Messages

7901

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: heeks cad and cam

« on: February 04, 2010, 07:02:04 AM »

Thanks for posting the link - This needs investigating further.

Tweakie.

7902

General Mach Discussion / Re: losing probe signals with USB game controller?

« on: February 03, 2010, 09:25:56 AM »

Not certain it is a bug as I have been running the auto tool zero for possibly 12 months now without issue and it has had plenty of use.

Greg has done a lot of work on this correcting possible problems that could occur, depending on the current Mach settings in force when the script is envoked and perhaps the best for me has been the addition of the G90 to this line Code "G90 G31 Z -15 F" &ProbeFeed 'Probing move at ProbeFeed rate.
Other related factors (which have been well discussed on the Zone)  include residue on the tool shank or in the collet, partially insulating the tool from ground and also how good is the earth connection of the spindle shaft through its bearings ?.

There are, I think, so many variables to be considered before assuming it is a bug (setting the Zaxis scale factor to 2 and then using auto tool zero should spell disaster).

Tweakie.

7903

General Mach Discussion / Re: mach 3 plasma troubles

« on: February 03, 2010, 09:08:20 AM »

Hi Matt,

Ive got as far as trying to cut a part and have two problems, im using a touch off switch on the z axis and when the torch comes down and touches the switch and resets the z height to zero for some reason mach is adding or subtracting seemingly random numbers from both the x and y position at the same time, so the machine then thinks it is in the wrong place so cuts to the side of the shape and then cuts the shape. Any ideas? The G code is exactly the sae as i used to use in the old version, it has nothing in it about the x or y axis?

As nobody else has chipped in my feelings are that you have a noise issue here. The routing of the switch wiring and screen grounding should be checked also any other wiring that could pick up noise. Ideally all wiring runs should be screened and grounded at a single point.

Hope this helps a bit.

Tweakie.

7904

General Mach Discussion / Re: ArtCAMPro and Mach3

« on: February 03, 2010, 08:57:35 AM »

Hi George,

There are a number of different reasons, probably a list as long as your arm, but for reliable Mach operation that you can trust no other applications or avoidable background tasks should be running at the same time as Mach.
This is why a dedicated machine PC without any frills is the best bet.

Tweakie.

7905

General Mach Discussion / Re: wiring cnc control to ltp port??? how???

« on: February 03, 2010, 06:42:08 AM »

Hi Alex,

You can use any of the output pins you choose. The setup I have chosen is:-

Pin2 - Xstep
Pin3 - Xdirection
Pin4 - Ystep
Pin5 - Ydirection
Pin6 - Zstep
Pin7 - Zdirection

Does this help ?

Tweakie.

7906

General Mach Discussion / Re: wiring cnc control to ltp port??? how???

« on: February 03, 2010, 06:10:07 AM »

Hi Alex,

If you use a breakout board this enables a parallel LPT cable to be used from your PC. Then connect the breakout board pins to your CNC controller in accordance with the step and direction assignments you have set within Mach.

Tweakie.

7907

General Mach Discussion / Re: losing probe signals with USB game controller?

« on: February 02, 2010, 03:27:21 AM »

I have never had this problem (yet!) - Z axis always stops on probe contact.

I use PCB material for the touch plate and obviously the copper surface has to be kept very clean or else the oxide film becomes an insulator and would cause problems.

Nice machine you have built revwarguy - please post some pics of things you make with it etc we would all be most interested to see them.

Tweakie.

7908

Share Your GCode / Re: Degree Wheel

« on: February 02, 2010, 02:50:01 AM »

Nice one Mike - I can see that a lot of work went into this. Good idea about offsetting the calibration lines and numerals.

Tweakie.

7909

Share Your GCode / Re: Degree Wheel

« on: January 31, 2010, 08:58:01 AM »

That looks sooo much better - good job you have done there.

Does it engrave OK ?.

( It seems that my version of LazyCAM thinks some of the numerals are not joined and makes a mess of producing the GCode - off to download the latest version of LC now  )

Tweakie.

7910

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

« on: January 31, 2010, 02:56:55 AM »

Hmmmm - Think we should perhaps start a poll on this one - What do you think Guys ?.

Tweakie.