Messages

6291

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

« on: August 31, 2011, 01:07:41 PM »

Thanks for the heads up on fotosketcher, always nice to have new tools.

Especially FREE tools   

There are many different types of art and I am not sure if this qualifies or not. It is a computer generated "etch-a sketch" saved as a .dxf then as GCode. I must admit that I have seen better laser engravings but as I am in no way "artistic" this is perhaps a start. 

Tweakie.

6292

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

« on: August 31, 2011, 02:03:10 AM »

Are you using the Gold Method photoshop plugin?

Yes sir.

Tweakie.

6293

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help! My CNC runs on EMC2, but not Mach3?!?!

« on: August 30, 2011, 11:03:07 AM »

Daus,

Some motherboards with on-board graphics work just fine whilst others do not. In my case fitting a PCI (or was it AGP, can't remember now) graphic card resolved the issue. If possible, borrow a graphics card just to try.

Tweakie.

6294

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

« on: August 30, 2011, 07:05:12 AM »

When using the Impact / Laser Engraving plugin, I have found that the initial preparation of the image or photo is key to success. A free program which has just come to my attention is FotoSketcher by David Thoiron. http://www.fotosketcher.com/download.htm
(When installing use the advanced options unless you want to install the unwanted toolbars etc or else download the portable version).
This program is capable of producing some quite stunning results and in some ways can be better than the Photochop plugin I have been using to date.

Tweakie.

6295

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help! My CNC runs on EMC2, but not Mach3?!?!

« on: August 30, 2011, 04:14:53 AM »

Are you perhaps using a laptop or computer with on-board graphics ??

Tweakie.

6296

General Mach Discussion / Re: Damaging Geckodrives G540

« on: August 28, 2011, 10:51:23 AM »

Another thing that can damage stepper drives is turning the stepper motor by hand without unplugging it from the control first.

Jeff,

Does this apply to all stepper motor drives or just the G540 ??

Tweakie.

6297

General Mach Discussion / Re: Damaging Geckodrives G540

« on: August 28, 2011, 04:13:38 AM »

Another thing that can damage the drive is disconnecting a stepper whilst it is being driven so you may also want to check for bad or intermittent connection between the Gecko and your motors (plugs, solder connections etc).

Tweakie.

6298

General Mach Discussion / Re: SIGNALS REALLY MIXED UP??? Please help

« on: August 26, 2011, 05:20:34 AM »

Assuming that Hood does not find any fault with your .xml configuration...........

As Sage has said - check the voltage from your power supply with a multimeter, both stationary and with the machine axis moving. The voltage should remain constant without any significant voltage drop when any or all axis are moved. If this test is OK............

As you have changed the parallel port lead and as you have changed computers without making any difference plus all the other things you have tried and the fact that the X axis works OK suggests to me that the fault is with the Gecko G540.
I know you have had it checked (twice) but...........
For example, was the G540 tested using 3.3V logic switching ??
Would it be possible for you to try another G540 ??

Tweakie.

6299

General Mach Discussion / Re: Macros And Buttons - Strangeness Abounds....

« on: August 26, 2011, 04:44:00 AM »

Thanks Ian. 

(The big advantage of the E code was that it would switch the selected output pin concurrent with the start (or end) of axis movement).

Tweakie.

6300

General Mach Discussion / Re: Macros And Buttons - Strangeness Abounds....

« on: August 26, 2011, 02:54:03 AM »

Similarly, the output control I suspect was Art's "special" way of activating a laser WHILST motion was in "constant velocity" - an E code if I remember correctly. Yuk!

Ian,

Just because you don't want to use it does not mean it is Yuk!.

I was really happy with the operation of the combination E1P0 / E1P1 until a Mach revision screwed it all up. 

Tweakie.