Messages

6101

General Mach Discussion / Re: spindle drive questions

« on: March 08, 2011, 02:35:52 AM »

The M3 and M4 will toggle one or the other and when assigned different outputs will not both be on at the same time.
The output signal from the M3 / M4 command is a steady state high or low.

I never leave anything to chance with 3 phase so, if it is possible, it would not hurt to incorporate an interlock into your contactors just to be sure to be sure 

Tweakie.

6102

General Mach Discussion / Re: Loosing steps when milling slowly

« on: March 08, 2011, 02:18:14 AM »

The computer isn't connected to earth. I might try to do that. It could be noise in from the lpt port I guess?

Yup - that would do it. 

Tweakie.

6103

General Mach Discussion / Re: Steppers and mach out of sync

« on: March 08, 2011, 02:05:16 AM »

What make and model stepper driver or drivers are you using ?
Perhaps there is a problem with the board configuration.
That is a good point about re-doing your Mach profile from scratch, can't do any harm
This is all becoming bit of a mystery but, from past experience, the solution will be simple once it has been identified.

Tweakie.

6104

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Thrown together coil winder ;)

« on: March 07, 2011, 07:56:09 AM »

Methinks you are taking the P Jeff 

Tweakie.

6105

General Mach Discussion / Re: 2 stepper motors to 1 port of the controller board?

« on: March 07, 2011, 07:54:11 AM »

How would you hookup 2 stepper motors  to one port.

Either connect each coil bank (A,B) form each motor in series or in parallel to the 4 terminals on the controller.
 
Tweakie.

6106

General Mach Discussion / Re: 2 stepper motors to 1 port of the controller board?

« on: March 07, 2011, 07:17:02 AM »

As long as your controller board is set up to limit the current to the value of one motor it is unlikely to sustain any damage.

It is not, however, considered a very good idea to do this and it would much better for each stepper to have its own controller axis. There are many reasons but the modern controller chips measure back emf and reduce current when motors are stationary etc and connecting two motors (series or parallel) tends to confuse the poor little chip's logic.

Tweakie.

6107

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can you identify this breakout board

« on: March 07, 2011, 04:32:07 AM »

Hi Jeff,

Looks like your breakout board is a mystery to everybody.

Best put it back in the drawer again. 

Tweakie.

6108

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle speed varies when moving axis

« on: March 07, 2011, 03:20:39 AM »

Paul,

As the previous worked OK and this one doesn't it sounds as though you should be talking to CNC4PC as they may have made subtle changes to this function when introducing the later version board.

If you have, or know someone who has, an oscilloscope you could monitor the signal from Mach to the board and see if there is any fluctuation there that could be causing the speed variation.

Tweakie.

6109

General Mach Discussion / Re: Question regarding dsp ,control boards

« on: March 07, 2011, 02:24:13 AM »

I have never purchased anything from them so cannot comment one way or the other.

You may like to check out some of the threads on the Zone http://www.cnczone.com/forums/full_spectrum_laser/

Tweakie.

6110

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Thrown together coil winder ;)

« on: March 07, 2011, 02:08:53 AM »

Thanks for the info Hood, much appreciated.

Tweakie.