Messages

7881

FAQs / Re: steppers novato

« on: July 16, 2010, 01:05:09 PM »

OK if you are going to run your steppers at 5 Volts then no series resistors are necessary.
The power supply needs to be 5 Volt at 14 Amps (15 Amps is the standard rating).

Tweakie.

7882

FAQs / Re: steppers novato

« on: July 16, 2010, 12:24:49 PM »

According to your diagram - you will only have two coils per motor energized at any one time. As each coil is rated at 3.5 Amps max then for 2 stepper motors the power supply needs to be able to supply (4 x 3.5) 14 Amps. (The most common stepper voltage used for small machines seems to be 24 Volts). The formula for calculating the series resistance is given in the driver spec.

Also, as it says in the driver spec, at this current the board is going to get hot so forced air cooling may be necessary.

Tweakie.

7883

Tangent Corner / Electrical Regulations Safety Checks.

« on: July 16, 2010, 07:27:11 AM »

Under our new safety regulations the electrical inspection checks have to be done every 6 months now.
I had to do this one myself because our useless electrician refused to issue a safety certificate because he said it was a death trap.

Tweakie.

7884

FAQs / Re: steppers novato

« on: July 16, 2010, 03:23:55 AM »

Hi,

Does this help ?  http://www.modelshopcnc.com/index_files/pdf/RS34-960.pdf

Tweakie.

7885

VB and the development of wizards / Re: OEM Buttons ???

« on: July 15, 2010, 08:41:40 AM »

OK Guys, I was doing alright with this thread and understanding most of it  but wtf is a Buggy Whipper ?.

Tweakie.

7886

General Mach Discussion / Re: True 4 axis milling

« on: July 15, 2010, 08:33:17 AM »

Brian,

I have never found the need (yet) for more than 3 Axis at any one time and I am sure that with a bit of planning that is all that may be required. So It may not be a bad thing to stick with MC and save yourself a lot of, perhaps unnecessary, dosh. 

Tweakie.

7887

General Mach Discussion / Re: True 4 axis milling

« on: July 15, 2010, 05:33:36 AM »

Hi Brian,

I think it's all related to the price you are willing to pay for the software.

'MeshCam' uses an indexed 4th axis toolpath and is very well priced whereas 'DeskProto' will allow the 4th axis rotation machining you mention but at a higher price.
(As with MC the DP software is available for limited trial so you can see if it will do the job you require before you buy).

Moving up in price 'Visual Mill' will also allow 4 axis simultaneous operation.

There are lots more out there but these are just the ones I have tried and used.

Tweakie.

7888

VB and the development of wizards / Re: backtracking a dispenser! need advice!

« on: July 14, 2010, 11:49:09 AM »

ASC,

Editing your GCode should not be a problem - even using the 'replace' function in 'windows notepad' you can add something like "C-5" after every instance of the code which turns off the dispenser in a matter of just seconds.

Tweakie.

7889

General Mach Discussion / Re: Cannot Figure out

« on: July 14, 2010, 06:19:52 AM »

Spitter,

Changing the G91 (incremental) to G90 (Absolute) in the first line will help a lot.

Tweakie.

7890

General Mach Discussion / Re: Motor Tuning / Different Computers - Same Machine

« on: July 13, 2010, 01:05:39 PM »

Tulsaturbo,

As Hood has said 'steps are steps' and these are calculated from the relevant axis motor steps, lead screw pitch, micro step setting and any gearing used - they have no changing relationship with the computer that is used.

Tweakie.