Messages

6041

General Mach Discussion / Re: Erratic machine behavior

« on: January 31, 2011, 12:26:11 PM »

Tiofilo123,

As you say it goes madd when you load the 3D's, I have a theory. Please excuse me if I am wrong (don't want to upset anybody here) but there are issues with the pirated version of Aspire and the post processor GCode (I think the writers were a bit cleverer than the crackers thought they were). Could this be part of the problem ?

Tweakie.

6042

Tangent Corner / Re: Look to be fake

« on: January 31, 2011, 07:41:34 AM »

Hi Jeff,

This scam has turned up before http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/RagsToRichesFans/message/4755 it links to a Phishing site intended to grab your details (and your vitals probably). Different names used in the past though.

Thanks for the tip, it shows we must all keep on our toes as far as parting with information is concerned.
Mind you someone would have to be extremely smart indeed to get one over on a Mach3 user. 

Tweakie.

6043

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: emco compact 6 cnc lathe

« on: January 31, 2011, 06:47:38 AM »

Hi Lez,

The incoming 3 Phase supply connects to the three 440V terminals.

The machine connects to the  three 380V terminals BLACK - RED - BLACK (the GRN/YEL connects to earth on the box and your site earth - the BLU is already connected to the Neutral terminal [240 Volt tapping]).

Test earth bonding of the machine and box etc. before proceeding.

When you start the machine motor, if it runs backwards, just swap the connection of any two wires on the incoming 440V side.

Take care, 440Volt 3 phase is serious stuff - don't let it get you. 

Tweakie.

6044

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: emco compact 6 cnc lathe

« on: January 31, 2011, 04:56:15 AM »

Lez,

As it says on the label that is a 3 phase auto-transformer.

Couple more questions for you,

Do you have a 3 Phase supply available to use with your machine ?
What is the voltage marked on the machine motor ?
What is the voltage of your incoming mains supply ?

Tweakie.

6045

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: train engine and a wolf

« on: January 31, 2011, 04:48:07 AM »

Nice work Keith.
Having fun and learning as we go is the greatest.

Tweakie.

6046

General Mach Discussion / Re: BOSCH COLT Power Cord

« on: January 31, 2011, 01:59:31 AM »

Nicolas,

Please accept my sincere apologies for making fun of your situation.

I had no idea that these tags were not removed at checkout and I do fully understand that they could easily be confused as ferrite's or something important, especially as they clearly say 'Do Not Remove'.

Humble Pie and all that...

Tweakie.

6047

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

« on: January 30, 2011, 08:14:34 AM »

Wow, that looks like a real good sturdy construction.

It may be helpful so I have attached the V16.2 firmware which includes the 5.0 and 0.5 step sizes (switched by clicking the encoder push). This version has not been fully tested yet but looks good so far.

Tweakie.

6048

General Mach Discussion / Re: Brains/VB/Macropump

« on: January 30, 2011, 05:05:14 AM »

Ray,

Why do you need to learn any of these things ?

If you have a specific requirement then OK that is the thing you need to learn. They all seem quite daunting at first but using the screen designer, adding VB buttons and then compiling the VB code is perhaps a good place to start.

Tweakie.

6049

General Mach Discussion / Re: BOSCH COLT Power Cord

« on: January 30, 2011, 04:09:21 AM »

Dave,

These have not started appearing, in any quantity, here in the UK yet but I expect they will come.

Are these RFID tags de-activated at the checkout without the box being opened ?

Tweakie.

6050

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

« on: January 30, 2011, 03:36:31 AM »

Hi Spruft,

Great work my friend that looks really good.

Obviously the controller is still under development and there will be some more changes to the firmware before I am finally happy with its operation. Version 16.1 is the current version.
I just don’t get enough time to work on this project so, like all my projects, progress is slow but sure.

1) In the OFF position there is no tickle pulse and the laser cannot be triggered (fired). The lasers red LED will be extinguished.
2) With the controller set to anything but OFF the laser’s red LED will glow dimly (after the lasers internal 5 second warm up delay) to indicate that a tickle pulse is present and that it is safe to fire the laser. Be careful adjusting the pulse width trim pot as tickle pulses wider than 1uS can cause the tube to start emitting a low level beam without actually having been triggered. (Currently the trim pot range is approx 0 to 2uS). With the controller switched to OFF the laser’s red LED will extinguish indicating that no tickle pulse is present.
3) Initially the frequency was changed by pushing the encoder, as you suspected, but I have a lot more work to do on this function because just changing the frequency without taking other factors into consideration enables the laser, in some circumstances, to be operated outside of it's comfort zone. So to be safe the frequency is currently fixed at 5kHz which is Synrad's recommended operating PFR.

Current work in progress:-
The development firmware now uses the encoder push function to switch between 5.0% steps and 0.5% steps so there are now190 possible settings between 0.5% and 95.0%.
Provision was made on the original PCB to add a pair of push switches (on a piggy back board) and these will be used to set other functions such as ‘last setting memory’, ‘store’ and PRF frequency settings etc. Full details of any updates will, of course, be posted.

Good fortune with your laser project and please keep us all posted with details of your progress and lots of pictures please (we all love pictures).

Tweakie.