Messages

6221

General Mach Discussion / Re: Wacky axis movement

« on: November 05, 2011, 03:37:34 AM »

Have you checked your native units are set to inches (assuming you are working in inches) ??
Is the GCode file you are loading using inch units ??

Tweakie.

6222

General Mach Discussion / Re: Just Bought My First CNC Mill - Need Help Setting Up

« on: November 04, 2011, 04:35:20 AM »

Hi Kevin,

Welcome to the forum.
Very nice little machine you have there.

To use with Mach I would be inclined to fit a Gecko 540 controller http://www.geckodrive.com/g540-p-39.html (or similar) to replace the existing control electronics.

Just a thought.

Tweakie.

6223

General Mach Discussion / Re: Delta VFD control from Mach

« on: November 04, 2011, 03:16:26 AM »

Thanks guys! The more I learn about this stuff the more I find that  I don't know:)

Don

Tell me about it 

Tweakie.

6224

General Mach Discussion / Re: Delta VFD control from Mach

« on: November 03, 2011, 12:11:25 PM »

Hi Don,

Welcome to the forum.

The VFD requires a 0 - 10 Volt dc source to control the speed and Mach has a PWM output intended for operating a VFD.
You need a controller board to convert the PWM signal to the 0 - 10V such as this http://www.cnc4pc.com/Store/osc/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=303 which also has the on/off - forward/reverse relays.

Tweakie.

6225

Tangent Corner / Re: A Winter Project.

« on: November 03, 2011, 02:59:31 AM »

A couple of the parts that will no longer be used.

Graviner (Kidde) fire extinguisher system nozzle (1956).
A fire detector, presumably using a eutectic alloy to bridge two contacts (1965).

Both of these, together with one more nozzle and two more detectors were originally fitted to the outer casing above the apu.

Tweakie.

6226

General Mach Discussion / Re: first run with mach3

« on: November 03, 2011, 01:33:36 AM »

dear tweakie


is it right ?,to change the step to get the corect pitch ,we just set the motor tunning # stepp per # only or we need adjust at another place at mach3?

pls advise.

thank you.

It is just set in motor tuning.
After changing the axis steps, save axis settings then proceed to the next axis etc.

Tweakie.

6227

General Mach Discussion / Re: first run with mach3

« on: November 02, 2011, 10:43:19 AM »

Hi Asen,

You also need to know how many "microsteps" your controller is set to.

As an example - I use 1/8 microsteps so...  200 steps per rev = 8 x 200 = 1600 microsteps per rev = 1600 / 5 mm pitch = 320 steps per unit

You need to get the steps per unit right, for your installation, before you proceed. Perhaps read the manual again, use Al's calculator mentioned previously to calculate the steps.

I fully appreciate the difficulties involved here, when I started it all seemed so daunting but once you have got a grip on this then it all falls into place and then just seems so simple. 

Tweakie.

6228

General Mach Discussion / Re: BLOWN DRIVE BOARD

« on: November 01, 2011, 01:07:47 PM »

Hi Graham,

The motors are of Chinese manufacture and quality is unknown. http://www.dhgate.com/wholesale/stepper-motor/c037101001-8.html

They appear to be 2.8 Amps per phase perhaps a good idea to check that you are not exceeding this.

Tweakie.

6229

General Mach Discussion / Re: BLOWN DRIVE BOARD

« on: November 01, 2011, 07:02:41 AM »

Hi Graham,

It has to be an extremely poor quality motor to short internally so best check all your motors and wiring.
It would not be practical to try and protect an existing driver against short or sudden open circuit but Gecko (I think) make a drive which is almost destruction proof if you are desperate, but they are not cheap.

Tweakie.

6230

*****VIDEOS***** / Re: Studs welding

« on: November 01, 2011, 06:42:48 AM »

Hi Andrea,

I like your new VSC - it is very neat - (why is your equipment wiring always so neat and tidy ??  ).

I have been working on a, perhaps, similar device to control laser power from (a spare axis) step and direction signals in order to get away from the Mach PWM output which conflicts with the Impact / Laser plugin operation. I never thought of using the LM331 as I seem to do everything these days with the Microchip PIC controllers.

Keep up the excellent work, your website is a real inspiration.

Tweakie.