Messages

8701

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Newbie project

« on: February 17, 2009, 02:48:56 AM »

From my experience of other programs Mach far exceeds their versatility. If you you purchase Mach you won't regret it.
Good luck with your carvings.

Tweakie.

8702

FAQs / Re: Mach3 will not run?

« on: February 16, 2009, 08:11:15 AM »

Hi Mlinder,

I know it's perhaps not what you want to hear but the easiest solution, I think, would be to use a PC rather than a laptop.

Tweakie.

8703

FAQs / Re: milling a part

« on: February 16, 2009, 08:02:11 AM »

Usually the two holes at either end of the con rod are cnc drilled/milled and these are used to secure it to a sacrifical plate (wood perhaps) then it is profile cut.

Hope this helps.

Tweakie.

8704

FAQs / Re: Can't get any response from parallel port

« on: February 16, 2009, 07:56:56 AM »

A stand alone monitor for the parallel port called 'Parmon' can be downloaded from here :-

http://www.geekhideout.com/parmon.shtml

With this you can see which pins are switched or activated by Mach.

Tweakie.

8705

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Newbie project

« on: February 16, 2009, 07:41:26 AM »

That's looking good - what are you going to make with it ?. Don't forget to post pics of your work.

Tweakie.

8706

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: 3 Axis Stepper and Spindle Control Circuit Diagrams

« on: February 16, 2009, 03:25:31 AM »

Hi Prof,

From what I see your steppers are wired correctly and your power supply is OK as well - nothing to worry about there.

Whilst experimenting I would try this :-

Each of he step and direction pins should be held at +5V through a resistor of say 100K of so and then pulling a step pin low (0V) should produce a step (active low).

Do not connect any of your step/direction pins directly to the 12V supply or the +5V either.

Tweakie.

8707

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Started my Taig enclosure......

« on: February 16, 2009, 02:57:09 AM »

Certainly does look good.

A damn sight better than that old enclosure which I threw out.

Tweakie.

8708

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: 3 Axis Stepper and Spindle Control Circuit Diagrams

« on: February 16, 2009, 02:51:51 AM »

Hi Prof,

Looking at the circuit - the enable pins 4,7,14 I am not certain if these should be left high or if they should be taken to ground.
Also pins 18-25 of the LPT should be ground on your circuit.

Tweakie.

8709

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: 3 Axis Stepper and Spindle Control Circuit Diagrams

« on: February 15, 2009, 09:01:29 AM »

That's normal the steppers should lock when power is applied. Nothing wrong with your IC alternatives (I think). Go into Mach config / ports and pins / motor outputs and check that you have the step and direction pins configured correctly (also is the active high/low set correctly). In the Port Setup and Axis Selection try selecting Sherline 1/2 pulse mode.

You are certainly on your way. Hope this helps.

Tweakie.

8710

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: 3 Axis Stepper and Spindle Control Circuit Diagrams

« on: February 15, 2009, 08:02:31 AM »

Hi again,

I think that both of the boards you are thinking of building will be good. Personally I would prefer the Tom McGuire design as you could use a ready made Break out Board incorporating opto isolators etc for your LPT connection to the computer.

Providing you are only going to use the finished project for pcb drilling then any of the 0.6 to 0.8 Amp stepper motors you have would have enough torque for positioning the spindle as long as you keep the friction on your  X,Y,Z slides low and use a high speed spindle such as a Dremel for the drilling. For pcb routing however, you would probably need more torque and have to upgrade the steppers for 1.5 to 2 Amp models but the driver boards you are looking at will handle this upgrade.

If you go for the Tom McGuire it would be handy if you could find someone local to yourself with a working machine to route the pcb for you as the GCode for the board is available for download.

All the best,

Tweakie.