Messages

8701

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: METAL INLAYING

« on: April 08, 2008, 11:51:37 AM »

Hi Rich,

One more question please.

I am assuming that the pattern was cut into the blank with an endmill but how do you then get the copper in ?.

I am asking because this is something I would like to be able to do if only I knew how to do it.

Best regards.

8702

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: METAL INLAYING

« on: April 07, 2008, 06:18:32 AM »

Hi,
Please excuse my ignorance. I assume that the blank is aluminium but what is the red colour material please ?.

8703

General Mach Discussion / Re: Lego CNC

« on: March 29, 2008, 09:44:47 AM »

Brilliant !.

8704

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to: Modify z origin when work in progress.

« on: March 19, 2008, 12:50:21 PM »

This may be of help, but it does involve stopping the machine though.

I have individual 'axis enable' switches fitted to my control box. When making signs that are longer than the table I pause Mach, cut spindle power, disable the Y axis, release the work (vacuum table), manually wind the table to it's new position (leaving the work in the same position relative to the tool). Clamp work, apply spindle power, enable y axis, restart Mach. This sounds more complicated than it actually is to do but as Mach is unaware that any changes have been made it continues with the job just as if my table size was much larger.

In your case, I think, pausing Mach, disabling the z axis, winding it down to the required position, enabling the z axis and restarting Mach would work.

8705

Forum suggestions and report forum problems. / Re: LazyCam G-Code

« on: March 12, 2008, 07:39:20 AM »

Hi,

I have used Lazy Cam 2.00.060 to create the G-Code from your DXF.  Running this code with Mach3 R1.84.000 I have no problems.

I attach the G-Code for you to try.

Good luck,

Tweakie.

8706

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to reduce speed of Kress Router

« on: March 09, 2008, 06:36:46 AM »

Hi

I have thought long and hard about your question and I have concluded that you should not try to reduce the speed of your Kress further than it's present minimum speed and here is why I think so.

AC motors which have brushes can be speed controlled by using a variable duty cycle of the applied voltage. The motor is slowed by applying full voltage for less than 100% of the time with the actual switching taking place at the zero crossing point of the AC waveform to reduce RFI (much the same as the system a microwave oven uses to reduce power output). Various speed control products are available to do this for electric drills etc. and they would work with the Kress.

This system works fine for relatively small variations in speed but there is a down side for large variations. Assuming the cutter consumes the same power at a particular feed rate then a reduction in the RPM will cause the motor to draw an increase in current to provide this same power. This occurs at a time when the airflow through the motor has already been reduced by the reduction in RPM. The result could be overheating of the windings and permanent damage to the Kress.

(Most of my stuff is made in low melting point plastics and I have chosen to use a 3 phase brush less motor running at 3000 RPM.)

Tweakie.

8707

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to test a parallel port.

« on: February 28, 2008, 03:53:58 AM »

Hi,

I came across this a while ago, it may be of use to you. They charge for the full version of the software but a free, limited version is available to download and try from their website.

http://www.tufftest.com/tt01-lite.htm

Good luck,

Tweakie.

8708

FAQs / Re: Laptop requirements with Mach 3

« on: February 25, 2008, 08:09:00 AM »

Hi Marwellca,

I have seen others use laptops without any problem but in my case all sorts of troubles were caused when I tried using a Dell Inspiron laptop. I tried an old PC and it all was cured. So, I think you will have to try it for yourself and see the results (obviously the make of laptop has something to do with it also the type of power supply used for the CNC).

Regards, Tweakie

8709

General Mach Discussion / Re: Slow table speed !

« on: February 25, 2008, 07:50:07 AM »

Hi Nenos,

It sounds to me that you do not have the limit switches configured correctly in the setup.
In my setup it will drive slow coming off a limit switch (after a reset) until the drive is stopped and restarted.

Regards, Tweakie.

8710

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Interfacing to a PCI card

« on: February 22, 2008, 08:17:55 AM »

Not being very clever at this, but I would suggest using the coolant on /off functions (M7,M8,M9) to control the turrets ( via the existing LPT1 port outputs)  and just turn the coolant on / off with the spindle function (M3,M4,M5). Does this make sense ?.

Best regards,

Tweakie.