Messages

6831

*****VIDEOS***** / Impact Engraving.

« on: April 12, 2010, 09:57:18 AM »

A short video of Impact Engraving on hard anodized aluminium.

                                    http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/impact5.wmv

Because Sam made such a lovely job of producing this Wile E Coyote I just had to do it. http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,12140.0.html

The federate was initially set a little too fast for my impact tool, which uses the mains frequency (only 50 Hz here in the UK) for it’s pulsing and I got some variations in line width on my first attempt. Reducing the federate seems to cure the problem but you can still engrave pretty quick with these little tools - they do, however, make a fearsome amount of noise !.
The impact tool used is a Burgess handheld device for which I have made a small clamp to hold it to the Z axis. It is switched on/off using the spindle relay.

Tweakie.

6832

VB and the development of wizards / Re: steps per by VisualBasic

« on: April 12, 2010, 04:51:37 AM »

Excellent solution ArcEye. 

Tweakie.

6833

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: G code help

« on: April 12, 2010, 04:46:41 AM »

Hi Paul,

The system I use is shown on this page http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/files/17.htm

The scripts for the screen buttons are at the bottom of the page, obviously you need to modify the second one with your offset dimensions.

Hope this helps,

Tweakie.

6834

General Mach Discussion / Re: Pins 2 & 3 dont work.

« on: April 11, 2010, 11:32:02 AM »

Just a suggestion.

If you download and run Parmon http://www.geekhideout.com/parmon.shtml
Then you can visually see if pins 1 and 2 are changing state from your GCode program or jog buttons.
Assuming they are changing state then you may have a defective LPT cable, bad connection or bad stepper driver.
Assuming they do not change state then you almost certainly have a damaged port if these pins are enabled and the correct port selected etc.

Hope this helps,

Tweakie.

6835

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: My first attempt at a CNC build.

« on: April 10, 2010, 01:35:40 PM »

Don't want to worry you but my CO2 laser runs at 16,000 Volts.  (perhaps you meant 120 Watts).

Good idea about making provision at this stage for possibly changing spindles in the future.

Tweakie.

6836

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle speed hunts

« on: April 10, 2010, 12:32:09 PM »

If you are using VFD driven form a 0-10 Volt signal (or similar) then it might be worth checking this voltage whilst you change speed to see how quickly the voltage stabilizes.

Tweakie.

6837

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: My first attempt at a CNC build.

« on: April 10, 2010, 12:13:14 PM »

Hi Jammerm,

Coming on well - keep up the good work and thanks for posting the pictures of your progress.
I think we all learn a lot from seeing the way other people have tackled what are essentially the same problems and obstacles we all have.

Tweakie.

6838

General Mach Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: April 10, 2010, 12:05:46 PM »

Welcome to the forum Chuck.

Lots of extremely clever and friendly guys here only too willing to help you with any CNC or machine problems you may encounter. If your VB script works then it is excellent, it doesn't have to be the most elegant as long as it works.
I look forward to learning from your experience so please post info on what you achieve and what you make. That pallet making CNC sounds interesting.

Tweakie.

6839

General Mach Discussion / Re: Torch tip is lowered before it gets to starting point

« on: April 09, 2010, 12:13:02 PM »

You could try setting the 'Safe Z' from the config menu. Then it will raise the Z Axis before moving home.

Tweakie.

6840

General Mach Discussion / Re: RS232

« on: April 08, 2010, 12:12:07 PM »

Hi Hood,

I'm sure you are absolutely right, far safer to load from the current machine's hard drive.

However, a lot of new ideas have come out of someone finding a reliable way of doing something that is perhaps not good practice to do.

My problem here is that I had first said it is not possible to do but after further thought realize that I was perhaps wrong so am trying to squirm my way out of a tight corner.

Tweakie.