Messages

6461

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bug in formulas

« on: November 28, 2010, 08:46:22 AM »

Sargon,

Just out of curiosity, which version of Mach are you using ?

Tweakie.

6462

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: X machine-Like

« on: November 28, 2010, 07:06:53 AM »

Manmeran,

Nice work, looks like you have truly built a machine to be proud of.

Some more pictures of your machine would be nice. 

Tweakie.

6463

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

« on: November 28, 2010, 04:34:47 AM »

Hi Dan,

ebay turns up a few http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=rotary+encoder&_sacat=0&_dmpt=UK_BOI_Industrial_Automation_Control_ET&_odkw=&_osacat=42899&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

Tweakie.

6464

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

« on: November 28, 2010, 03:30:42 AM »

Hi Guys,

At the risk of being totally boring, thought you may be interested in these little rotary encoders. They are low cost pulse generators which could be considered as the poor man’s MPG (light duty only) and their main field of usage is for the volume control / on off switch for vehicle and domestic audio systems. They output a 2 bit gray code which by comparing the current pulse with the previous pulse enables the direction of rotation to be established (for clockwise rotation the low order bit of the previous value always equals the high order bit of the new value whereas for anticlockwise rotation it never does).
The ones I am using output 20 pulses per revolution and are just ideal to set my PWM to any value between 0% and 100% in just 5 turns. The original concept was to use a multiturn potentiometer feeding an analog to digital converter but this little chap is all digital and simplifies things considerably. (pics show 10% and 90% PWM).
I was originally intending to have the PRF switchable between just 5kHz and 10kHz but I may just use another of these encoders to allow any setting between say 1kHz and 20kHz and limit the PWM accordingly (have to check the Synrad specification to see if this is allowable).

Tweakie.

6465

General Mach Discussion / Re: new version mach3 no dxfimport?

« on: November 26, 2010, 08:02:21 AM »

I think the only way to keep the direct DXF import is to keep using the earlier version of Mach.
However I can't see any reason why you can't have both versions on the same PC and then use which ever version you choose.

Tweakie.

6466

Share Your GCode / Re: Please help a new guy with a Gcode

« on: November 26, 2010, 07:45:24 AM »

Hi Nivlek,

You are not annoying anybody - you ask as many questions as you like - this is what the forum is all about.
The GCode was generated with Vectric Aspire.

Tweakie.

6467

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

« on: November 26, 2010, 07:19:33 AM »

Got some bits soldered on to the prototype board, which now looks like a rats nest, but at least it works.
Now to get started on the PIC micro processor program.

Tweakie.

6468

Share Your GCode / Re: Please help a new guy with a Gcode

« on: November 26, 2010, 04:43:33 AM »

Hi Nivlek,

I have created 4 (very basic) toolpaths, 2 roughing with 1.5mm and 2 finish with 1mm endmills. These have not been tried (I am not the expert here as I usually work with wood and plastics) so you must adjust feedrates etc. to suit your material and machine.

Hope this may be of some use to you.

Tweakie.

6469

Share Your GCode / Re: Please help a new guy with a Gcode

« on: November 26, 2010, 02:50:23 AM »

Hi Nivlek,

Welcome to the forum.

First problem:  The wavy lines and parts of the bull's tail are narrower than 1mm when the pendant diameter is set at 67mm.

What parameters would you like to change to resolve this ?

Tweakie.

6470

Tangent Corner / The first of the Winter Snow.

« on: November 26, 2010, 02:24:03 AM »

Looks like winter is here, the first snow fell last night. 

The "old swimming hole" has been drained down ready for the winter freeze and it's time to get in the stock of survival beer.

Tweakie.