Topics

51

PoKeys / Is Pokeys affected by CPU speed

« on: April 24, 2009, 05:30:58 PM »

I have setup my Pokeys for Feed control with a potentiometer

It is quick changing feedrate when there is no program running but very very slow when running a program.

It will not change until the program's line has finish to execute.

Any advice?

52

PoKeys / Important function using Pokeys

« on: April 20, 2009, 07:57:45 PM »

I'm in a process of building a pendant using pokeys board.

Will E-STOP will work with pokeys or I should use my bob to do it.

How about FEED HOLD,  STOP and CYCLE START.

Just asking before hooking it up completely

Thanks, Jeff

53

General Mach Discussion / New install of Mach3 and now probe won't work anymore

« on: April 10, 2009, 04:24:03 AM »

Hi

This week I had to re-install Mach3 because to much trouble after installing a plugin for a Shuttle Express.

My probing Macro as well as my tool setter macro were working very well.

Probe work great in X and Y direction

For the probing in the Z direction, detect OK, retract but instead of retracting to the value of the GetVar(2002), which is suppose to be negative, the Z axis want to continue pass the Z home switch because when I

check what is the Var 2002, I get a positive value which is not suppose to be like it, it should be negative since the Z axis have been referenced.

Before re-installing Mach3, I made a copy of all my macro so they are all identical.

Don't know what could be the problem and why I get the positive Variable.

Thanks, Jeff

54

PoKeys / Somebody had sucess with pokeys, pot and feed override

« on: March 27, 2009, 03:21:07 PM »

I'm more interested in the fast feed override and for sure with feed override.

I'm not good at all writing Macro and Brains but would like to get info about that.

I have my pokeys and all the switches and pots necessary for that, all I need is some sort of HOW TO.

Thanks for any advice.

Jeff

55

General Mach Discussion / Axis substitution with Mastercam

« on: January 27, 2009, 01:25:31 AM »

Hi, I'm now ready to build my 4th Axis for my cnc router but have some questions I would like to ask.

First, I'm in the process of learning Mastercam for some time now but never learned the 4/5 axis so far. So I bought a couple of books from Volumes Direct, a dozen actually but specially 2 for multi/Axis.

I bought my indexer, a 6in chuck and a live center + a Kelling 5 amp stepper driver.

I know I can change angular properties inside Mach3 with A, B, and C axis but can also do it with Mastercam X3.

If I want to do indexing with Mastercam, I think I must use a 4th axis vertical milling in order to get axis substitution, but is it better to do it with Mach3 or with Mastercam or do I have to do axis substitution with both software.

I can make my drawing with Solidworks 2008 and use Wrap tool to place the sketch onto the cylinder and can also do it with Mastercam but at the end, this become a little bit confusing.

Should I use Mach3 with 2 axis, X and Z and replace the Y axis as the A axis or use Mach3 as a real 4 axis router, i.e. X, Y, Z and A.


I'm just looking for some more experienced Mach3 user the get some clues in order not to loose too much time, but anyway, I have a lot of that  precious time to spend since I had an accident at my work 3 months ago and

next week I will  have a third surgery to my arm that have been broken at multiple places with an open wound, got my arm grabbed when was machining a big shaft on a conventional lathe , almost lost my arm, somewhat lucky.

So please, everybody be careful when using those machines.

So any help will be greatly appreciated.

Sorry if I made some mistype, English is not my primary language.

Look at the pic to see what happen to those that do not take care of what there're doing.

56

General Mach Discussion / Which post to use with mastercam X3 for cnc router using Mach3

« on: December 10, 2008, 01:02:34 PM »

Just would like to know which post processor i should use in Mastercam X3 or X2.

3 axis router using Mach3

Thanks for any help:     Jeff

57

Video P*r*o*b*i*n*g / High Quality camera

« on: November 02, 2008, 01:57:32 AM »

Hi, could someone point me to a good quality camera for a 3D scanner project. I know webcam can do the Job but I would like to go one step further in quality.

I do not live near big city. If it's possible send me a link for a website or something on Ebay.

Or just let me know what kind of camera I should look for. Does it take a USB camera, resolution, etc. Thanks for any help, will be greatly appreciate

58

PoKeys / Pokeys problem

« on: October 19, 2008, 12:17:50 AM »

Hi.

I have tried to hook up my pokeys board to do some testing with Mach3.

When I program as an example pin 1 for x axis (left arrow or right arrow) and do a send to device, if I click on the menu at the top of mach3 screen, each menu start to open from left to right on a non stop way.

On the window screen, if I double click on a icon, instead of opening the software, it act as I right click and got the property window.

I tried with a NO switch and a NC switch and it does the same thing.

If I try without opening Mach3, it affect the computer and have to press reset or disconnect the pokey board to get control of my computer.

59

General Mach Discussion / Porter Cable Router With Mach3

« on: October 05, 2008, 09:40:06 PM »

Hi, I have a Porter Cable Variable speed router model 890 and would like to know if I can use Mach3 to control the speed of the router. I would probably have to bypass the electronic circuitry inside the router. I have a C3 board to control a DC motor. What I would need to use Mach3 as a speed controller.

If it is not possible, could I remove and replace the potentiometer inside the router and place it in a more suitable place.

Thanks for any advice, Jeff

60

General Mach Discussion / Can I use a Pokey board to increase and decrease RPM and Feed

« on: September 09, 2008, 05:59:25 AM »

Hi, Like the title of my post, would like to use a pokey device to increase and decrease RPM and Feed, 10% each time I push the appropriate button. I could have one button to go up and one to go down with 10% increment.

Thanks