Messages

7181

General Mach Discussion / Re: Starting from scratch.

« on: October 11, 2010, 02:04:54 AM »

Hi Rik,

Good fortune with your project.

You will get plenty of help, if you need it, from the members of this forum.

What sort of things are you considering making with CNC ?

Tweakie.

7182

General Mach Discussion / Re: Still being driven mad by arcs

« on: October 10, 2010, 05:46:34 AM »

I can answer a couple of your questions but not all, sorry.

The servo drive needs the Dir pulse to lead the Step pulse. My problem is that I do not know what that means! I have step set in Mach3 at 3 and Dir as 10. I have tried loads of values but seen no change.

This means that the direction signal has to be established before the step signal is sent and Mach automatically does this.

Is the Dir signal pulsed in the same way as the step or does it only change between 0 and 1 on a direction change?

The direction signal is either low or high (0 or 1) and remains at its last setting until a direction change, for that axis, occurs.

Tweakie.

7183

General Mach Discussion / Re: need general info on steppers and controllers

« on: October 09, 2010, 06:27:02 AM »

Hi Homer,

I have had good results using the cheap single board, multi axis, controllers from China - there are plenty for sale on Ebay. If they go wrong (4 fitted, all different and none have failed so far) then they are throw away items - there is little, if any, after sales or backup support.
I am not recommending a supplier but here are the typical instructions for connecting this type of board. http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/MDfly.zip

If you can afford to spend more then the Gecko drives are probably the best and have good after sales support etc etc.

Hope this helps,

Tweakie.

7184

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

« on: October 08, 2010, 01:50:08 PM »

Dar303,

Nice to hear you say that this forum has given you new energy. This is a great place to learn and before you know it that project of yours will be completed and you will have little bits of stuff you have made all around the workshop and cluttering up the house etc just like everyone else. 

Tweakie.

7185

General Mach Discussion / Re: best monitor size

« on: October 08, 2010, 11:27:05 AM »

Mark,

I use a 17" but I could manage OK with 15" if I had to. In use I am quite close to the monitor so size is not really that important.

Don't know if this is any help.

Tweakie.

7186

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: spindle motor

« on: October 08, 2010, 04:38:37 AM »

How about something like this ?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WATER-COOLE-MOTOR-SPINDLE-2-2KW-AND-MATCHING-INVERTER-/230486852120?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35aa164218

Tweakie.

7187

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

« on: October 08, 2010, 01:52:52 AM »

Hi Dar303,

As you say amazingly similar machine construction. Machining the ways and screw mounting pads prior to fitting the rails etc solves the welding distortion problems and is a lot more professional than my approach of using shims - keep up the good work. 

I look forward to seeing more pictures of your progress and completion of the project. Your PIC controller sounds very interesting and could be just what I need for my Synrad.

Thanks for sharing your information.

Tweakie.

7188

Tangent Corner / Build it Yourself.

« on: October 07, 2010, 09:02:57 AM »

If this Guy ever builds his own CNC machine I would really love to see the pictures.

Tweakie.

7189

JetCam screen designer / Re: JetCam screen designer/editor.

« on: October 07, 2010, 06:05:58 AM »

For those that follow - The old JetCam editor can be found here  http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,12075.0.html

Tweakie.

7190

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: Gerber S/750 vinyl cutter plotter

« on: October 05, 2010, 11:17:20 AM »

Just guessing here but it is probably your PSU - some PSU's need a load on the output to provide the feedback for voltage regulation.

Tweakie.