Messages

7721

Tangent Corner / Re: Variable Speed control through Mach3 For Daytom motor?

« on: September 06, 2010, 11:13:42 AM »

Dave,

I have never tried one of these but it should work.
It isolates the pot control from the live parts within the KB type controllers and operates from a computer (Mach) PWM signal.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DC-PULSE-CONVERTER-OPTOCOUPLED-SPEED-POWER-CONTROL-/200514451826?pt=UK_BOI_Industrial_Automation_Control_ET&hash=item2eaf97b972

It could be a much cheaper solution than the inverter drives I have just been looking at.

Tweakie.

7722

Tangent Corner / Re: Variable Speed control through Mach3 For Daytom motor?

« on: September 06, 2010, 09:40:45 AM »

Dave,

Not much help really but, looking at the circuit for the KB speed control, it is live to the 115V so there is no way to alter it or tap into its internals without providing isolation etc. not impossible just difficult.
I think it would be better to look for an alternative which already has the 0-10V input. I will do a bit or searching and see if I can spot anything.

Tweakie.

7723

General Mach Discussion / Re: Will Mach3 Work with this?

« on: September 06, 2010, 07:11:18 AM »

Hi Rikk,

Having read the info on their website I think this controller is primarily intended for their own software and I think you would be struggling to try and get this to work with Mach.
Their machine conversion kits look excellent so why not use their conversion parts but fit Gecko's for the machine control. These work really well with Mach and have good backup service if required.

Just a thought.

Tweakie.

7724

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

« on: September 06, 2010, 04:35:35 AM »

Just for fun and big enough to engrave a telephone number.

Tweakie.

7725

Tangent Corner / Re: Variable Speed control through Mach3 For Daytom motor?

« on: September 06, 2010, 02:10:05 AM »

Dave,

Do you want Mach to control the speed of this new motor or just switch it on and off  ?

Tweakie.

7726

Feature Requests / Lazy Cam

« on: September 05, 2010, 12:50:36 PM »

Something that would be nice is a 'progress bar'.
Large DXF's take some time to process - sometimes it works OK sometimes it locks up - a progress bar would at least let me know something is happening.

Tweakie.

7727

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

« on: September 05, 2010, 11:12:01 AM »

Hi Sam,

I don't really think it is any better although in industry the RF energized type are preferred over the DC energized type (not sure why).
It is just different to what I have already - and it was a bargain I just couldn't resist. 

It operates at 30 Volts rather than 16,000 Volts and is probably a lot easier to control by PWM and CW without electrocuting myself.
The output is polarized which could be an advantage with some applications but may be a disadvantage with others.

Amir was talking some time back about galvo, raster scanning lasers and this could be the starting point for me to build one - anyone know where I can obtain a 70mm ZnSe F-Theta Ronar lens real cheap ?. 

Tweakie.

7728

Tangent Corner / Re: Variable Speed control through Mach3 For Daytom motor?

« on: September 05, 2010, 06:17:08 AM »

Dave,

I think the first thing you should do is contact Drillspot to find out more about the controller they recommend for this motor and how that is driven/controlled (pot, 0-10V etc). It might already be on their website but I can't find it.

Once the operation of the speed control has been established it should be straightforward to see the way forward for Mach control 

Tweakie.

7729

FAQs / Re: Migrating Machine - Parallel Port Will Not Run

« on: September 05, 2010, 06:06:55 AM »

As Hood has said many times - Check that your parallel port cable is OK and that it is connected pin1 to pin1 etc and not one of these PC to PC communication types with crossover connections.

Tweakie.

7730

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Gertrude Gets Some!

« on: September 05, 2010, 05:46:59 AM »

You make it all look soooo easy Chris. 

Tweakie.