Messages

5701

Share Your GCode / Re: 12" Vinyl Record Lathe Cutting Stylus code

« on: April 04, 2011, 08:46:21 AM »

I think the frequency response of your cutting head is going to be your major problem, trying to get the mass small enough and avoiding resonance within the audio band (assuming you are going to record in 'real time') whilst still being able to get enough power into the coils to actually cut the vinyl is a finely balanced equation. This problem eluded the early record manufacturers for many years but technology moves on and I really do hope you succeed with this project. There are many extremely clever members on this forum who are only too willing to help and share their knowledge so don't be too proud to ask, just keep at it and you will win. 

I have never tried a blue laser so I would be most interested to see your results as and when.

Tweakie.

5702

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: Impact engraving plugin

« on: April 04, 2011, 06:42:58 AM »

ntlaser,

Are you getting double image similar to post 109 ?

Are you sure you are using the latest version of the plugin 2.00.075 ?

Tweakie.

5703

Share Your GCode / Re: 12" Vinyl Record Lathe Cutting Stylus code

« on: April 04, 2011, 04:32:26 AM »

Hi JungleStreetRecords,

Well I gave your GCode a try, had to make a couple of modifications but it did not turn out all that well and I am a bit disappointed really.
Not only does it sound like a dragon snoring, it isn't even in stereo !  

Tweakie.

5704

FAQs / Re: Steppers stutter or stop when using computer

« on: April 04, 2011, 02:51:37 AM »

Good one ;-) Except I'd get booored watching that mill run for hours without anything to do...

You could always build a wood router   

Tweakie.

5705

General Mach Discussion / Re: PCI parallel port problems

« on: April 04, 2011, 02:46:08 AM »

For some reason I have never managed to get the Port1 pins LED's on the diagnostic screen to work reliably so I use Parmon which you can download from here  http://www.geekhideout.com/parmon.shtml.
The utility allows you to software toggle the state of the output pins for testing purposes (input pins require manual connection to GND to change state).

Hope this helps.

Tweakie.

5706

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 is not talking to Breakout board

« on: April 04, 2011, 02:32:17 AM »

Hi Robert,

The symptoms you describe would indicate that your PC is not communicating with your BoB.

It would be a good idea to actually check your parallel cable using a multimeter to see that that Pin1 goes to Pin1 and Pin2 to Pin2 and so on and that all the pins are connected.
In Device Manager check that your Printer port (LPT) is configured as ECP and that the address is 0378 or the same address as you are entering in Mach.

Tweakie.

5707

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Dixie Duke - A machine in the making.

« on: April 04, 2011, 02:12:53 AM »

Looking good Sam, in fact looks like a real mean machine now.  

Tweakie.

5708

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

« on: April 03, 2011, 11:11:15 AM »

Hi Robert,

Start a new thread under the General section and I will reply there. This section is really only for introductions.

Tweakie.

5709

General Mach Discussion / Re: DIY oscillating tangential knife cutter.

« on: April 03, 2011, 05:19:40 AM »

Orion,

Welcome to the forum.

Obviously you need to build or buy your hardware, knife etc but Mach supports Tangential Control and it is not too difficult to set it all up. A few have already done this and there is some useful info if you search the forum.
This is one of Robotmar's videos of his setup. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anspATAZZQA

I often cut sign vinyl and have found that a drag knife system works just as well, costs less and is simple to use but it is only suitable for very thin materials (like sign vinyl  )

Tweakie.

5710

General Mach Discussion / Re: $1,000.000 reward for help

« on: April 03, 2011, 04:45:14 AM »

Hi Ray,

Before I say anything I need more details about this reward. 

Tweakie.