Messages

171

General Mach Discussion / Re: anyone know where to get an optical edge finder?

« on: August 20, 2007, 09:20:02 AM »

Greg,

It is just a little tricky,  first you open the video window, once it is up and displaying the video, you click on the mach screen,  it can be picky where you click, I usually click on the stop program button, then you are able to jog.

To shutdown the video window, first click on the stop video stream then close the video window.

Hey, how about some pictures of your camera setup?

Arnie

172

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z axis design and Mach3 control

« on: August 09, 2007, 09:46:47 AM »

I replied on the other posting you did,  use 2.5D  then output #6 is the up/down for your Z axis. 

Can't help on the tangiental question.

Arnie

173

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Can the "Import DXF's" feature be modified in Mach3?

« on: August 08, 2007, 05:34:39 PM »

Yes I believe it will do what you are looking for.

It can be located under general configuration,  you check the box marked z 2.5D on output #6, then you setup output #6 under ports and pins for the correct location on your parallel port interface.  Use this output to turn on and off the laser or as another person asked just below this post a solenoid.   When Z goes - it toggles off or on depending on how you setup the port, and toggles again when z goes +.

Arnie

174

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Can the "Import DXF's" feature be modified in Mach3?

« on: August 08, 2007, 05:13:21 PM »

Maybe you could use the 2.5D feature and control your laser with the z axis output.  Any time  your gcode calls for a neg z the output would go on, when gcode calls for + Z the output goes off. 
I used this for my router with a air cylinder on the Z, controlled by a solenoid.  Then you don't have to modify any gcode.

Arnie

175

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Digital control of the Zaxis

« on: August 08, 2007, 01:05:58 PM »

Jason,

I may have a partial answer for you.  I used Mach on a router that had a digital Z axis,  it was a pneumatic piston controlled by a solenoid valve.  To set the Z depth it was done manually and all the cutting was done at the same depth.
To do this in the Mach configuration you set it up for a 2.5D vs 3D.  In practice anytime the program calls for a -Z then the Z solenoid output actuates, then when the gcode calls for a +Z the solenoid changes state and it retracts.

Arnie

176

General Mach Discussion / Re: Emco 120P

« on: July 25, 2007, 01:41:22 PM »

Check out Digital Machinist, a publication by Home Shop Machinist & Machinist Workshop.  They had an article on converting an EMCO machine and it may apply to yours also.  It was just a matter of clipping a latching type IC off the board and installing some jumpers, no extra drivers to buy.  I just read it yesterday.

177

Tangent Corner / Re: Is renewable energy a viable alrernative to Nuclear and Coal ?

« on: July 25, 2007, 01:21:19 PM »

Probably not today, anyway not at the same price.

178

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach for turning

« on: July 21, 2007, 09:44:31 AM »

Dennis,

I am just using the wizards, they seem to work well for the simple stuff I do. 
I made a couple of other ones to suppliment them, one to do an o-ring groove on an ID, some to turn a taper up to a flat face, a modified OD groove (that doesn't pull all the way out between pecks), one to do a o-ring groove on a faced end, and a partially done elipse (I struggled a lot with that one).

Arnie

179

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach for turning

« on: July 20, 2007, 12:52:00 PM »

Dennis,

I use turn a lot and might be able to help.  What are you doing?  Are you running a wizard?  Which one?

Arnie

180

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / more progress pics

« on: July 02, 2007, 03:44:45 PM »

I got a little more done this weekend, 

Welded cross supports - this stiffened up the table real well.
Welded table top supports
Installed rails
Finished machining bearing castings
Mounted bearings & gantry risers

I am trying to keep the weight down on the gantry components by using mostly aluminum.

Arnie