Messages

7991

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Routed Teak Tiger.

« on: January 13, 2010, 04:44:38 AM »

Incidentally, the toolpath for this tiger was created from an .stl file using 'DeskProto'.
The company is offering a 30 day trial version for download from their site here:- http://www.deskproto.com/
For those who have not seen it - the program is pretty basic (which makes it easy to learn) but incorporates most of the features found in the big boys programs including 4th axis capability.
Not sure if I will purchase it yet though - think I may run a few more 3D files before the 30 days are up.

Tweakie.

7992

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: wiring guide fun

« on: January 13, 2010, 04:29:34 AM »

Soldering is not good . should use crimp ferrels.

Sorry Ed but don't agree with this one in general, however the lead free stuff is rubbish (which is perhaps why the 60/40 tin/lead is still used for military equipment in the UK) and crimps would be better if you can't use 60/40.

Nice diagram Barry (I have pasted a small copy of my diagram on the inside of my control box door for reference).

Tweakie.

7993

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Routed Teak Tiger.

« on: January 13, 2010, 03:44:12 AM »

 

Tweakie.

7994

Tangent Corner / Re: Mystery object ?.

« on: January 13, 2010, 03:42:48 AM »

Hi Ed,

Consensus of opinion (but is hasn't been confirmed) is that it is a fuseable link.

I still have not found out who is leaving them in my workshop because nobody will admit to it. (wonder if i could sell them on ebay) 

Tweakie.

7995

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Routed Teak Tiger.

« on: January 12, 2010, 12:05:04 PM »

Found the .stl for this tiger on the Zone and decided to cut it in teak. It is approx 70mm x 70mm x 30mm and cut with a 2.5mm ballnose in 3 passes - took approx 3 hours total, including the emergency saw to the stock to clear the chuck on the final pass. 

Tweakie.

7996

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle no longer crashes Mach3, but doens't stay on...

« on: January 11, 2010, 12:29:19 PM »

Hi Barry,

Sorry to be bit of a killjoy on this but although your limit switches are the manifestation of the problem they are not the root cause or source of the problem which, in my opinion, is definitely noise related and your limit switch wiring is just the antenna. Increasing the debounce setting may well mask the noise but, as Hood has said, you must consider that this is the time interval taken by Mach to recognize any limit switch being triggered and if the limit switch is mounted too close to the machine’s mechanical stop it will not perform it’s intended function.
I have recently fitted a VFD and can vouch for their noise potential but if it is correctly fitted there should be no problem. Although it is a vast subject here are a couple of easy things you could try before getting in too deep.
1. Check you have a proper and good ground connection coming into your machine.
2. Check that the VFD is grounded in accordance with the makers installation instructions.
3. Check that you have no ground loops on the machine (screened cables grounded at both ends etc.). A single point ground (with all shields and ground connections terminated at this one point) would be an ideal situation.
4. VFD driven motors can build up a charge on their rotor shafts (caused by stray flux) which will discharge to ground through the bearings and in so doing cause electrical noise. This can be tested for by temporally connecting the spindle shaft to ground with a carbon brush or similar. (large motors often have more than one brush in contact with the shaft to achieve this and prevent the bearings from pitting).
5. Your computer ground and your machine ground should not form a loop. (again only connected at one end, which is usually at the incoming mains supply). This may be particularly difficult to test for due to the many signal connections and their ground returns.

Waffled on a bit but I hope this helps.

Tweakie.

7997

Tangent Corner / Re: Man Gifts.

« on: January 11, 2010, 08:23:04 AM »

 

Tweakie.

7998

General Mach Discussion / Re: A Very, Very Cheap and Simple Tool Length Setter

« on: January 11, 2010, 03:56:12 AM »

Just a thought Ray - If you could get your PCB disc gold plated it would solve the tarnishing problem and having to clean the surface to prevent the insulating oxidization build up. A further improvement perhaps ?.

Tweakie.

7999

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Final Build

« on: January 11, 2010, 03:13:49 AM »

Hi Barry,

Good thought about the Energy Chain - I chose the exact size and of course, now need to get more stuff in.
There seems to be a law relating to energy chain which says that 'you can always add one more cable but never two'.

You have certainly built a wonderful looking machine there Barry and it is definitely a machine to be proud of.

Tweakie.

8000

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Home built CNC used for teaching, robotics and other

« on: January 10, 2010, 03:57:43 AM »

Nice work Jeremy.
Please post more pictures of your projects.

Tweakie.