Topics

21

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / CNC project, Laser, Mill and Lathe

« on: October 22, 2019, 11:09:12 AM »

Used CNC Mill and Mach3 to cut out and drill the Hone body and mill the anvil and stone holder.  Used Mach4 lathe to knurl, drill and tap the hone anvil, stone holder and tension knobs. My little laser isn't running mach but was useful in creating the artwork for the cover and scoring and cutting the box inserts.  CNC...ideate....create.

RT

22

General Mach Discussion / Lathe arcs G2 G3

« on: May 08, 2019, 11:18:48 AM »

Need a little help understanding G2/G3 on a lathe.

What I would like to do is create a series of ribs along some .75" stock.
.125 in length(Z) and .010 in height(X).

Suggestions as to how to calculate the radius or center of the arc?

TIA

RT

23

Mach4 General Discussion / Loop Counter

« on: April 29, 2019, 01:43:32 PM »

When you run a subprogram (i.e. m98 p1234 L10) is there a register or other accessible variable that can be accessed to display the current loop number, the number of loops left and number of loops requested?

TIA

RT

24

Mach4 General Discussion / Turn Cycles - Taper

« on: March 13, 2019, 04:04:23 PM »

Trying to turn a morse 2 taper using the turn Cycles Taper Cycle.  I thought I could just enter .375 for Xi, .5 for Xf and  1.4307 for the angle and it would determine the z Distance.  I an't find any combination of buttons, purple square looks right but I get the "IDOD dimensions for X don't match" message.

Anyone know how this is supposed to be done using taper cycles?

Can't find any documentation.

TIA

RT

25

Mach4 General Discussion / pmdx411 cannot communicate with device

« on: February 28, 2019, 07:15:17 PM »

Using pmdx411 - g540 and Mach4 lathe

Switched out my lathe spindle controller for a MC-60.

After about 10 seconds of run time at any speed the spindle stops.  G540 is still green and no disabling of Mach.  When I do hit the disable button, PMDX throws a 'Cannot communicate with device' message.  I have checked all three wires for continuity and connection status.  MC60 shows it is providing 11.32volts at the g540 vfd+ and vfd Ground connections.

I have it set up with manual switches to go from Mach controlled and manual potentiometer controlled and the MC60 runs the spindle smoothly for any speed and duration using the potentiometer. 

Any suggestions as to how I should proceed do to track this problem down?

TIA

RT

26

General Mach Discussion / Spindle control - db25

« on: February 27, 2019, 03:58:36 PM »

Have been cleaning up my wiring that has accumulated over the years (limit switches, spindle tach, probe) by adding a db25 connector to my power/control box.  Really eliminates a lot of cords/cables.

I have plenty of pins left but was wondering whether it is okay/normal to use those for the VFD 10v+, Output and Ground on a Gecko g540?  Don't know anything about electrical limits.  Any help appreciated.

TIA

RT

27

Mach4 General Discussion / g83.1 question

« on: October 27, 2018, 07:47:34 PM »

downloaded build 3804 and used my lathe screen set and then the default lathe screen set.

Wanted to make sure that a peck drilling cycle was going to work the way I wanted so I copied the code from the lathe manual and ran it in the simulator. 

G0 G54 G19 G40 G80
t0202
G97 S2500 M3
G0 Z0
g0x0
G83.1 G99.1  x0.0 Z-1.5 R.2 Q0.125 F2
G80
M30

Attached is a picture of the result.  It always goes to x 0.400 at the end and doesn't run as described in the manual.  What am I  missing.  Does this run the same in other builds?

TIA

RT

28

Mach4 General Discussion / Setting Tool Table Values

« on: October 23, 2018, 12:13:39 PM »

I am trying to programatically set tool table values.  The following macro runs and returns a rc=0 and the pVal is what is passed but the tool table values do not change.  Anyone have an idea as to what I am doing wrong?

Code: [Select]

function m6001(hParam)
if (hParam ~= nil) then
--mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, 'handle == ' .. tostring(hParam));
local inst = mc.mcGetInstance();
local pVal = mc.mcCntlGetLocalVar(inst, hParam, mc.SV_P)
local pFlag = mc.mcCntlGetLocalVarFlag(inst, hParam, mc.SV_P)
if(pFlag == 1) then
rc=mc.mcToolSetDataExDbl(inst,61,'ZOffset',tonumber(pVal))
wx.wxMessageBox(tostring(rc)..' - '..tostring(pVal))
else
mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, 'ERROR: P Falue required with M6001');
mc.mcCntlEStop(inst);
end
else
mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, 'ERROR: handle == nil');
end
end

if (mc.mcInEditor() == 1) then
    m6001()
end
TIA

RT

29

Mach4 General Discussion / Program Extents

« on: October 02, 2018, 10:43:36 AM »

Has anyone else noticed that the program extents don't work for Mach4 Lathe?  Or is it just my install?

I used to check those all of the time when I used Mach3 on my mill, wished I had on my lathe a few times lately



TIA

RT

30

Mach4 General Discussion / Rotary machining on a lathe feed rates

« on: September 18, 2018, 04:11:16 PM »

I have converted my lathe so that the spindle can be run as a 'C' axis rotary.  It works well when I cut threads but I have to use fedd rates of 12000 to get the z and C drive to turn at the appropriate speed.  I'm okay with that.

Vectric's Aspire has added rotary capabilities and I would like to use that.  I have modified their post processor to convert the A axis to C , the z axis to x, the x axis to z and doubled the x(z) values to compensate for diameter mode over radius.  So far so good.  

If I cut a circle on the stock surface there is coordinated movement and all works well.  Hypothetically 3d machining at an angle should work but there is a separate case that wont.  If I cut a square on the stock surface, one of the two axis is going to move drastically faster or slower than the other since there is no coordinated movement and the tool path has only on feed rate.  

I thought I would ask all of you seasoned CNC'ers  what alternatives I have/should consider.  I haven't asked Vectric yet if I can modify the post processor for one axis only movement feed rates.

Changing feed per revolution didn't solve the problem.  But that might be that I don't fully understand it.

TIA

RT