Messages

7051

SmoothStepper USB / Re: smooth stepper works differently in different computers?

« on: April 14, 2010, 01:36:38 PM »

Not quite the same thing Barry, as the laptop uses an adapter.

If you have a multimeter, with your laptop switched off and disconnected from the mains, measure the continuity between the mains earth pin and the metal part on the outside of your USB connection or the metal part on the outside of your LPT port - Is it an open circuit ?.

Tweakie.

7052

SmoothStepper USB / Re: smooth stepper works differently in different computers?

« on: April 14, 2010, 01:06:49 PM »

Hi Barry,

I have now looked at both my laptops and neither have a protective earth connection (they are both 'double insulated', as far as the regulations are concerned and do not have any connection to the incoming mains supply earth).
Assuming your laptop has no electrical connection between the mains earth pin and the USB or LPT port outer metal screens then this would explain the difference between the behavior of your PC and laptop.  One mystery solved I hope.

I will now go and look at my VFD setup and check how it is wired and report back with suggestions.

Tweakie.

7053

SmoothStepper USB / Re: smooth stepper works differently in different computers?

« on: April 14, 2010, 12:16:18 PM »

Hi Barry,

Successful troubleshooting has to be carried out in a well organized and methodical manner, if possible recording the results for future reference - so you must excuse me for asking all the questions.

OK, you are switching your spindle on/off with a relay.

Is this relay switching AC mains voltage to the spindle ?.
Is this relay switching a low voltage DC to control a VFD ?.

Tweakie.

7054

SmoothStepper USB / Re: smooth stepper works differently in different computers?

« on: April 14, 2010, 11:56:43 AM »

Hi Barry,

You must get to the bottom of the problem when your spindle is turned on. If you don't then you will almost certainly encounter all sorts of strange behavior with Mach and SS in the future.

Is your spindle switched on/off by a relay or a VFD ?.

Tweakie.

7055

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: PowerMate Plugin

« on: April 14, 2010, 11:46:47 AM »

Glad to hear you have got something that works Joe  .

Tweakie.

7056

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: PowerMate Plugin

« on: April 14, 2010, 11:16:50 AM »

Sorry to hear that you guys are having problems with the Powermate plugin.

Are you using the registered version of Mach3 or the demo version ?.
Also what version number of Mach3 are you running please ?.

Tweakie.

7057

Tangent Corner / Re: LED Electronics guys out there?

« on: April 14, 2010, 02:33:56 AM »

I wish I was good at doing circuit boards as this would be a breeze for someone who has a clue, lol!

Hi Dave,

If I can isolation route PCB's so can you. Its real easy to do, just try it and see.  Would make a neat job !.

http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/circuit5.wmv

Tweakie.

7058

Tangent Corner / Re: LED Electronics guys out there?

« on: April 13, 2010, 02:38:01 PM »

You are quite right Dave, arrays are a much better solution as connecting them all like Xmas tree lights does have it's drawbacks.

Good fortune with your experiments.

Tweakie.

7059

Tangent Corner / Re: LED Electronics guys out there?

« on: April 13, 2010, 01:45:30 PM »

Hi Dave,

According to ohm's law  E=I*R and this transposes to R=E/I.

If you have 23 LED's each requiring a current of 25mA then that's 23*25=575mA.
If the p.s.u voltage is 9.5 Volts then R=9.5/0.575 or 17 Ohms.

So if you connect all the LED's in series (observing the correct polarity, of course) with a 17 Ohm resistor that should do it.

The resistor wattage is calculated as W=V*A or W=9.5*0.575 then that's 6 Watts (it will get warm in operation).

Hope this helps,

Tweakie.

7060

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Gertrude Gets Some!

« on: April 13, 2010, 10:35:41 AM »

Excellent work Chris.

Tweakie.