Messages

5521

General Mach Discussion / Re: Limit Switches and Interference

« on: October 15, 2012, 04:47:16 AM »

If you try ferrite's I would be most interested to hear your results.

Tweakie.

5522

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help for configuring Mach 3 for CNC Coquerie

« on: October 15, 2012, 03:48:10 AM »

Once again apologies - it is the 'CNC611.xml' and yes you can email it.

Tweakie.

5523

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

« on: October 15, 2012, 03:09:51 AM »

Here in the UK Winter is coming and if anyone, like me, has their glass-tube laser located in an outside workshop and lives in a similar seasonal location, it is always wise to take precautions to prevent a cooling system freeze-up.

I have a 5 deg.C ‘frost-stat’ workshop heater but that could fail so my laser tube cooling system comprises Distilled water with 30% vehicle antifreeze added. The system is closed-loop and fully contained but precautions must always be taken to ensure that children or pets cannot possibly gain access to the coolant.

WARNING – If you use antifreeze please be aware that it is a particularly dangerous substance and can, even in extremely small quantities, be deadly to cats as well as extremely toxic to young children.

Tweakie.

5524

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help for configuring Mach 3 for CNC Coquerie

« on: October 15, 2012, 01:45:17 AM »

Hi Niroleta,

Sorry, my fault for not being specific.

If you could attach your Mach3Mill.xml file (located in Mach3 folder - it needs to be renamed to something unique before posting) - or details of your X an Y axis motor tuning from the Mach3 motor tuning page it would be helpful.

Tweakie.

5525

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: I wanted to show my homemade CNC.

« on: October 14, 2012, 04:40:59 AM »

Hi David,

Nice job - certainly a bit of sturdy construction. Thanks for showing us your build.

Tweakie.

5526

General Mach Discussion / Re: Laptop with parallel Port

« on: October 14, 2012, 04:29:28 AM »

Hi Darryl,

If you connect 5 volts across the input side of your SSR (observe correct polarity) with a series ammeter you can measure the drive current. If it is less than 10mA then your SSR can be driven directly from your breakout board.
Choose the output pin you wish to use then connect the SSR input between this pin and GND, configure Mach3 Ports & Pins / Output Signals / Output #1 to your chosen Port and Pin then set it Active High. Then Under Ports & Pins / Spindle Setup choose Output #1 for Clockwise(M3) you can also set the spin-up and spin-down delays (If required).
Adding M3 to you GCode will then activate the SSR and the code M5 will de-activate it.

Tweakie.

nb. I could do with a bit of your warm weather here in the UK, it's Brass Monkey's in my workshop. 

5527

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help for configuring Mach 3 for CNC Coquerie

« on: October 14, 2012, 01:22:07 AM »

Hi Niroleta,

Mach3 will only make movements which are a multiple of your ‘steps per unit’  (as set in motor tuning).
Could you give some details of your motor tuning setup please ?

Tweakie.

5528

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: New Challenge....Anyone care to assist

« on: October 13, 2012, 07:55:09 AM »

Hi Belin,

EngraveLab is exactly what I would have liked but that requires a Platinum Card so Vectric was my next best choice. There may be some advantage of me upgrading from VCarve to Aspire but that will have to wait a while. Why am I always broke ? 

With F-Engrave you will need to download the win-zip file, un-zip it file then transfer the folder to your chosen computer. (Just as a tip it is better to run your CAD / CAM software on your main computer and leave your machine computer with just Mach3 and the minimum of anything you need).

Tweakie.

5529

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: New Challenge....Anyone care to assist

« on: October 13, 2012, 04:32:42 AM »

Hi Belin,

I think you are going to struggle to find free software that produces a good quality of multi-line engraving and layout.

OK it may be a Gold Card purchase but Vectric VCarvePro is so quick and easy to use that it pays for itself in the shortest possible time.

What software is it that you can’t actually download ??

Tweakie.

5530

General Mach Discussion / Re: Limit Switches and Interference

« on: October 13, 2012, 04:14:24 AM »

Hi brw,

Welcome to the forum.

In order to prevent possible false triggering, such as you have experienced, the limit switch wiring should be made with shielded cable. Only connect the shield to GND at the controller end and you should be OK.

Tweakie.