Messages

6801

General Mach Discussion / Re: z axis driven pump: pressure regulation /logic input question

« on: July 25, 2010, 12:20:43 PM »

Richard,

You are on the right lines.

The Macro Pump runs in the background and could control the functions you require with your VB code.
Here is one link but there are many if you do a search  http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,13576.0.html

Tweakie.

6802

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: 3D Printing.

« on: July 25, 2010, 11:28:38 AM »

Terry,

Thanks for the suggestion but if it's what we call 'Icing Sugar' here in the UK, then yes I did try some but it caught fire instantly  

In general the 'air assist' tends to extinguish combustion in most materials before it starts but I have this set to an extremely low level when working with powders otherwise the stuff just gets blown away.

It is perhaps interesting that photocopy toner does not ignite (at least the stuff I have didn't) and this must have similar particle size to powered sugar but it did not really produce the desired results - perhaps a mixture of the two may work ?.

Lots of possibilities to try - please keep the suggestions coming Guys - I do appreciate your help.

Tweakie.

6803

General Mach Discussion / Re: PWM Spindle Control using Mach3 - How I did it

« on: July 25, 2010, 10:32:45 AM »

Excellent work Chris, a well prepared document which I am sure is extremely useful to us all.

Tweakie.

6804

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: 3D Printing.

« on: July 25, 2010, 02:19:57 AM »

Hi Gerry,

Perhaps in my dreams, but I think that is a little ambitious for me to start with. Maybe a little Torus is more the mark 

Tweakie.

6805

General Mach Discussion / Re: OEM code for Output 2 Toggle

« on: July 24, 2010, 12:44:40 PM »

Evan,

What I want is to put a button on my screen to turn on and off my output 2

I seem to have missed something here - surely Hood has already given you the information you need to do just that.

Add a VB button to your screen then within Mach paste in Hood's VB code and away you go - Output #2  toggles  ON / OFF.

Tweakie.

6806

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / 3D Printing.

« on: July 24, 2010, 12:26:37 PM »

In some ways this is a continuation of ‘The Laser Project’ but because there are many ways in which 3D Printing can be achieved I thought it perhaps deserves its own thread. The method I have decided to initially follow is that of Selective Laser Sintering. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Selective_laser_melting_system_schematic.jpg

My initial model is only 2D (about 3mm thick) and was produced in just two layers using a simple stacking frame – this has, however, given me sufficient confidence to start building a larger frame or jig with a moving Z Axis base that will allow models up to 60mm deep to be produced on my existing machine without any additional modification. If this is successful, who knows?
My initial inspiration for trying this came from the Candy Fab project and more details of their progress can be found here http://candyfab.org/

Although I accept that the quality of my initial model is not very good I think that by using fusible materials which have a finer grain structures things can only get better.

I would appreciate your comments / suggestions relating to this or 3D printing in general.

Tweakie.

6807

General Mach Discussion / Re: OEM code for Output 2 Toggle

« on: July 24, 2010, 06:48:16 AM »

Evan,

If you wish to toggle Output #2 from within a GCode program :-

The command M50 doesn't seem to get used anymore so by placing the macro Hood has given (minus the Hood line  ) in the macro 'M50.m1s' (delete or rem the stuff that's in there already) then by placing M50 in the GCode this will toggle output #2.

Tweakie.

6808

FAQs / Re: Par port2

« on: July 23, 2010, 11:38:34 AM »

Just a thought but the logic levels of your second parallel card may not be 0V to 5V and you may be saturating the chips on the card by applying a full 5V. Try putting a 1K series resistor (to limit the 5Volt current) in line with your switches and see if it makes any difference.

Tweakie.

6809

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: cnc winding machine

« on: July 22, 2010, 07:27:57 AM »

Hi Petecul,

Nice machine and neat looking conversion you have done.

I think that Hood has built a winding machine or two and I am sure he will know exactly how to set your machine for optimum use.

Tweakie.

6810

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: Relay control for Router

« on: July 22, 2010, 06:32:35 AM »

Indycraft,

You may also want to read this posting / thread for some more info  http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,15369.msg103352.html#msg103352

Tweakie.