Messages

121

General Mach Discussion / Re: problem with Z axis

« on: October 12, 2015, 10:57:08 AM »

Alot of times changing the DIR LowActive setting can have an impact on stepper drives.  The best way I have found is going into the CONFIG>HOMING/LIMITS and changing the the setting in the reversed column for the axis that is going the wrong direction.  This screen is also where you reverse the direction of the homing "HOME NEG' column if you have home switches setup and it is homing in the wrong direction.

I think that your problem may be in your gcode.  it sounds to me like the Z up move is a clearance move.  The z down move is a cut move.  below the Z zero point.  If you are running G code, can you copy and paste a section of it that has the Z moves? 

122

General Mach Discussion / Re: Changing Axis Orientation

« on: October 12, 2015, 10:43:13 AM »

Russh.

If I understand you correctly.  You are homing the machine off of switches correct?  Are you zeroing the work coordinates at the home position?
From the home position, the machine coordinates will always be a negative number with the switch being a zero point.   any movement PAST the switch would be a positive number, but that cannot happen.
Machine coordinates and work coordinates should not be confused with each other.  Machine coords is nothing more then the distance from the home switch so it can keep track of where it is within the working envelope.
Work coordinates is where you set the part to be cut. The work zeros can have a positive and negative numbers depending how your gcode and zero points are setup.   Hope this helps.

123

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problem with tool changes and errors in z heights

« on: October 12, 2015, 10:34:45 AM »

As ger21 said, the ref home is resetting your values.

Touch off the paper, zero the Z axis work coordinates.  jog up and out of the way if need be and start your code. 

124

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 Parallel Port Home Switch

« on: October 12, 2015, 10:30:56 AM »

it sounds as if you have a macro issue.
I use a company modified version of mach 3 that has all the homing and tool probing macros installed.  I do know that if I change my xml profile name to something else.  Not all the macros get copied into the new profile macros directory.

I have to go into C:/mach3/macros  Look for the default folder mach3_4axis  and copy all of the macros from that folder into the new profile folder in the macros directory.  Then all the functions work with the new profile name. 

it looks like your home switches are setup correctly in the inputs as long as when you trigger the switch, the home LED lights up instead of going black.  I have set them up on different inputs on the g540 before, and I have also had them all daisy chained on one pin number.  Will work either way.

125

General Mach Discussion / Re: machine not cutting as simulation.

« on: October 12, 2015, 10:08:02 AM »

Ronnie,  
its moving half the distance because Mach3 is not configured to your machine correctly.   It has nothing to do with any type of cam/post processor issue.  It is all in mach3.

Go to CONFIG>MOTOR TUNING.  You will be in the X axis motor movement profile. The bottom left corner is the "STEPS PER" box.  This is where you "TELL" mach 3 how many steps it needs to make to move one UNIT.  Be it inches or MM`s.  So if you tell your machine to move 1 inch, and it moves less then one inch, then your STEPS PER is to small.  If it moves more then the steps per is to big.

So right now if your machine is moving half of what it should, double the steps per.  YOU MUST CLICK THE "SAVE AXIS SETTINGS" BUTTON ON EACH AXIS BEFORE MOVING TO THE NEXT ONE.
Here are the steps.  It can be a little tricky if you do not rezero the work coordinates after a motor tuning change.

Get a ruler, place it on the table along the X axis. lower your spindle/tool over an inch mark on the ruler.  Zero the work coordinates for X
Use the MDI line and type G0 x1 and press enter.  See how far it has moved.  You want it to go to the next inch mark
In the MDI line again type x0 and press enter.  This takes you back to the starting point.

Config> Motor tuning> x axis  Adjust the steps per higher or lower by guestimation on have for the x axis moved.
Click the SAVE AXIS SETTINGS BUTTON  
Click Ok to get back to the main mach screen.
STOP!!!!!!!!
LOOK AT THE X AXIS WORK CORDINATES!!!!!!!!  They are no longer set to zero.  The change of the steps per caused them to change.

Zero the work coordinates for the X axis and replete the MDI moves.

Dial it in.  If you forget to rezero the X axis after a change.  Telling it to move to X 1 will give you a funky rotation that could throw you into a mind loop.  

I know it sounds like a crap ton of complicated stuff, but it really is not.

126

General Mach Discussion / Re: machine not cutting as simulation.

« on: October 10, 2015, 09:00:17 AM »

Ronnie, in artcam the model master post processors work well with mach3.  cannot remember if there is an inch one or not.
Have you checked to see if your machine is moving the correct distances?

Lay a ruler on the table.  Zero the X or Y axis over an inch mark.  Work cordinates to Zero. Use the MDI line. G0 x 1   press enter, did the X axis move from one inch line to the next?  i will bet money that it only moved under half the distance.

127

General Mach Discussion / Re: machine not cutting as simulation.

« on: October 09, 2015, 12:25:41 PM »

Ronnie,
First off, you need to check the native units in mach to see that you are in inches.
If so, you need to make sure that you when you tell the machine to move one inch that the machine actually moves that distance.  Chances are your machine configuration is set wrong.  meaning your motor tuning needs to be configured to your machines hardware configuration. If your machine moves the correct distances, then you need to check which post processor you are using in artcam. 

128

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: mach3 3D printer

« on: September 14, 2015, 09:22:16 AM »

that is the idea, but it needs a base and hole for the shifter. 
My dad restored a VW camper bus that is red and white.  He is in the middle of doing a bug that will be blue.  So looks like I get to add onto the design.  Which I did not do, its a thingiverse model.  Was just fun to print.

129

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: mach3 3D printer

« on: September 14, 2015, 08:59:36 AM »

printed all night.

I love the texture and frosted look.

130

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: mach3 3D printer

« on: September 13, 2015, 05:29:42 PM »

mine is one of those Chinese 30x40 routers.  I call it the noodle router because of all the flex, but you know, new motors, and electronics, its a fun little toy.  I have some supported rails and bearings to stiffen up the Y, just gotta take the time to modify the machine and install them.