Messages

7481

General Mach Discussion / Re: limit switch triggered

« on: August 04, 2010, 01:46:46 AM »

Hi Bernie,

This is often caused by electrical noise being picked up on the limit / homing / estop cables and wiring. Others have reported sucess by adding a 0.1uf miniature capacitor between every input and ground (at the controller end).

Screened / shielded cables (grounded at the controller end only) should also resolve the problem.

Tweakie.

7482

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: 3D Printing.

« on: August 03, 2010, 12:47:22 PM »

Thanks for the info Graham,

I have not looked at that method but I did see a video of a machine doing just this where they were very cagey about how the paper layers were applied (they used sheet stock not rolls).

There are about a dozen or so (perhaps more) alternative methods all competing for the lead in rapid prototyping I wounder which will eventually come out on top ?.

Tweakie.

7483

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 mill beginers problems

« on: August 03, 2010, 06:06:10 AM »

Hi Wichmann,

Re- size of work:-
Alongside each of the axis DRO's is the Scale DRO. Once a file has been loaded you can view the size of the part by opening the Toolpath screen and reading the dimensions from the limits DRO's. Then with a small calculation return to the Main window and chenge the Scale DRO's accordingly. You can regenerate the toolpath and return to the Toolpath window to check that the part dimensions are what you require, if not alter the Scale DRO's again etc.

For pcb's my preference is to use the surface of the work as zero. (I zero the Z axis when the tool is touching the surface of the work).

Hope this helps,

Tweakie.

7484

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: 3D Printing.

« on: August 02, 2010, 12:26:13 PM »

If I get some more spare time tomorrow I will get the other two arms made, then this little part will be more or less complete.

Tweakie.

7485

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 and the use of a CMM as an engraver

« on: August 02, 2010, 08:59:18 AM »

I have never seen inside the bellows covers on one of these but due to high accuracy they operate at I would suspect micrometer type screw threads with anti-backlash nuts.

Tweakie.

7486

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Harbor Freight 12X36 (not CNC)

« on: August 02, 2010, 02:38:19 AM »

As long as you use it to make bits for the Duke then that's OK with me 

Nice buy Sam.

Tweakie.

7487

General Mach Discussion / Re: Crooked Cuts?

« on: August 01, 2010, 06:08:43 AM »

Erikgolson,

If it's the GS... made by Magnum Technologies then I think it will have servo motors (which I know nothing about).

Can you establish if your machine is servo or stepper motor driven ?.

Tweakie.

7488

General Mach Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: August 01, 2010, 01:56:13 AM »

Hi JimiG,

Welcome to the forum.

Not many check this thread so it would be better for you to post your question under the General Mach Discussion section where I am sure you will get a swift response.

Tweakie.

7489

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Dixie Duke - A machine in the making.

« on: July 31, 2010, 01:23:00 AM »

Excellent Sam, glad to see some more progress on the Duke.

Tweakie.

7490

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: 3D Printing.

« on: July 30, 2010, 08:53:38 AM »

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your comments and the information you have provided, it is much appreciated. Please keep your input coming.

What I am trying to do here is not new, nor is it cutting edge technology, or anything like that, it has all been done already – what I am attempting to do is to show that a ‘home built’ machine running Mach 3 can make a pretty good job of doing what the professional machines costing real mega bucks are doing right now. It probably won’t be many years before we all have a 3D printer sitting on our desks but until then we just have to get by, best we can.

Friday is a slack day for me, so I have spent most of the morning making this little actuator. Internally it has a spring and it operates just like a roller blind mechanism. It’s purpose it to provide the Z2 lift for my new ‘build jig’ which is slowly progressing. More photo’s to follow soon.

Tweakie