Messages

5021

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 setup problems

« on: January 01, 2013, 02:02:50 AM »

Hi Dean,

Check that you have the Y axis motor wired correctly. All motors should lock when power is applied.

Download and run Parmon http://www.geekhideout.com/parmon.shtml this will enable you to test that your LPT parallel port is enabled and working OK.

Tweakie.

5022

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

« on: December 31, 2012, 12:38:04 PM »

Hi Guys,

I don’t think there is any problem with resolving the detail as the laser beam can be focussed to a spot size almost similar to the point of an engraving bit.

The main issue appears to be that I am unable to get a smooth surface finish. In itself this is relatively unimportant as far as light transmission is concerned but it can trap some of the residual powder particles (filler creating the opal appearance) and when it does this creates an unwanted dark spike. I should say that I am not yet 100% certain that this is the cause of the dark spikes but it is looking more than likely.

I dusted some black toner onto a background area in the first Litho (this should be flat as it is all the same pixel value) so you can see a better close-up picture of the surface finish I was obtaining. This has improved slightly since changing the laser modulation method but it still looks a bit like the surface of an orange. 

There is just so much to learn.

Tweakie.

5023

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

« on: December 31, 2012, 08:20:16 AM »

Hi Dan,

The previous Litho was produced a while back but this one was made this morning. One big advantage is that they only take a fraction of the time to make (some 15 to 20 minutes for this one, which is 100mm wide) but the secret, if there is one, is to set the laser power so it does no cut right through the acrylic. 

I don’t think laser produced Litho’s will ever get up to the quality that can be produced by spindle engraving but who knows ?

Tweakie.

5024

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

« on: December 31, 2012, 04:05:02 AM »

Can Llithophanes be produced with a laser ??

The answer is definitely “yes” but not, I suspect, with the same degree of quality as produced by spindle machining.

I had to give it a try and this was my first attempt. It is not that good but I am sure the results could be improved once I have discovered the reason for the unwanted background ‘noise’ which is spoiling the effect.

Has anyone else here tried creating Lithophanes using a laser ??

Tweakie.

5025

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: My latest longer term project

« on: December 30, 2012, 05:52:21 AM »

Nice work Chris 

I love steam engines.

Tweakie.

5026

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

« on: December 29, 2012, 06:15:35 AM »

Excellent work John, I am pleased to hear that you have your new electronics, for the laser power control, all up and running – there will be no stopping you now. 

(For others following this thread who may be interested in using diode lasers with Mach3 there are some more pictures and discussion on the techniques, hardware, development and progress in this thread http://hobbycncart.com/forum/63-151-8 )

Tweakie.

5027

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: CNC Hot Wire Foam cutter

« on: December 28, 2012, 08:17:56 AM »

Excellent work Keith, I look forward to seeing some of the foam cuts. 

Tweakie.

(I love the Vulcan - I have a working AAPU [Rover jet engine] removed from one of the vulcan aircraft that were scrapped).

5028

General Mach Discussion / Re: setting up limit switches with a Max nc cl controller is it possible

« on: December 26, 2012, 04:12:02 AM »

This question has been raised before and Hood posted the link to some further MaxNC (and other) information; ftp://machsupport.com/ExtraInformation/

If you check out the documents relating to MaxNC you will find one mentions using LPT Pin12 as the home switches input etc.

Tweakie.

5029

General Mach Discussion / Re: Thinking of a new wrapper function for MAch3.

« on: December 24, 2012, 11:36:29 AM »

Thanks Terry, I'm up to speed on that one - the reset scale function has already been added to my Return Mach3 to Normal button. 

Tweakie.

5030

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Cam Program - A couple quick questions for a newbie

« on: December 24, 2012, 07:48:20 AM »

Hi Zig,

Good to hear that your machine is coming along well.

No problem with the Phlatboys code from Sketch-up here so I am not sure what it is that you are doing wrong. 

Tweakie.