Messages

7081

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 putting in offsets? HELP!

« on: April 08, 2010, 02:57:09 AM »

It's an interesting shaped toolpath you have created there - Not sure it could ever be made using a 3 Axis machine (because of the undercut) but interesting none the less.

Tweakie.

7082

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

« on: April 08, 2010, 02:35:02 AM »

Echo, echo, glad to see you back Dave.

Nice Machine. Did you have to modify the energy chain for the Y Axis to get that bend in the opposite direction ?.

Tweakie.

7083

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: Converting Units of Measurement.

« on: April 08, 2010, 02:26:00 AM »

Thanks Sam, I like 100% free. 

My laptop runs Vista so I will add it to the sidebar gizmo's.

Also a big thanks to the Secret Squirrel.

Hey, how's that new mill of yours coming along ?.

Tweakie.

7084

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Can anyone help me with this GCode?

« on: April 07, 2010, 01:09:26 PM »

It's not the GCode that is at fault here or it would produce the same results for me.

You are correct in that you need to look at your configuration settings and double check everything.

Tweakie.

7085

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Can anyone help me with this GCode?

« on: April 07, 2010, 12:38:00 PM »

Just ran your code and it appears OK (not the most optimized code I have seen however).

At what point does it all go 'pear shaped' and what happens to the tool path ?.

Tweakie.

7086

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z axis keeps losing caliberation

« on: April 07, 2010, 12:20:22 PM »

You could try reducing the 'velocity' and 'acceleration' settings for the 'z axis' in 'motor tuning'- don't forget to save the axis settings.

Tweakie.

7087

General Mach Discussion / Re: Math check on motor tune please

« on: April 07, 2010, 10:25:15 AM »

Hi Greg,

Steps per revolution calculations are OK but enter the complete figure (1904.7618) not just 1905.

The steps per revolution go into the 'steps per' box the velocity and acceleration are done by trial and error. Try velocity at 2000 and acceleration at 200 to start with and work from there. Select one axis, enter the figures and try the result with the up/down arrow keys, when correct click 'save axis' and then move on to the next axis etc. You may need to go back and fine tune them again when testing the whole machine.

Tip; Don't go for the highest possible speed as best overall reliability is probably some 10% to 20% less than the motors will reliably run at.

Hope this helps,

Tweakie.

7088

*****VIDEOS***** / Re: Vinyl cutting.

« on: April 07, 2010, 03:05:07 AM »

Thanks Sam.

If it wasn’t for the encouragement from all you guys I think I would still be engraving Road Runner

There has been quite a lot of discussion about tangential control and it’s necessity for producing tight corners which is why I made this video to demonstrate that, as far as vinyl is concerned, the simple ‘drag knife’ method produces more than acceptable results.

Terry has a recording studio built in his house, he plays the bass, acoustic and electric guitar’s and sings the vocals but the rest is all electronically generated. The synth alone looks like the Star-ship Enterprise. He is a very talented fella and I am fortunate indeed to be able to use his music in my video’s.

Tweakie.

7089

*****VIDEOS***** / Re: Vinyl cutting.

« on: April 06, 2010, 12:42:38 PM »

Thank you Dave.

Truth be known, my buddy Terry makes a much better job of the music than I make of the video's ! 

Tweakie.

7090

General Mach Discussion / Re: Making a laser cutter

« on: April 06, 2010, 03:01:35 AM »

Hi,

It's a very involved subject and the discussions between diode laser and CO2 laser will run for eternity. There is lots of laser info on Sam's Laser FAQ here http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm

When it comes to adding a laser cutting head to an existing machine this is a link to my progress so far http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/files/27.htm
The cold weather has halted progress lately but I hope to continue with the project sometime soon.

Tweakie.