Messages

1721

FAQs / Re: I am sure this has been asked but i need a bit of guidance please

« on: February 04, 2013, 10:36:36 AM »

Hey, the machine looks great!  I have attached several links.  These simply cover the meat and potatoes of what your looking for I think.  Not a lot of extra in them and will get you sorted in no time.  I listed them in order of how I would attack it.  The first explains the math needed to figure steps per unit.  Second is a spread sheet to help.  The third explains backlash and how to test it.  The 4th covers the right hand rule.  Fifth should help with the probe but I'm going to edit it a bit right now.  Please don't reply in those threads.  If you have any more questions reply here.  We try to keep those clean so others can find just the relevant info.

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,12512.0.html#new

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,16315.msg110286.html#msg110286

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,12513.0.html#new

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,10308.msg63702.html#msg63702

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,10088.msg62024.html#msg62024

Thanks,
Brett

1722

General Mach Discussion / Re: problem settings -need help

« on: February 04, 2013, 10:18:47 AM »

I think your slow jog may be due to the machine not being refrenced.  Once you do a sucessful home, I think that will go away and you will be able to rapid.  That may be why you can only jog one axis at the time as well.  You can test this by disabeling your home switches in config, ports and pins, inputs and refrencing the machine.  That will make the machines current position machine 0.0000.  Just rememeber, when testing, slow things down and be ready to stop it should it not act as you expect.   

I'm not sure about the simulate button on the diag. screen (mine doesnt have it) but you can emulate the limit switches by setting them to do so and assigning a hot key in config, ports and pins, inputs.

Brett

1723

General Mach Discussion / Re: problem settings -need help

« on: February 04, 2013, 07:05:11 AM »

Are you sure your screws are 5mm per rev. or are they .200 inch per rev?  Is this documented somewhere or a measurement you took?  The math on your steps per is right so far if they are 5mm per rev.  Are the steppers driving the screws at a 1-1 ratio?  If there is any gearing that will have to be taken into account.  

Not sure what you will want to set the microstepping to.  This will have bearing on your next question as well.  I would try to set my microstepping so that I could achieve the max resolution I want.  You find this by dividing the steps per by that resolution.  10,000/640=15.625.  This is why you see 0.0104 with one pulse and then 0.0091 later.  You can't hit your resolution evenly so the best your machine can do is get as close as possible by adding or subtracting a step.  It would be best if your desired resolution is .00 if you could get your steps to 100 or something that can be divided evenly by 100.

I'm guessing the 72 units a minute is what Mach's default slow jog speed is set to.  Holding down the shift key and then jog will do a rapid jog which would be what you have your motor tuned to.

Mach should home one axis at the time.  You can put all limits and homes to one input from Mach or each to an individual one just make sure you have them wired correctly which ever way you choose.  Pin assignment just depends on where you wire them to.  You can put them on the second port of the SS if you want to.

This may help as well.  http://www.machsupport.com/docs/Mach3Mill_Install_Config.pdf

Brett

 

1724

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need graphics help

« on: February 03, 2013, 05:05:49 PM »

I would have a look at one of the packages from Vectric.

http://www.vectric.com/products/vcarve-pro.htm

http://www.vectric.com/

Brett

1725

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z Height Setting Woes

« on: February 01, 2013, 06:59:45 AM »

I understand, the intermitten problems are the true pains.  They most often are due to electrical noise but I can imagine timing causing some in certain situations.  I don't know what it could be other than the things I have listed already, but others may know.  We have lots of sharp people hanging around here.  You may want to slow it down to a creep to keep from damageing tools until you can narrow it down.

Brett

1726

Share Your GCode / Re: Free T-REX basrelief model

« on: February 01, 2013, 06:47:54 AM »

Thanks for sharing, it looks great.  I could have used it to machine out a life size model in Styrofoam before this past Dec. 21st and had a load of fun! Between that and the hail cannon we could have been more famous than Starsky and Hutch!  From about 10 miles away it sounds like Dinosaurs walking. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgJMSlNMijM

Brett

1727

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z Height Setting Woes

« on: February 01, 2013, 06:37:20 AM »

I have never seen this but I always touch the plate to the tool before starting the routine and watch the response of the led.  Have you tried attaching a ground wire to the tool with a clip?  Tell us more about how it is all set up.  I could also see a high debounce setting or circuit going back to Mach causing some delays.  Also, the slower the z is moving while touching off the better the repeatability will be.

Brett

1728

General Mach Discussion / Re: All stepper motors run on their own when spindle is turned on

« on: January 31, 2013, 10:15:14 AM »

Hey ribbo58, welcome to the forum!

If the dros in Mach are not changing then Mach is not telling it to move.  It sounds like your picking up noise.  Here are a couple of links that explain electrical noise and how best to protect signals and components from the negative effects it can have.  Shielding your step and direction cables if their not already would probably be a good start I'm guessing, but that is only a guess.  

http://www.mccdaq.com/PDFs/specs/Noise-Reduction.pdf
http://machinedesign.com/article/top-tips-on-squelching-electrical-noise-0619

Not being able to tune to the max speed should not matter.  This is because of your steps per unit/Kernel speed relationship.  What is your Kernel speed set to in Config, ports and pins, Port setup?  You may be able to raise the kernel speed and reach your max speed but I would not suggest that right now.  I'd try to get it operating rock solid first.  A kernel speed setting that is higher than the PC can produce reliably can cause you to pull out hairs too  .  No sense fighting 2 wars at once.

Brett  

1729

General Mach Discussion / Re: limit switches triggered after sitting idle for a few minutes

« on: January 30, 2013, 04:19:35 PM »

Jonny, I meant to also tell you that many things can effect noise including temperature, humidity, etc.  Even light bulbs.  It can be a pain to get sorted but usually proper switches and shielded wires with proper grounding are the first line of defense.  Also, here is a link that may help you.

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,21908.msg152243.html#msg152243

Brett

1730

General Mach Discussion / Re: limit switches triggered after sitting idle for a few minutes

« on: January 30, 2013, 04:10:08 PM »

5000 is high.  If it had to be that high before to prevent the false triggers, I would try to eliminate that.  I'm not saying you don't have something else going on like a flaky switch or something, but will be hard to find if dealing with noise issues as well.  How are your limits wired to Mach?  Are they all on a single input or does each have their own?

Brett