Messages

4981

General Mach Discussion / Re: Motor Problem

« on: October 17, 2011, 07:13:25 AM »

WB1,

If it is a voltage issue, which I suspect it is then .......
The Geckos will work OK at 3.3V it's the input side of your BoB that is having the trouble. Replace the BoB with one that accepts 3.3V input signals.

Tweakie.

4982

General Mach Discussion / Re: Motor Problem

« on: October 17, 2011, 01:46:07 AM »

WB1,

The extra length of cable may just have been the last straw.
Best solution would seem that you need a BoB witch specifically accepts the 3.3V input. There are some to choose from here  http://www.cnc4pc.com/Store/osc/index.php?cPath=33&osCsid=671377cb99e791846d6b802f889e5e81

Tweakie.

4983

General Mach Discussion / Re: Motor Problem

« on: October 16, 2011, 08:28:17 AM »

I have been monitoring the Hi/Lo signals coming from the parallel port as I toggle the motors. The voltages I get from testing from Pin 1 to Pin 2-7 are all correct (Hi signals). But after I plug in the parallel cable into the BOB Pins 4/5 no long show a Hi signal. Pin 4/5 are the Y-axis Step and Direction signals, respectively. Its as though somewhere/somehow its shorting to GND in the BOB.

WB1,

Measure the voltage between any of your parallel port direction pins and pins 18-25 (GND). Jogging in one direction, for that axis, should give 0Volts and in the other direction approx 5Volts. If the max voltage you get is 3.3Volts then you may have a problem with that BoB. (Some BoB's are OK with 3.3V but many of the Chinese type need 5V for the opto isolators to work correctly).

Just a thought,

Tweakie.

4984

Tangent Corner / A Winter Project.

« on: October 15, 2011, 01:32:04 PM »

Hi Guys,

This is my next winter project - a 60 horsepower, single shaft, gas turbine engine with much historical ancestry and built by the Rover Car Company around 1967.
This is the same type of engine that was used in Rover’s “JET 1” gas turbine powered car which was road tested at the Silverstone race track in 1950. http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/8/newsid_2516000/2516271.stm
There were many variants of this engine built and at the peak of it’s production Rover were reported to be making 2.5 units per week. 
This particular model was removed from a Vulcan Bomber where it was used as the electrical Auxiliary Power Unit and compressor for starting the main engines.
As you can see, it is in a sorry state at the moment and it is going to need a lot of TLC before I get a tune out of it – it will never fly but one day it will run again. I don’t think that the 208 Volts, 3 phase, 400 Hz will be of much use to me but the sound of that turbine will be well worth the effort.

(Please ignore all the toot in my shed, that’s what shed’s are for  )

Tweakie.

4985

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

« on: October 14, 2011, 02:44:54 AM »

Nice work BB.

Did you use Dave's dxf for this ??

Tweakie.

4986

FAQs / Re: Scandinvent C4 running Mach 3 controller

« on: October 13, 2011, 05:33:39 AM »

You don't say where you are located but if it's Braintree then send me a PM or e-mail as I am in Southend-on-Sea.

Tweakie.

4987

General Mach Discussion / Re: Configuring Mach 3 on new PC

« on: October 12, 2011, 05:18:36 AM »

Yer don't print it all, just the setting up bit Chapter 5 (I think) 

Tweakie.

4988

General Mach Discussion / Re: Using rg-59 TV cable for home and limit switch(s)

« on: October 12, 2011, 02:41:54 AM »

My view is that it will just lead to problems at a later date.
It is not expensive to buy and two core shielded cable will make a much better job.

Tweakie.

4989

General Mach Discussion / Re: Another 2nd parallel port question

« on: October 12, 2011, 02:35:48 AM »

Jackal,

There are some other threads, both here and on the Zone relating to just this problem  http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=11381.0

I don't know if this helps.

Tweakie.

4990

General Mach Discussion / Re: Configuring Mach 3 on new PC

« on: October 12, 2011, 02:19:39 AM »

May I suggest you do a bit or reading first http://www.machsupport.com/docs/Mach3Mill_Install_Config.pdf then ask questions on the bits you don't understand. This should be the quickest way to get it sorted as most questions here are answered quite quickly but you need to ask specific questions.

Hope this helps,

Tweakie.