Messages

7071

General Mach Discussion / Re: Loosing steps when milling slowly

« on: February 27, 2011, 05:52:07 AM »

Surely that would be 1/16 step then (assuming the screw is directly connected to the stepper without reduction) - very strange. Are they perhaps 400 step per rev steppers ?

Tweakie.

7072

General Mach Discussion / Re: Loosing steps when milling slowly

« on: February 27, 2011, 02:17:30 AM »

Just a thought but are you running your steppers 'full step' or are you using microstepping ?

Tweakie.

7073

General Mach Discussion / Re: Denford Micromill convert to Mach

« on: February 26, 2011, 06:04:06 AM »

This thread is probably relevant http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,9947.0.html

Tweakie.

7074

General Mach Discussion / Re: Denford Micromill convert to Mach

« on: February 26, 2011, 02:54:21 AM »

Themule,

I don't know if this helps but I converted a little Boxford mill to Mach3 operation a couple of years back and the details are here http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/files/14.htm  (I think my additional parts cost was only around 150 GBP)

This may give you some idea of what would be involved if you tackle the Denford.

Tweakie.

7075

General Mach Discussion / Re: Correcting Step error

« on: February 26, 2011, 02:38:00 AM »

Autonow,

The machine you have was made for engraving rather than accurate machine work so it would not surprise me that you have some errors in dimension using Newlydraw.

There are a number of different options for using Mach3, calibrating your machine and then achieving accuracy but it does not come cheap.
I don't wish to recommend any particular solution because I have not tried any of them but 'slot in boards' may be machine specific ie. if your particular machine controller does not step at exactly 1000 steps per inch they will not work accurately.
Replacing the existing controller with a new 3 axis board that is Mach3 compatible is perhaps cheap but is a radical solution and you must consider that your existing setup lets you 'print' a design from Corel etc. changing to Mach3 would mean converting that design to GCode before you could produce it.

Please remember that although Mach3 can handle some basic raster operation it's main strength is in vector work.

Hope this helps.

Tweakie.

7076

Tangent Corner / Re: Punch or Drill

« on: February 25, 2011, 03:45:24 AM »

Russ,

I think getting a punch through is no problem but the material has to be held correctly when the punch is withdrawn, any movement here would risk a breakage. The punch could have a short head and reasonable diameter shank for strength so I would not see that as a problem but holding the material down is another story.

Tweakie.

7077

General Mach Discussion / Re: pulse frequency (motors slow and jerky)

« on: February 25, 2011, 03:31:18 AM »

I have never used a 5210 driver but you are bound to get some jerky motion as the best it can handle is half stepping (there was a huge hike in stepper control when microstepping became common practice a few years back and the difference between full step or even half step and eight step or greater is really enormous).
Having said this, you should still be able to achieve good stepper motion and if anything I would suspect your PC.
It may be worth checking that the supply to the driver  is actually a full 5 Volts.

Tweakie.

7078

Share Your GCode / Re: mac logo

« on: February 25, 2011, 02:56:19 AM »

I think that if it was rotary engraved in wood it would have to be filled with a contrasting colour to show any detail but the image may be best suited to plasma cutting perhaps ?

What problems are you having with your machine ?
Can we help at all ?

This image has been pyro engraved onto MDF.

Tweakie.

7079

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: The Laser Project.

« on: February 24, 2011, 11:46:23 AM »

Hi Russ,

They are about 50mm toe to toe.
They were cut individually (my first attempt was nested but I was unable to separate the parts without damage).

Tweakie.

7080

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: Write a plugin for USB

« on: February 24, 2011, 09:34:58 AM »

I think that perhaps you two guys should work together, sharing your accumulated knowledge. Would be a welcomed project for many, once you have cracked it.

Tweakie.