Topics

41

General Mach Discussion / How to connect buttons in Mach

« on: March 06, 2011, 11:10:07 AM »

I see these neat control  panels created by Hood and others, and was wondering about the buttons.

When you connect a button to  control for  "feed hold" or something, does it connect to the pin (example pin #18) & to the ground or where does it go?

The layouts and assignment to the pins look straightforward, but the wiring is cloudy to me.

Which way to assign the pin is a little confusing. There is Keygrabber, hotkeys, VB script <( is this really using a brain?) & then you have the PoKeys & Modbus.

A little help on the wiring part, and there is  a lot of info on ways to assign the control number to the button.

I really like the way Hood has his controls . Those track ball keyboards are too cool. Plus he has just the basic buttons that you need.

Hope this isn't too complicated, or stupid.


Thanks in advance,

JAckal

42

General Mach Discussion / Need recommendation for geckos & BoB

« on: November 18, 2010, 02:02:46 PM »

I have a Hurco Knee mill KM3p. After looking at every system imaginable, the Mach3 & Geckos keep coming up. Now it's time to buy!!!!

My old servos are 90vdc and 12 amp continuous- 20 amp peak.

Which Geckos do I need for this? The 320, 320x ,or 340 ? I don't know enough about the different options to select one.They are on sale right now.

Also, The Break out Board. Which one???

CNC4PC, Bob Campbell, or Homann designs? Also which model? I've  read where ones  that have opto-isolaters won't work with certain Geckos, etc.

 I'll go with US encoders. Is there a preference for those? Do I need  differential type encoders or not?


I've checked with different companies they change  their products without changing manuals. You have to wait for a revision, or they don't reply for a week or 2 and you wonder how long they will be in business.

Geckos have been around a while, and people other than the factory can figure out the problems.

Same with Mach3, guys like Hood (among others) can set that up in their sleep.

Thanks in advance,

JAckal

43

General Mach Discussion / What speed computer are you running with Mach?

« on: July 22, 2010, 10:03:47 AM »

What speed computer processors are you running with Mach? Do you Have Cad or any other technical programs running on it, too?

Also, how much memory and any special video cards?

I want to run my Cad on a separate computer and keep the Mach one stripped down and just a controller, but it would be nice to know what everyone else is doing.

Thanks ,

JAckal

44

General Mach Discussion / Anyone using the Ajax control system

« on: July 13, 2010, 09:00:19 PM »

I've been looking at the Ajax control system for $1199. http://www.ajaxcnc.com/mach_cnc_systems.htm Is anyone here using this or have any comments? I have a Hurco KM3P that I am wanting to retrofit.  It would probably take a long time to piece together something with components from different suppliers, so my thought is to get it all from one place. It might make troubleshooting easier.

Let me know the good or bad of this system.  I know that this is a Mach board, but let me know if the CNC11 Centroid would be a better choice.

Thanks,
Jackal

45

General Mach Discussion / Hurco mill want to run vipers with Mach 3

« on: June 26, 2010, 08:40:25 PM »

I've got a Hurco mill that has servo motors on it and I want to run Viper drives and Mach 3. The hurco replacement parts would pay for a retrofit in no time.

How hard is it to tune the Viper drives?

Any advice appreciated.

JAckal

46

General Mach Discussion / New here, Wanting advice on cnc Wells Index

« on: July 09, 2008, 12:17:10 PM »

Hello,

I joined here a few years ago, asked a few questions, but never got the cnc thing going.  My last discussions were with "Hood", he is a great guy with a wealth of knowledge.

What I am wanting is advice on this mill before any purchase is made. From what Rick at Wells-Index told me:  It is  Wells-Index 810 CNC, Sharona conroller, 1981 model. The servos are Electro Craft. It is in good mechanical condition. I was told when they hooked it up to 440v it blew a few things out and smoked. The machine is for 220v only.

The owner of our shop said he would sell it to me and  thinks it is junk.  There is a 4th axis rotary table that comes with it. Although the ballscrews & mechanicals are good, the servos may be doubtful. Since this is my first CNC, I am wondering about going to stepper motors, Gecko Drives, and using Mach 3 on a PC. The servo thing sounds too complicated. After spending the time to convert this machine, I want to make parts, not fine tune or trouble shoot it forever.  Accepting my ability it seems that stepper is the way to go.

1)  What size steppers should I use, oz/in that is ?

2) what power supply?

3) Which breakout board, Campbell, cnc4pc, Gecko, etc & why?

4) Should I keep the belt drive on the ball screws?

I want to be able to mill steel, hog aluminum, and drill bolt patterns, cut keyways, and ridgid tap. 

It would be nice to have something that is straight forward and has a clear wiring diagram for connecting the electronics.

This should also have an Emergency stop, as well as the  " safety charge pump".

Let me know your opinions or if I should save the servos. This mill will never be fast but it would be nice for it to cut as good or better than it did when it was new. Slow heavy cuts are ok.


Thanks in advance,

JAckal

47

Mach Screens / Can't get main screens to appear in Mach3 Mill ??????

« on: July 15, 2006, 09:32:34 AM »

Hello,
I downloaded a sample of  MAch3 and The wizards work ok.  But, when I save the g-code and go back to one of the main screens it is blank, with a line separating it . It sort of looks like a help section for  a windows  index. None of the operating screens will show at all and there is no selection buttons/tabs for the screens.  I think that while  messing with some of the settings it was changed.

After this first happened , I un-installed Mach 3 and re-installed it twice but it is still this way. The Lathe side works ok, it is just the MIll side. 

Thanks ,
Jackal