Topics

11

General Mach Discussion / nedd program help

« on: November 09, 2009, 01:10:17 PM »

guys,

i need help finding out whats going on with my program...I designed the part in bobcadcam V21.  I then uesd the mach1 postprocessor from the mach site to write the program.  After i start the program it goes to line 2861 and says something about the radius differing.  the txt code is attached

12

General Mach Discussion / touch plate question

« on: November 04, 2009, 03:36:59 PM »

Can someone explain to me the tool height and touch probe thing.  I am currently using a Littlemachine shop manual edge finder for x and y.  For Z i am using zigzag paper.  once they all are zeroed i zero my DRO.  am i doing it wrong?  will this touch probe thing make it easier to do the same thing.  I was talking to another guy and he said to use an electronic edge finder without the battery.  With out the battery the tip is isolated and can be used as a probe i guess. I guess i do not really understand the point or the operation enough to event field the questions i want answered.

13

General Mach Discussion / Mill running

« on: October 26, 2009, 09:41:36 AM »

Guys got my newest cnc mill running under computer control.  I ran the roadrunnersmall.tap program and mudflapgirl.tap programs with a pencil on a collet.  All worked well and now I am understanding mach again.  Next question is how to set acceleration again.  Well how do I tune my motors to mach3?  Will post videos after I get the tuning done...  

I am trying to follow section 5  in the Mach 3 install and config pdf

14

General Mach Discussion / general questions

« on: October 22, 2009, 10:44:10 AM »

For an active high home switch setting you would need a normally closed switch correct?  I am using the switches from probotix right now until I can get my boxes done for the optical photo-interrupters. 

While in the table display mode in mach3 the display view point is from the Zaxis looking down and out towards the y axis motor or handle correct? 

please be kind as I am trying to relearn a lot of stuff. 

15

General Mach Discussion / testing programs (updated 10/22 with more Q's)

« on: October 21, 2009, 03:26:14 PM »

going to sound real stupid but I need a few test programs to test my X2 Minimill and Probotix sidestepper kit running mach3.  I just have the axis done, no limitswitches or home switches mounted yet.  I have them just not mounted them.  I need some thing to start tuning the minimill.  Any help out there?  I was thinking of a spiral program to run with a sharpie and a rectangular spiral.  Then I could just tape a sheet of paper to the table and test the 2 axis.  

I downloaded the roadrunner program but it keeps crashing into the end of the table travels.  I figure that can not be good for the motors or the mill.  

16

General Mach Discussion / softlimit problems

« on: July 20, 2009, 10:51:56 AM »

I am trying to set soft limits without a home switch.  I made some soft limits in the home / limits menu.  I tried to activate the soft limits and the communications bar read "machine out of limits for softlimits activation".  I need a step by step on how to set up some soft limits and homes to run a few programs for my z axis parts and my optical switches for homing and limits. 

I have an x2 running the probotix red motor 3 axis setup and my table travel is 9" x axis, and 4" y axis.

17

General Mach Discussion / surfacing wizard

« on: April 11, 2008, 11:23:52 AM »

I am looking at using the wizards for the first time.  Is there any glossary in the help files to tell me what some of the fields are?  I am using the one created by kiran.  What does it want for tool offset for x and y? 

By the way i am using a 2.5" flycutter with coolant on an x2 minimill.  I want to surface a a block 8Wx5Lx2D. 
Is the new fangled wizards worth the $$$$? 

18

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / mach3mill error

« on: October 04, 2007, 03:22:52 PM »

i started creating a g code from a bobcadv21 file i had.  I loaded it in mach3 v2.48.  when i load and start the program i get an error in the status line that reads "R less than Z in cycle in xy plane".  Any idea why?  Attached is a segment of the code.

19

General Mach Discussion / mach troubles

« on: July 27, 2006, 09:13:13 AM »

After a long bad day yesterday got worse.  I was using turbocad v11 to render a part for dxf to g-code conversion in mach 2 mill.  I had been up working since 7:00 am the morning before.  All the sudden the mach software wouldn't go past to first line of code.  I looked at the code and all seemed well so i figured a restart would be in order so i restarted the mach2 mill software and the turbocad.  When i brought mach2 mill up again it just showed a grey screen and down in the left corner said ready.  I could still access all bars at the top but there was no screen.  I opened mach2 lathe and different wizards in the mill program and all worked well.  So i uninstallled and reinstalled the whole package and called it good for the night.  I access it this morning to see if it fixed the problem but didn't.  I am still no able to go past the first line of code, however the program screen is coming up again with the editor and dro.  To check that it was not the g-code i pulled up a program that was small and verified to run and the same thing happens.  It stops on the first line of code.  What to do about this?