Messages

1891

General Mach Discussion / Re: question on weight

« on: September 12, 2013, 06:30:30 AM »

Attach the motor curve you are using.

RICH

1892

General Mach Discussion / Re: one pop then another, no Gecko light

« on: September 12, 2013, 06:08:49 AM »

Jim,
What is the amp setting on the drive for the X axis?
Is the X motor the same as the other two?
Can you better describe other than "grumbling?

RICH

1893

General Mach Discussion / Re: one pop then another, no Gecko light

« on: September 11, 2013, 01:03:51 PM »

Ray,
Thanks for the clarifications. I'll try better wording next time. 
RICH

1894

General Mach Discussion / Re: one pop then another, no Gecko light

« on: September 11, 2013, 06:37:31 AM »

Jim,

So, would a tight machine stalling a motor cause this fuse to pop?

The G201's are limited to 7 amps, the drive amp setting is determnined by the size of the resistor on  the drive connections.
I use a switch array which allows selection of different drive resistor values such that different stepper motors can be used. 

I use quick blow fuses to limit the amperage available to the drive and they are not above the rating of the drive.

Let me also add that you should have a cap on each the the axis  connections for the G201's. The newer drives have the cap built in.
So read your drive instructions.

The info on Gecko site is a simple test for testing the drive and if it dosen't pass the test then the drive is blown and not repairable.

In general, when a motor is stalled the current goes to infinity and would burn it up as all the energy is going to heat.
So when a stepper stalls max available current is  delivered, in your case 10 amps +- ........... depends on the fuse on when it will actual blow.

You provide a desired voltage and protect / limit the available current to the drive  to protect motor. READ THE MANUAL!

Blow a drive and you are forgiven. Blow another drive and you deserve to pay the price!

RICH

 

 

1895

General Mach Discussion / Re: question on weight

« on: September 11, 2013, 05:54:53 AM »

Most of the major motor / rail / screw suppliers provide sizing software on their web sites to do the calculations for you based on supplied information of your sysytem. Do a search and try some of them as they all do the same but the input interfaces are different. The result
can be used as a guide for intial selecton of components. I say guide because it provides a theoretical value and one still needs to
use some common sense on how conservative they want to be on sizing.

There is a practical way.
Once you build your system, ADJUST / LUBRICATE IT,  but before you purchase motors, find the the torque to just move the axis by measuring it. Just use a torque wrench (or an equivilant like hung weights) to find the value. Then double or triple the value.  Be consrvative
as this allows for acceleration at higher motor rpm values ( remember that a steppers torque decreases as rpm increases ) and a servo is sized differently.

There is nothing wrong with comparing equivilant size equipment to get a quick ballpark figure. But do make note of YOUR desired
operating conditions.

Designing a system can get complex quickly and one needs to understand what they are doing.
So, you intial question is a loaded one, and hope replied information helps you out.

RICH 
 

1896

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: KNIFE SHARPENER

« on: September 10, 2013, 08:12:36 AM »

Grandpop was a blacksmith in his young years. Shown is one of his anvils (has that nice ring when stuck) that I was lucky to get
and the knife on it was made by him from a file.
I had the knife laying around for years and remember using it as a kid to chop shrubs or whatever down.
One of those junk box items you just don't want to get rid of.
The knife is carbon steel, the original cherry wood handles were attached with brass rods, the tip was broken, the blade rusted / pitted badly.

So I cleaned it up ( labor of love .....real PITA) and replaced the handles with Bubinga wood I had for years.
Sharpens to a razor edge, 12 1/2" blade.

Like Crocodile Dundy said to the attacker....."now this is a knife" !

RICH
 

1897

General Mach Discussion / Re: 1 X Axis Stops

« on: September 10, 2013, 05:39:55 AM »

Another question, I am building a 4' X 3' machine. What size motors should I use if I plan to cut Aluminum ?

Suggest you have a look at machines similar to what you are building.  Post back when  you have more specifics.

RICH

1898

Sieg Machines / Re: X2 Motor Tuning Rapid Problem

« on: September 09, 2013, 07:12:28 AM »

I have not read the complete thread ........
You motor is getting  hot due to high current drive setting. So reduce the amps and see if the clicking sounds goes away.
Hot steppers do weird things.

The clicking can be due to stuff running in the background, as Gerry said and also a crappy signal coming from the PP.
In general, if due to a bad signal from the PP, there is no cure since the affending signal is already mixed in.
So due what Gerry recommended. One axis at a time please!

RICH


 

1899

General Mach Discussion / Re: question on weight

« on: September 09, 2013, 06:54:20 AM »

daniellyall,

1 kgf-m = 9.80665 N-m

The above conversion is for force at a distance from some point which is a TORQUE value. A N-m is used to provide
motor info....usualy.

You don't have a turning force from the weight until you calculate the force required to just move the weight along
a path. That force, refined .....based on gearing, friction factor and screw / gear / belt influence,  times the offset distance to the driving
axis will give you a torque value.

RICH

1900

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: G90 G91 Question, and/or code stops running ???

« on: August 28, 2013, 05:13:42 AM »

Are you running a demo copy of Mach? The demo is limited to 500 lines of code.

Attach your xml  file.

RICH