Messages

5001

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

« on: December 29, 2011, 07:35:49 AM »

Initially there was failure.
I mapped my B Axis direction pin to Output #1 (which is my spindle relay) and used the relay to fire the magnet. Unfortunately my version of Mach doesn’t like any Output # being repeatedly turned on and off rapidly as it introduces extra delays while it, presumably, catches up. This has caused missed pulses and ‘patterning’ indicating the repetitive nature of the problem and shown in the first picture.

Then there was success.
To be fair, Mach had never intended for an Output # to be cycled in this manner so I constructed a separate magnet driver circuit which is driven directly from the B Axis direction pin and this performed perfectly. The image produced is ‘dot-perfect’ to the laser produced image and was made from exactly the same GCode in exactly the same time frame of 80 minutes.

Tweakie.

5002

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle moving slowly from right to left

« on: December 29, 2011, 05:30:25 AM »

Hi Ben,

I am really pleased that you found the problem and it is working OK. 

Tweakie.

5003

FAQs / Re: Problem with setting up mach3

« on: December 28, 2011, 12:20:51 PM »

How do I know what the right port adress is?

Start/Control Panel/Performance & Maintenance/System/Hardware/Device Manager/Ports (LPT1 : LPT2 : COM1)   

Thanks for your help btw, also now before when I would push the keys to move my table, the numbers on the xyz axis would grow and shrink according to which key I pushed, now that won't even work. Any suggestions?

Check your keyboard settings are correct for your country in Control Panel under Regional and Language Options.

Tweakie.

5004

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

« on: December 28, 2011, 12:03:29 PM »

Hi Dan,

Thanks for taking an interest in this and I am sorry if I don’t always manage to explain everything very well (there is a big difference between what is stored in my head and what actually manages to escape  )

The Mach plugin and the DotG program really operate in entirely different ways and I think it would be ‘apples and oranges’ to try and make a direct comparison mainly because each would be good at what it does best.
My earlier examples with the plugin were at 0.1mm stepover whereas the previous cat is at 0.4mm stepover. This has been done deliberately so that the dots are visible and can be compared with a subsequent magnet produced image (using the same GCode). The attached, enlarged, pic shows the dots better.

It is perhaps interesting to note that, as far as the professionals are concerned, it is usual when creating laser produced images from halftone to de-focus the beam so that the individual dots blend and produce a smooth result.
There is a quite lot of useful info relating to halftone on the PhotoGrav site if you are interested http://www.photograv.com/index.htm

Tweakie.

5005

FAQs / Re: Problem with setting up mach3

« on: December 28, 2011, 10:58:54 AM »

Check with Device Manager to make certain that you have entered the correct port address for both LP1 and LP2 into Mach3 (and that both ports are enabled) and whilst in Device Manager also check the setup of the serial port COM1 is correct.

Tweakie.

5006

FAQs / Re: Problem with setting up mach3

« on: December 28, 2011, 03:27:21 AM »

You need to provide a lot more details of your controller / motor drivers / setup / etc

Tweakie.

5007

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

« on: December 27, 2011, 12:02:34 PM »

This image is 106mm x 130mm and comprises entirely of laser dots on some scrap MDF. It took 80 minutes to complete but the interesting thing is that the same GCode could (theoretically) be used with an impact magnet and again it would take 80 minutes to complete. Higher resolution and larger images would, of course, take longer but I still have a bit of reserve as far as the speed settings are concerned. It is all a matter of putting theory into practice  

Tweakie.

EDIT. I have attached the .jpg / .bmp and GCode if anybody would like to try it.

5008

General Mach Discussion / Re: limits tripping

« on: December 27, 2011, 09:16:55 AM »

Hi Bob,

Yes I think it is electrical noise as well.

Lots of people have had this same problem and the cures have turned out to be various. A forum search should turn up lots of information but try re-routing your spindle cable away from other wiring, make sure you don't have any 'earth loops' or 'GND loops' and if you are using a VFD that it is properly earthed (at one point only).

Just a couple of things to try.

Tweakie.

5009

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: My Laser Butterfly

« on: December 27, 2011, 03:31:45 AM »

Hi John,

Something I forgot to mention in the previous post is 'Air Assist'. This is pretty essential when cutting wood as it blows the carbon (which is laser resistant) out of the kerf and allows better laser penetration of the work. The disadvantage is that tabs may be necessary to stop the small parts from being blown away but it does allow cutting right through the work from the same side.
It is best to use an oil-less air supply as this will prevent any possible oil contamination of the focus lens but shop air, with the necessary (paint spray) separators / filters works just the same.

Something for you to try perhaps ??

Tweakie.

5010

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: My Laser Butterfly

« on: December 27, 2011, 03:11:58 AM »

Excellent work John that looks really, really good.  

Sorry to hear that you can't get any results from the Impact / Laser plugin but there are a lot of conditions which have to be met in order for it to function correctly.

You may want to try DotG as this produces GCode which you can run at any speed (to suite your diode). http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,12444.msg141147.html#msg141147

Keep posting the pictures and details of your setup as I am sure there are many others that wish to follow your progress.

Tweakie.