Messages

4991

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle

« on: June 12, 2013, 06:14:28 AM »

Mike,

I recently had a similar problem which turned out to be a corrupt .xml, (probably caused by me, making many changes to the various settings in an attempt to cure another problem).
I created a new profile then re-configured Mach3 (creating a fresh .xml) then everything was fine again.

Tweakie.

4992

Tangent Corner / Re: Pyrography.

« on: June 12, 2013, 03:42:54 AM »

Hi Brett,

I know we joked about the chip implants (shortly to become a legal requirement here in the UK for all dogs) but I am sure the day will come when it will apply to humans (sort of living chip'n'pin) 

Tweakie.

4993

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Easy text label g-code?

« on: June 12, 2013, 03:20:05 AM »

Perhaps take a look a F-Engrave (it's free) http://home.comcast.net/~sskroch/Fengrave/fengrave.html

Like all software there is a learning curve but you should be up and running in no time. F-Engrave will create a separate GCode file for each different label which then has to be loaded into Mach3 (one at a time  ) but it is all pretty simple and easy to do.

Tweakie.

4994

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: I'm in Hog Heaven

« on: June 12, 2013, 02:34:42 AM »

Excellent ! 

Tweakie.

4995

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: June 12, 2013, 02:30:27 AM »

Hi Tim,

Welcome to the forum.

Best if you post your question as a new topic in the general section (eg. How do I get more speed ?) this will attract more answers to help resolve your problem.

Fitting a Smooth Stepper (or other external motion controller) is pretty essential if you are using a laptop but it may not automatically give you more speed - there are many factors that need to be taken into account here.
 
Just for example; I get a 100% reliable axis speed of 4500mm/min using the parallel port but because of the improved pulse train and blended feed-rate the 100% reliable speed drops to 4000mm/min when using my Smooth Stepper.

(The Smooth Stepper replaces the PC'c parallel port and takes it's input from the PC via USB or Ethernet (depending on model) and then provides it's output as two separate parallel ports).

Tweakie.

4996

Tangent Corner / Re: Pyrography.

« on: June 11, 2013, 12:07:49 PM »

Hi Brett,

Yes, Zoli is using a heated wire in contact with the work surface similar to the attached picture.
The wire temperature is a constant, it is only the axis speed that is varied.

Tweakie.

4997

General Mach Discussion / Re: Sherline 4 Axis Mill (For Laser Welding)

« on: June 11, 2013, 11:35:01 AM »

Sorry, my fault, I did not explain properly.

Mach3 operates from an 'LPT parallel port' or an 'external motion controller' (using Ethernet or USB) or an 'internal to PC' motion controller. As far as I am aware there is no COM serial port option.

Tweakie.

4998

Tangent Corner / Re: Pyrography.

« on: June 11, 2013, 11:24:47 AM »

Hi Brett,

Here are a couple of the videos :-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usgsfCJf-DA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfvvavbut8k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRxJUVVWbj8&feature=player_embedded

Tweakie.

4999

General Mach Discussion / Re: (manual)auto tool change + auto zero z setup

« on: June 11, 2013, 11:13:42 AM »

Hi Tom,

The various screen sets are here http://www.machsupport.com/screens.php

Tweakie.

5000

General Mach Discussion / Re: Sherline 4 Axis Mill (For Laser Welding)

« on: June 11, 2013, 11:10:07 AM »

I don't think I've defined my address correctly for the serial port. Its COM7, but I can't seem to find the hex address to input it...

Not sure I fully understand exactly what you are doing.
The hex address relates to an LPT (parallel port) not a serial port so it is unlikely to be COM7.

Tweakie.