Messages

3191

General Mach Discussion / Re: Motor Problem

« on: October 16, 2011, 06:06:23 AM »

What BOB are you using?
RICH

3192

General Mach Discussion / Re: Manual chipbreaking script?

« on: October 15, 2011, 05:42:32 PM »

However you end up drilling your holes.......... please do it safely so you don't get hurt.
Some of the stuff you are describing is just asking for trouble no matter how you do it.
RICH

3193

General Mach Discussion / Re: mach3

« on: October 15, 2011, 05:22:44 PM »

What are you trying to do in LC?
Seems like it is not posting the code.
Post the dxf file that you are using for LC. Note that there is a manual for LC in Members Docs.

You program the code manualy or use software to create the code based on the machining you want to do. The program then creates the
gcode file. You then open the gcode file in Mach.
RICH

3194

General Mach Discussion / Re: Motor Problem

« on: October 15, 2011, 05:12:20 PM »

I hear the motors (high pitch noise).
Other times the shaft does 'spin' but its more like its grinding; very slow and noisey and in only one direction

Make sure you have the motors wired correctly, the drive currrent set correctly to start, and that the axis is not binding.

1.post your xml file
2.provide power supply, drive, and motor info
3.describe your machine

RICH

3195

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach XML Reader

« on: October 14, 2011, 05:31:27 AM »

Comparison of Mach3-Profile files
This function compares 2 Mach3 profile files. There is no possibility to edit parameters with this program. Changements must be done with Mach3. A different amount of elements in profile files are marked as error. After comparison has completed, Strings, or part specified strings can be searched.

Handling:    Menu Actions -> Compare profiles

In order to compare, you must specify two profile-files(*.xml). Hitting button Load data loads the data and searches for elements. After loading the buttons Set filter and compare are enabled. Default filter setting is "no filter".  Click button Compare to compare the profile files. Depending on the radio-buttons "Show all elements" or "Show only differences" the result of the comparison is shown in report.  Differences are colored.

See reply #36, go to the site, and have and read what is posted about the reader.
RICH

3196

Tangent Corner / Re: Measuring with a Microscope?

« on: October 13, 2011, 07:57:54 PM »

I'm thinking I could machine/scribe my own "reticle" as a background to compare to the tooling.

Doubt that the scribing will be satisfactory, but, depends on the user.

Why not just take a high resolution macro digital picture and bring it into CAD? You can then measure the tool very accurately.
Poor mans microscope.......
RICH

3197

Tangent Corner / Re: Measuring with a Microscope?

« on: October 13, 2011, 05:37:53 PM »

Bud,
There are a lot of options just depends on what one comes across and what ya want to do with it.
Want it to be portable or bench? You need at least 30x to measure. Good grief I have a collection of stuff.
I attached a pic of a Titan 30x microscope mounted on my Atlas lathe along with the graduated reticle showing the  0.001" graduations.

On the bench a toolmakers microscope is ideal ( I have a Gartner ). You can also get good used quality microscopes, some are variable magnification like 20 to 60x, fical micrometers can be used as an objective for quick accurate measuring, or you can just have a crosshair recticle and use an accurate X Y table to measure distance.  Goes on and on. Good cheap junk is hard to come by anymore though!

RICH

see this post: http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,6686.msg43682.html#msg43682

The Edmund is great for taking pictures and measuring.

3198

General Mach Discussion / Re: calibration probems

« on: October 13, 2011, 05:04:19 PM »

Still sounds like your missing steps, reduce by 50 % again and see how it goes. Make sure he steps per unit are correct. If it's not an accel or velocity problem have a hard look at the z axis for mechanical problems.
RICH

3199

General Mach Discussion / Re: Configuring Mach 3 on new PC

« on: October 12, 2011, 09:51:38 PM »

are times when I am sitting at my machine twiddling my thumbs

hmm....... try rotating the thumbs in opposite directions, takes practice and time goes quickly.....

RICH

3200

General Mach Discussion / Re: Stepper motors seem a LITTLE slow

« on: October 12, 2011, 06:53:34 AM »

Are the motors supposed to get hot when running?

They can get hot if the drive current setting is to high and when they get hot they can start to act wierd.
Any motor which is doing work will increase in temperature. No increase in temp and they are not doing much work.
You don't want to exceed their rated temperature.
If they get hot ( can't touch and leave your hand on them ) you are over 140 deg F and you'll get a burn.
If they get hot quickly upon engagng them and not running your current setting is to high.

FWIW,
RICH

RICH