Messages

5341

General Mach Discussion / Re: Accuracy in Ref All Home

« on: January 08, 2013, 08:20:02 AM »

Hi Riphet,

I am not sure that I fully understand your questions so please excuse me if I am going off on a tangent.

I am currently using my own design probe (which is pretty similar to the Baumer contact switch principle) and have measured a repeat accuracy of 0.0037mm (between on and off) on the Mach3 DRO's. However, microsteps are not that accurate so a figure of perhaps 0.006mm may be a more realistic maximum accuracy for me to expect to achieve for my Z axis positioning.

Tweakie.

5342

General Mach Discussion / Re: Accuracy in Ref All Home

« on: January 08, 2013, 05:08:39 AM »

This happens when I turn off the step motor and Ref All Home, before running the macro AutoZero.

Just as a general statement (there are exceptions);

For stepper motor controllers that operate using 'microsteps' - If you turn off the controller it will not remember the last microstep position and when switched on again it will adopt a full-step position. This will cause inaccuracy of position.

There are 'home switches' and there are 'home switches' with some giving better accuracy and repeatability than others. (To a certain extent you get what you pay for and as an example Baumer manufacture switches which they claim to have a repeatability of better than 2 microns).

Tweakie.

5343

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

« on: January 08, 2013, 04:12:23 AM »

Hi Vinny,

Welcome to the forum.

There are a few sample files in this thread http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,18345.0.html which may help to get you started alternately take a look at the various Wizards within Mach3.
Start out with something really simple and just work from there. As mentioned in the previous post 'hands-on' experience is probably the best way of learning.
Post any questions you may have, under a new topic, in the General section and help / suggestions will follow.

Tweakie.

5344

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 controlling Co2 Laser

« on: January 07, 2013, 08:39:15 AM »

When you say Post Processor... do u mean V carve Pro ? As that is what i am using to import my 2D DXF files and process them into the cut paths/ Vectors.

Yes, modify the VCarvePro post processor to include the M10P1 /M11P1 codes. (If you have any difficulty doing this then I am sure the guys on the Vectric forum will point you in the right direction).

Tweakie.

5345

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 controlling Co2 Laser

« on: January 07, 2013, 02:09:52 AM »

It all depends on your laser high voltage power unit, perhaps you could post some details of this item.

My PSU has 0 to 5 Volt analogue input for power control and this, internally, incorporates a simple DAC (digital to analogue converter) so it will also accept a 5 Volt PWM (pulse width modulation) signal (0 to 100%). As Mach3 has an inbuilt PWM spindle speed control this can be used. However it does have some problems of periodic variation which may not show when controlling a spindle motor but does show with laser control.
At this stage I would recommend that you get everything up and running by using manual control of the maximum laser current.

The on / off  M10P1 / M11P1 or E1P0 / E1P1 commands are inserted into the GCode by the post-processor used with your CAD/CAM software.

Tweakie.

5346

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

« on: January 06, 2013, 12:16:46 PM »

Thanks Jeff. 

Tweakie.

5347

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: How to split gcode into 2 parts or more..

« on: January 06, 2013, 03:54:46 AM »

Hi Anant,

I appreciate that you are new to the forum and indeed you are very welcome here but please don't make multiple posting on the same subject.

Tweakie.

5348

General Mach Discussion / Re: Probing Wizard

« on: January 06, 2013, 03:51:32 AM »

Looks good 

Tweakie.

5349

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to split gcode into 2 parts or more..

« on: January 06, 2013, 03:46:52 AM »

Hi Anant,

Sorry to make a dumb comment but I am relating to a recent discussion in another thread...

I think that if I had spent a couple of thousand dollars on purchasing Aspire and Artcam I would be reading the manuals to learn how to use them.

Tweakie.

5350

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 controlling Co2 Laser

« on: January 06, 2013, 03:38:19 AM »

Hi Warped,

If it's any help, take a look at my article here http://hobbycncart.com/publ/cikkek/mach3_temaju_cikkek/switching_a_laser_under_mach_control/8-1-0-29 (also the following comments relating to the updates) then, if necessary come back with any questions.

Tweakie.