Messages

6831

FAQs / Re: steppers novato

« on: July 16, 2010, 03:23:55 AM »

Hi,

Does this help ?  http://www.modelshopcnc.com/index_files/pdf/RS34-960.pdf

Tweakie.

6832

VB and the development of wizards / Re: OEM Buttons ???

« on: July 15, 2010, 08:41:40 AM »

OK Guys, I was doing alright with this thread and understanding most of it  but wtf is a Buggy Whipper ?.

Tweakie.

6833

General Mach Discussion / Re: True 4 axis milling

« on: July 15, 2010, 08:33:17 AM »

Brian,

I have never found the need (yet) for more than 3 Axis at any one time and I am sure that with a bit of planning that is all that may be required. So It may not be a bad thing to stick with MC and save yourself a lot of, perhaps unnecessary, dosh. 

Tweakie.

6834

General Mach Discussion / Re: True 4 axis milling

« on: July 15, 2010, 05:33:36 AM »

Hi Brian,

I think it's all related to the price you are willing to pay for the software.

'MeshCam' uses an indexed 4th axis toolpath and is very well priced whereas 'DeskProto' will allow the 4th axis rotation machining you mention but at a higher price.
(As with MC the DP software is available for limited trial so you can see if it will do the job you require before you buy).

Moving up in price 'Visual Mill' will also allow 4 axis simultaneous operation.

There are lots more out there but these are just the ones I have tried and used.

Tweakie.

6835

VB and the development of wizards / Re: backtracking a dispenser! need advice!

« on: July 14, 2010, 11:49:09 AM »

ASC,

Editing your GCode should not be a problem - even using the 'replace' function in 'windows notepad' you can add something like "C-5" after every instance of the code which turns off the dispenser in a matter of just seconds.

Tweakie.

6836

General Mach Discussion / Re: Cannot Figure out

« on: July 14, 2010, 06:19:52 AM »

Spitter,

Changing the G91 (incremental) to G90 (Absolute) in the first line will help a lot.

Tweakie.

6837

General Mach Discussion / Re: Motor Tuning / Different Computers - Same Machine

« on: July 13, 2010, 01:05:39 PM »

Tulsaturbo,

As Hood has said 'steps are steps' and these are calculated from the relevant axis motor steps, lead screw pitch, micro step setting and any gearing used - they have no changing relationship with the computer that is used.

Tweakie.

6838

General Mach Discussion / Re: Drifting X-axis, making step ladders one side whereas other side is smooth- SOS

« on: July 13, 2010, 11:03:58 AM »

Hi Khalid,

It is possible that the arcing has caused a problem with the driver for your X Axis. (Possibility - an arc produces so much energy that this could easily be translated into false step pulses by a driver).
Have you now replaced the damaged connector pin / socket and tried it again ?.

Tweakie.

6839

General Mach Discussion / Tormach CNC Scan.

« on: July 12, 2010, 01:37:10 PM »

Has anyone tried the Tormach CNC Scan plugin and what kind of results did you get please ?.

http://www.tormach.com/blog/?p=1038

Tweakie.

6840

FAQs / Re: Step and Dir signals

« on: July 12, 2010, 08:33:05 AM »

Hi John,

Excellent explanation you have given there.

It is not really meaningful to talk about these signals as having active levels since they are doing something whatever level they are.
where the sense of the signal can be active low or active high is arbitrary but the ability to swap the sense can be useful for testing

Not quite sure about this bit though. The terms "active high" or "active low" are meaningful to me and are understood by Mach3 when it comes to setting everything up. 

Tweakie.