Messages

5911

General Mach Discussion / Re: Hello all .dxf files and GCode

« on: March 04, 2011, 01:56:59 AM »

Hi Classic,

Welcome to the forum.

Good resolution .dxf files can be directly converted to GCode and loaded into Mach3 using the LazyCam program which is part of Mach. There is a basic instructions doc for LazyCam in the downloads or members docs section.

3D stuff is slightly different (.dfx is only 2D) and the file type used is often .stl. You need another program such as MeshCam or DeskProto etc. (free trial versions are available) to convert the 3D into a GCode toolpath before it can be loaded into Mach3.

Hope this helps.

Tweakie.

5912

Share Your GCode / Re: nativity scene silhouette

« on: March 03, 2011, 12:13:51 PM »

Hey Steve, can we use you instead of LazyCam for converting our .dxf files because you make a much better job of it.  

Tweakie.

btw. Welcome to the forum.

5913

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie new parallel port question

« on: March 03, 2011, 11:53:16 AM »

In addition,

Within Mach under motor outputs make sure you have Direction and Step ticked 'Active Low'.

Tweakie.

5914

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie new parallel port question

« on: March 03, 2011, 10:40:13 AM »

Check it has configured the port to address 0378

Tweakie.

5915

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mill or Router - which is best for this application?

« on: March 03, 2011, 08:01:29 AM »

Jen,

We expect to see lots of pictures of stuff you make with it even though you won't be using Mach3 

Tweakie.

5916

Share Your GCode / Re: Looking for Ferrari Emblem G code or DXF file

« on: March 03, 2011, 07:55:22 AM »

Nice one Steve, thank you.

Tweakie.

btw. Welcome to the forum

5917

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie new parallel port question

« on: March 03, 2011, 07:46:23 AM »

When you install the PCI card and it asks for drivers it should give the option to install as ECP.
Does yours show as ECP in the device manager window ?

Tweakie.

5918

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie new parallel port question

« on: March 03, 2011, 07:24:38 AM »

I am sure you have already done this but it may be worth checking the resource of you printer port in device manager to make sure that the address is indeed 0378 and also that your PCI card has been configured as an ECP printer port.

Also do you have the Mach3 drivers installed - run the DriverTest.exe program in the Mach folder and see what results you get.

Tweakie.

5919

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie new parallel port question

« on: March 03, 2011, 06:04:44 AM »

Your step and direction pins should be different for each axis unless you are trying to do something special.
A typical configuration would be something like

X step pin 2
X dir    pin 3
Y step pin 4
Y dir    pin 5

etc.

The actual pin numbers would depend on your controller board or how you have wired individual controllers to your breakout board.

Within Mach you have to enable the outputs to see anything at the parallel port and you will only be able to measure a steady voltage on the Dir pins as you jog in different directions (the step pins pulse too fast for reliable voltmeter readings).

Does this help or confuse ?

Tweakie.

5920

General Mach Discussion / Re: Maximise the speed of your steppers ?

« on: March 03, 2011, 05:18:57 AM »

Jeff,

I think what we are looking at here is an initially small but dynamic resonance within the stepper motor itself which results in the stepper motor stalling at a speed well below it’s maximum RPM capabilities. I don’t think anyone has worked out any formulae for calculating the mass of the damper or it’s distribution in fact I am not even convinced that anyone knows exactly how or why it works. It seems that all those dampers which have been constructed on the Zone are different or at least have a different mass distribution yet they all work. How can this be?
It would seem that the mass of a damper is not directly related to the stepper size but ‘trial and error’ is pretty much par for the course when designing one. I think you should give it a try and report back. 

Tweakie.