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LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Issue with offset

« on: April 01, 2011, 04:58:25 AM »

Mike,

LC is absolutely brilliant at what it does well but it is far from being perfect.
OK, you have to pay for it but there is a lot of available CAD/CAM software out there that does a much better job with pockets and offsets.
For a while I used the free version of CamBam and once you get used to it's little quirks it makes a great job of creating the offset GCode.

Tweakie.

6672

Share Your GCode / Re: Suppressor Designs?

« on: April 01, 2011, 04:32:22 AM »

Is that the same thing as a silencer ?

Tweakie.

6673

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: Impact engraving plugin

« on: April 01, 2011, 04:08:10 AM »

Two things.....

Make sure you are using the latest version. http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,16446.msg111507.html#msg111507 Copy the DLL from here into your Mach3 / PlugIns folder.

Make sure the axis Scale DRO's are at +1.0000

Tweakie.

6674

General Mach Discussion / Re: testing mach3, cannot run two axis at the same time

« on: April 01, 2011, 03:33:33 AM »

Then I would set the motor current at 1.68 Amps per phase and use a 24Volt power supply rated at 6 Amps output if I was using these steppers but you need to check that your driver board is OK with the 24 Volts.

Tweakie.

6675

General Mach Discussion / Re: Stopping Distance

« on: April 01, 2011, 02:46:40 AM »

Hi Daryn,

The configuration of your system plays a major part here. It is preferable to configure your 'enable' signal to remain active, irrespective of an e-stop or fault condition and in this way the stepper acts as a brake to the axis travel (a heavy Z axis driven with ball screws would almost certainly continue its movement until the tool contacts the work or fixture if it's drive power was completely removed by a fault condition or e-stop).
On my system it would be totally impractical to mount the limit switches in such a position that they would prevent the mechanical stop being reached when the axis is being driven at it's full G0 speed (the switches would reduce my operating area far too much) but they have been positioned to prevent the mechanical stop being reached when the axis is driven at my maximum G1 cutting feedrate. Unfortunately everything has to be a compromise.

Tweakie.

6676

General Mach Discussion / Re: testing mach3, cannot run two axis at the same time

« on: April 01, 2011, 02:26:00 AM »

Could be not enough current - this is set and current limited by the driver.
The motors will have a maximum current rating and this must never be exceeded. The voltage rating can be exceeded and it is not unusual for this to be between 5 and 20 times the motor's rated voltage.

What type and rating of power supply are you using ?
What is the rating of your steppers (0.4A 12V ?)

Tweakie.

6677

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 support for FSE ReninaEngrave card

« on: March 31, 2011, 12:07:45 PM »

Hi Brian,

The Smooth Stepper is an ideal solution for using a laptop with Mach3, I have used an SS for a year or so now and together with many others, I can only say how good it is.

The FSE plugin card is another story and I have not yet herd any reports of it working well with Mach3 despite the FSE claims and as their forum is so highly moderated, it is impossible to obtain a truly objective opinion on its operation or ease of use from any others there.
If the price of the card is reasonable then I think you should go for it but beware that the makers claims may well exceed its true performance.

Tweakie.

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