Messages

5671

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Constructing a Low Profile Tool Height Setter.

« on: May 09, 2012, 08:27:31 AM »

My existing ‘touch plate’ has served me well over the years but as this relies on electrical contact between the ‘tool’ and the ‘plate’ it was just not possible to use it with the diamond and ceramic tipped tools I now have occasion to use.

Something a bit more sophisticated was required and an active, ‘probe type’, low profile, tool height setter seemed to be on the cards.

This is my first prototype and as luck would have it, works just as intended.

If others are interested, I would be pleased to post full constructional details of the project (together with the GCode files) once it has been fully tested and I am certain there are no hidden or unforeseen snags.

Tweakie.

5672

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 EStop Fault

« on: May 09, 2012, 02:15:41 AM »

Hi Terry,

One possible cause for this is electrical noise picked up on the limit switch / estop cabling. The easiest first step is to increase the debounce interval (general config page) to 4000 or so and see if this makes any improvement. If it does then fit miniature 0.1uf capacitors from each used switch input to your BoB and GND then return the debounce setting to its previous value.

Tweakie.

5673

General Mach Discussion / Re: issues with PCB milling - newbie

« on: May 06, 2012, 05:17:16 AM »

Hi Thomas,

My choice would be to reduce the backlash mechanically.

For a test program, you could try something like this where the central line is composed of 3 separate segments approached from alternate directions – if it is stepped, then that would show the backlash on the Y axis.

Tweakie.

Code: [Select]

f100
g21
g0 z2
g0 y0 x0
g1 Z-0.5
g1 X10
g0 Z2
g0 y75 x0
g1 Z-0.5
g1 X10
g0 Z2
g0 y150 x0
g1 Z-0.5
g1 X10
g0 Z2
g0 y75
g1 Z-0.5
g1 X20
g0 Z2
g0 y0 x10
g1 Z-0.5
g1 X20
g0 Z2
g0 y75
g1 Z-0.5
g1 X30
g0 Z2
g0 y0 x0
m30
%


5674

General Mach Discussion / Re: issues with PCB milling - newbie

« on: May 06, 2012, 03:22:27 AM »

Spot on guys. 

The PCB is for a low profile probe and by mounting conventional components within the boards thickness the overall height can be reduced. I am looking at other alternatives such as pocketing a slightly thicker top cover to accommodate the components and so on. Ah the joys of R & D.

The milling / isolation routing technique is certainly quick and easy for this type of work and although the small engraving cutters impose very little loading on the machine it is pretty essential to have as near to zero backlash as is possible and of course, a perfectly flat and true work table.

Tweakie.

5675

General Mach Discussion / Re: PWM analogue 0-10V need help

« on: May 04, 2012, 07:10:26 AM »

I am pleased you got it sorted.    (more pictures required of the excellent things you make, please - that Epiphone is great).

Tweakie.

5676

General Mach Discussion / Re: PWM analogue 0-10V need help

« on: May 04, 2012, 05:50:36 AM »

Hi Mad Welder,

Just a snip from the C32 manual - "Requirements: It requires a +12VDC@50mA power supply to operate".

Don't know if this helps but it was just a thought.

Tweakie.

5677

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 Download Question

« on: May 03, 2012, 02:02:05 AM »

Hi Illmakemyown,

Check all your wiring again.
Check that your Mach parallel port address is correct.
Check that you have the Mach Ports and Pins configured correctly.
etc.

Tweakie.

5678

General Mach Discussion / Re: issues with PCB milling - newbie

« on: May 02, 2012, 02:08:07 AM »

I don’t know if posting this here will be of any help but PCB milling is good for certain applications but not so good for others.

I make quite a few prototype PCB’s and for simple circuits the ‘isolation routing’ method is probably the quickest and cleanest method I have ever used, particularly if there are drilled holed or machined profiles etc as with a couple of tool changes the whole process can be completed in minimal time. As a layout starts to become more complicated and particularly if there are large areas of copper to be removed then the ‘print and acid etch’ method comes into it’s own and it is really just a matter of deciding where the break point occurs.

This little PCB was made by isolation routing and represents a mornings work from creating the layout to producing the prototype.

Tweakie.

5679

General Mach Discussion / Re: part size in tool path

« on: May 01, 2012, 06:55:47 AM »

I really didn't know that. Something else I have learn't from the master. Thank you Hood. 

Tweakie.

5680

General Mach Discussion / Re: Unwanted Step Pulses

« on: April 29, 2012, 12:58:01 PM »

Hi Alan,

My apologies, I did not mean to suggest that your software was not genuine I just wanted to clarify that you were not using trial or demo versions.

Tweakie