuning…

Set each axis and save after each change to…

X and Y Axis…
Steps per  400
Velocity  2000
Acceleration  200
Step pulse  5
Dir Pulse  5

Z Axis…
Steps per  400
Velocity  1000
Acceleration 100

The attached .zip file has screen shots of the other config. changes.

There will be some more changes but this should do to start with.

Tweakie.

488

General Mach Discussion / Re: N00b - DRO innacurate / calibration

« on: April 09, 2020, 07:30:19 AM »

Hi Burf86,

You nearly fooled me there - in your initial post you said the board was a JP328C but from you pic. I see it is a JP3163B 

I have attached a modified .xml file which I would like you to try. Change the name of this .xml to the same name as your existing <your profile>.xml and then copy it to your Mach3 folder overwriting the existing .xml.
 
Please check that your JP3163B board has all the switches set…

K1 – ON
K2 – ON
K3 – OFF
K4 – ON

This is the setting for 1/8th Micro stepping.

SW1 – ON
SW2 – OFF
SW3 – ON

This is the setting for 2 Amp stepper motor current.

Perhaps let me know how (or if) it works and we can go on from there.

Tweakie.

489

General Mach Discussion / Re: N00b - DRO innacurate / calibration

« on: April 09, 2020, 01:22:23 AM »

Hi Burf86,

My suggestion is that you get your existing T-D controller running correctly with Mach3 before embarking on buying new stuff. You will, however, need a 32bit PC with parallel port (not laptop) and the LPT port must output the 5 Volt TTL standard not the newer 3.3 Volt TTL standard. WinXP would be a good OS to use.
Unfortunately such computers are now becoming rare and perhaps hard to get.

If you attach your <your profile> .xml file (Typically Mach3Mill.xml) found in your Mach3 folder (you need to rename it to burf.xml as all attachments require a unique name) this file contains all your settings and we can check them and hopefully advise on any settings that may need to be changed.

Tweakie.

490

General Mach Discussion / Re: Not cutting circles neatly

« on: April 08, 2020, 09:57:15 AM »

Oval circles like that can be caused by backlash. Most common cause is probably a loose grub screw in a flex coupling or drive pulley etc. in any event the cause is usually mechanical.

Tweakie.