Messages

5971

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: LC never produces valid GCode

« on: July 19, 2011, 02:55:18 AM »

LC has more little quirks than I could count, perhaps that's why it remained a beta.
You need to practice at it, experiment a bit, and it will work and produce very good results.

I just ran your example through LC and depth data seems OK.

Tweakie.

5972

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle not running

« on: July 19, 2011, 02:29:38 AM »

I will wait to hear how you get on with the VFD - Good fortune changing any settings without the manual. 

(I am really not sure I could program my VFD without the manual - the menu is quite extensive and contains stuff that I can only guess as to what it does).

Tweakie.

5973

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach doing it again

« on: July 19, 2011, 02:15:00 AM »

Sounds like it could be Direction signal problems.

If the direction signal is not present for a particular axis or is shorted high or low then that axis will only move in one direction.
If the PC parallel port output is only 3.3Volt on a direction pin and the BoB expects to see a 5Volt signals then again the axis may only move in the one direction.

Perhaps check your wiring and the pp output voltage 

Tweakie.

5974

General Mach Discussion / Re: Vortech router run Mach3

« on: July 18, 2011, 01:49:32 AM »

To add to the last posting..

Did you change any of these settings ?

Tweakie.

5975

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: New/Update CNC Machine Brain Storm...

« on: July 17, 2011, 12:05:05 PM »

Hi Cosha,

This thread has gone very quiet lately - How are you getting on with your rebuild ? 

Tweakie.

5976

General Mach Discussion / Re: Vortech router run Mach3

« on: July 17, 2011, 11:56:05 AM »

I understand your frustration but you have to be more precise here if we are to be of any help.

Please read my previous post again - You said the spindle was working and you changed some settings then it didn't work.
What settings did you change exactly ?

Tweakie.

5977

General Mach Discussion / Re: Stepper Motor problem

« on: July 17, 2011, 11:03:19 AM »

Steppers use a Step signal and a Direction signal. The Direction signal is either high (+5V) for one direction of rotation or low (0V) for the other direction. If the Direction signal is missing or shorted then the the motor will only run in one direction.
It is also possible to have a motor with one wire not connected behave in this manner. With everything switched off check all your electrical connections thoroughly.

Hope this helps.

Tweakie.

5978

General Mach Discussion / Re: Stepper Motor problem

« on: July 17, 2011, 08:39:02 AM »

I have 5mm pitch ballscrews, 200 step motors @ 1/8 microstep and my steps per mm are set at 320. 
You are spot-on Rene.

Tweakie.

5979

General Mach Discussion / Re: pocket wizard

« on: July 17, 2011, 08:08:39 AM »

Hi Lotusman,

Welcome to the forum.

I can't help much with the pocket wizard but It would be great if you could post some pictures of your CNC table addition to your manual knee mill, please. 

Tweakie.

5980

Tangent Corner / Re: Ooops !

« on: July 17, 2011, 07:24:25 AM »

i could go on about this speaker wire thing thinking of taking a pic so you guys can start a topic about us newbies and the stupid stuff we do. i think we all might get a laugh out of it 

Hi Mikee,

I don't think anyone would laugh because we have all been there, once or twice. In reality, everything seems so incredibly easy after we understand it.
A list of beginners mistakes may be an extremely good idea as it could help newcomers quite a lot.
Your speaker wire and the diagnostics LED's are not, I think, related as I have not got the diagnostic LED's to work properly on my system for the last 6 Months or so (they used to work once but don't any more).

Tweakie.

nb. Have you thought about keeping Water Buffalo and planting Rice ?