Messages

7771

General Mach Discussion / Re: How did he / How do I do this?

« on: July 26, 2010, 04:42:27 AM »

To me it looks like its just a physical switch that is operated as the Z goes below a certain height and that switch operates  a solenoid for the air.

I agree with Hood - this is probably the easiest and best way to do it.

(I think the video shows that the air is cut at the start of the drill retract operation though).

Tweakie.

7772

General Mach Discussion / Re: z axis driven pump: pressure regulation /logic input question

« on: July 26, 2010, 04:33:59 AM »

Rich,

I made the assumption that your plotter Z axis is just 'pen up' / 'pen down' and operates the pump from one of these two conditions - is this the case ?

Tweakie.

7773

VB and the development of wizards / Re: M98 and M99 VBScript

« on: July 26, 2010, 02:33:38 AM »

To create in this folder two files with names M98.m1s and M99.m1s and to fill their contained by the necessary scripts. To call commands as usually from g-code M98 and M99.

This is not a very good idea - M98 & M99 are reserved GCode commands and are not user configurable without the risk of locking/crashing the application if there is a conflict.

Tweakie.

7774

General Mach Discussion / Re: advice for stepper controller wanted

« on: July 26, 2010, 02:23:22 AM »

Hi Homer,

In my opinion Geckodrive is the place to go  http://www.geckodrive.com/

Tweakie.

7775

General Mach Discussion / Re: How did he / How do I do this?

« on: July 26, 2010, 02:18:47 AM »

One of the nice things about Mach is that there is always more than one way of doing things. This is just one suggestion:-

If the air supply to the selected drill was controlled by a valve/relay operated by Output #1 then the addition of the M11P1 /M10P1 commands at the appropriate place in the GCode would do the trick (M11P1 turns Output #1 on and M10P1 turns it off).

A simple example.

F50
G0 M11P1
G1 Z-5
G0 M10P1
G1 Z0
G0 X10 Y10
G0 M11P1
G1 Z-5
G0 M10P1
G1 Z0
G0 X0 Y0
M30


Tweakie.

7776

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 for embroidery machine

« on: July 25, 2010, 01:23:33 PM »

Jeff,

There are quite a few postings here on that topic. http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,13859.0.html

Perhaps if you PM Khalid he may be able to give you more details of his setup and software.

Tweakie.

7777

Tangent Corner / Re: HOT DOG DAYS

« on: July 25, 2010, 01:17:38 PM »

Only seems like the other day he was helping you dig out the snow round your paths Rich. 

Tweakie.

7778

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tangential control

« on: July 25, 2010, 12:34:05 PM »

Hi Jack,

I think you need to tell the A axis which direction to point within your GCode. Would something like this work ?

(File T.NC )
(Sunday, July 18, 2010)
G90G80G49
G0 Z1.0000
G90.1
S50
G0 Z1.0000

G0 X0.0000 Y0.0000
M3
F80.000G1 Z0.0000
G0 A30
F300.000G1 X10.0000 Y17.3205
G0 A150
G1 X20.0000 Y0.0000
G0 A270
G1 X0.0000 Y0.0000
M5
G0 Z1.0000
G0 X0 Y0
M5M30


Tweakie.

7779

General Mach Discussion / Re: z axis driven pump: pressure regulation /logic input question

« on: July 25, 2010, 12:20:43 PM »

Richard,

You are on the right lines.

The Macro Pump runs in the background and could control the functions you require with your VB code.
Here is one link but there are many if you do a search  http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,13576.0.html

Tweakie.

7780

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

« on: July 25, 2010, 11:28:38 AM »

Terry,

Thanks for the suggestion but if it's what we call 'Icing Sugar' here in the UK, then yes I did try some but it caught fire instantly  

In general the 'air assist' tends to extinguish combustion in most materials before it starts but I have this set to an extremely low level when working with powders otherwise the stuff just gets blown away.

It is perhaps interesting that photocopy toner does not ignite (at least the stuff I have didn't) and this must have similar particle size to powered sugar but it did not really produce the desired results - perhaps a mixture of the two may work ?.

Lots of possibilities to try - please keep the suggestions coming Guys - I do appreciate your help.

Tweakie.