Messages

5301

General Mach Discussion / Re: Lost Steps

« on: July 04, 2011, 03:33:30 AM »

Sorry to keep plaguing you with questions.

What I have observed is that when Z comes up to "zero" on the crossover it does not get to "zero" but rather comes up 3mm short.

Is that 3mm short on the Mach screen Z Axis DRO  or 3mm short in physical distance when the DRO correctly reads 0.0000 ?

Tweakie.

5302

General Mach Discussion / Re: Lost Steps

« on: July 04, 2011, 02:47:12 AM »

OK, At what point during the crossover move do you suspect that the 'extra steps or lost steps' are being generated ?
Perhaps if we know when they are occurring a solution may be easier to find.

Tweakie.

5303

General Mach Discussion / Re: Lost Steps

« on: July 04, 2011, 02:14:07 AM »

Stefan,

Returning to the surfboard - when you move from one side of the board to the other (with Z raised clear of the work) does the Z axis 'tick' steps during this crossover move ?

Tweakie.

5304

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Autodesk 123D - Free 3D Design Software

« on: July 03, 2011, 11:56:42 AM »

Hi Sam,

Glad you are finding it interesting.
Others on the Phlatforum are exporting .stl or .dxf to convert to the GCode but they are sounding pretty pleased with their results.

Tweakie.

5305

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Cylinder Heads

« on: July 03, 2011, 11:07:51 AM »

Such a wonderful job you have made of this project Steve I hope you have many takers for the plans. (shame you can't sell the ability as well as the plans).

Tweakie.

5306

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 and CAM

« on: July 03, 2011, 08:32:17 AM »

Croy,

The guys on the Phlatforum http://www.phlatforum.com/ use sketchup almost exclusively to produce GCode with their own Plugins etc but there are many easier and more accurate CAD/CAM solutions available. I know nothing about lathes so cannot offer any advice on the choice but there are many members of this forum who are lathe experts and they will know.

Tweakie.

5307

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

« on: July 03, 2011, 05:40:18 AM »

Another small update to the Impact / Laser Engraving plugin. Not necessary really but I have added a routine to round the Size of the X and Y pixel in steps to just 4 decimal places to prevent the display overflow and I have also made a small change to the formulae so the steps are calculated exactly.
These changes have no effect on the operation of the plugin, they are just cosmetic and because I cannot update the previously posted version I have put the latest version here http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/Engraving.dll

Tweakie.

5308

General Mach Discussion / Re: usb interface

« on: July 02, 2011, 12:18:12 PM »

Hi Tony,

I only have experience of one USB device and that is the Smooth Stepper.
For what I need it is brilliant, has good support and active forum discussions, what more could I need ?

Tweakie.

nb. Don't know anything about the mill.

5309

General Mach Discussion / Re: Touch probe to Point Cloud

« on: July 01, 2011, 11:15:26 AM »

 

Tweakie.

5310

General Mach Discussion / Re: Touch probe to Point Cloud

« on: July 01, 2011, 08:38:35 AM »

You are, of course, absolutely right Terry but if you want to travel "coast to coast" a bicycle is perhaps not the best form of transport. 

Tweakie.