Messages

7211

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mill or Router - which is best for this application?

« on: March 03, 2011, 08:01:29 AM »

Jen,

We expect to see lots of pictures of stuff you make with it even though you won't be using Mach3 

Tweakie.

7212

Share Your GCode / Re: Looking for Ferrari Emblem G code or DXF file

« on: March 03, 2011, 07:55:22 AM »

Nice one Steve, thank you.

Tweakie.

btw. Welcome to the forum

7213

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie new parallel port question

« on: March 03, 2011, 07:46:23 AM »

When you install the PCI card and it asks for drivers it should give the option to install as ECP.
Does yours show as ECP in the device manager window ?

Tweakie.

7214

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie new parallel port question

« on: March 03, 2011, 07:24:38 AM »

I am sure you have already done this but it may be worth checking the resource of you printer port in device manager to make sure that the address is indeed 0378 and also that your PCI card has been configured as an ECP printer port.

Also do you have the Mach3 drivers installed - run the DriverTest.exe program in the Mach folder and see what results you get.

Tweakie.

7215

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie new parallel port question

« on: March 03, 2011, 06:04:44 AM »

Your step and direction pins should be different for each axis unless you are trying to do something special.
A typical configuration would be something like

X step pin 2
X dir    pin 3
Y step pin 4
Y dir    pin 5

etc.

The actual pin numbers would depend on your controller board or how you have wired individual controllers to your breakout board.

Within Mach you have to enable the outputs to see anything at the parallel port and you will only be able to measure a steady voltage on the Dir pins as you jog in different directions (the step pins pulse too fast for reliable voltmeter readings).

Does this help or confuse ?

Tweakie.

7216

General Mach Discussion / Re: Maximise the speed of your steppers ?

« on: March 03, 2011, 05:18:57 AM »

Jeff,

I think what we are looking at here is an initially small but dynamic resonance within the stepper motor itself which results in the stepper motor stalling at a speed well below it’s maximum RPM capabilities. I don’t think anyone has worked out any formulae for calculating the mass of the damper or it’s distribution in fact I am not even convinced that anyone knows exactly how or why it works. It seems that all those dampers which have been constructed on the Zone are different or at least have a different mass distribution yet they all work. How can this be?
It would seem that the mass of a damper is not directly related to the stepper size but ‘trial and error’ is pretty much par for the course when designing one. I think you should give it a try and report back. 

Tweakie.

7217

General Mach Discussion / Re: Maximise the speed of your steppers ?

« on: March 02, 2011, 01:24:08 PM »

Hi Russ,

I cant say that I noticed any comparison tests having been done between Gecko dampening and fitting a mechanical device.
Obviously some drivers are better than others at reducing the mid life crisis and as Gerry said Xylotex is pretty poor at it.
I don't have any Gecko's at present or else I would try a comparison. I have, however, found that with the same motor (without the damper fitted) a Toshiba chipped driver performs better than an Alegro chipped driver - backing up what Jeff Birt was saying in another thread. Fitting the damper there was little, in anything, to chose between the two.

Tweakie.

7218

General Mach Discussion / Re: Question on Mach3 Wizards

« on: March 02, 2011, 12:07:19 PM »

Hi Jim,

Only the Newfangled Solutions wizards require a separate license the rest (I think all the rest) are included free with Mach.

Tweakie.

7219

General Mach Discussion / Re: is this sound normal???

« on: March 02, 2011, 12:02:20 PM »

In my opinion no it is not normal.
My steppers are perfectly silent at rest whilst others have reported a slight buzzing it is nothing like the noises you have recorded.

Does the machine work OK ?
Does it cut / engrave to the correct dimensions without error ?

Tweakie.

7220

General Mach Discussion / Re: Maximise the speed of your steppers ?

« on: March 02, 2011, 11:53:39 AM »

Hi Gerry,

I always wondered how you got your machine to go that fast - now I know   

Tweakie.