Messages

6971

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: New Project for the shop.

« on: June 06, 2010, 01:58:32 AM »

Great news Dave. Look forward to seeing some video.

Tweakie.

6972

General Mach Discussion / Re: Anyone running a CNCshark with Mach3?

« on: June 04, 2010, 08:41:31 AM »

Hi Greg,

I thought the CNCshark was USB driven.
If you can you get access to the driver card for parallel connection then I think it would be possible to drive the machine from Mach3.

Tweakie.

6973

FAQs / Re: Using Bitmaps for 3D

« on: June 04, 2010, 08:14:30 AM »

Hi Joe,

Mach1filter.exe is also worth exploring, it is not as versatile as Bmp2CNC but it is a free program and can be downloaded from this page http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,6544.0.html

Forgot to mention, nice website you have there and excellent work you have done on those signs.

Tweakie.

6974

Tangent Corner / Re: OSHA

« on: June 04, 2010, 04:18:56 AM »

I'm totally lost - If it's not in Wisconsin where is it then ??. 

Tweakie.

6975

FAQs / Re: Using Bitmaps for 3D

« on: June 04, 2010, 04:10:32 AM »

Hi Joe,

What you are describing here:-

The software, in the machine, reduces the color image down to a gray scale, with the limit of 250 shades. Then carves from that.

As Doug described it to me, the dark shades carve the deepest.

Is exactly the technique that packages like 'Bmp2CNC' or even 'Mach1filter.exe' use to create their depth maps which, incidentally are the same type of files which are used in reverse for milling lithophanes.

    
For example - This was done with Bmp2CNC from a grayscale image.

Mesh is entirely different and can take you into the realms of .stl files and true 3D work which is in no way related to gray scale images.

  
For example - This was done with DeskProto from an .stl file.

Point cloud techniques are again quite different and are more akin to half tone than gray scale.

Each technique has it's own advantage and disadvantage and no one technique can be used to best advantage for everything you are likely to want to produce.

Hope this helps,

Tweakie.

6976

General Mach Discussion / Re: Nothing is moving...

« on: June 03, 2010, 02:01:58 AM »

Try changing input pin jumpers (on C10) to 'pull up' and configure Mach motor outputs to 'active low'.

Tweakie.

6977

General Mach Discussion / Re: Nothing is moving...

« on: June 02, 2010, 11:49:36 AM »

In an attempt to narrow down the problem and decide if it is software or hardware related.

Download and run Parmon http://www.geekhideout.com/parmon.shtml this will establish that Mach is configured correctly and that you can in fact write to and read from your parallel port.

Tweakie.

6978

General Mach Discussion / Re: Nothing is moving...

« on: June 02, 2010, 06:53:56 AM »

Just a thought but have you tied the 'Enable' pin to +5 Volts [X8 on the C10]  (if you haven't then all output pins will be at ground potential).

Tweakie.

6979

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 2nd Build - Steel Tube, Gantry Style, Mill / Router

« on: June 02, 2010, 03:30:03 AM »

Just a bit of further information regarding feed-through capacitors.

As George has said these are ideal for use in series with the AC line cord but they are not suitable for any DC signals, they are purely AC related devices.

Tweakie.

6980

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie gonna try to make one

« on: May 29, 2010, 01:26:49 AM »

That's the way to go Scott.

Please keep us posted on your progress (photos would be nice) - you will get plenty of help here if you need it 

Tweakie.