Messages

4461

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can I convert to Mach 3

« on: July 21, 2010, 10:36:41 AM »

Just a thought, since you have the laken software you can also just jog an axis, lets say X, and look to see what pin on the DB 25 cord is changing state via your meter, I will guess it's 2 to 9. So jog the axis with their software to make sure the board is working. That will tell you
what pin is assigned to the  wires going to the drives. Check that the cord is straight thru, ie pin 1 is pin1 on the on both sides.

BTW, Software sends a signal from PC to a particular PP pin, the signal   then goes to Larkens controller connection (DB25) which eventualy goes to the drive connection on that board. So using the larken software you will find out what you need to know.

RICH

4462

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can I convert to Mach 3

« on: July 21, 2010, 09:58:02 AM »

I don't understand what you mean about xml files

When you configure Mach3 ,ie; you assign in CONFIG>PORTS & PINS which pins will be used for outputs and inputs to Mach3 along with other things and all that is saved in a named file.......like maybe .......LARKEN.XML.  So if you ask them for an xml file or their configuration for using Mach
you will not need to figure what pin is used for what.  On their site they only mentioned Mach2 so even a configuration from that old version would be a great help. So save yourself a lot of agrivation and ask them for it. 

Like I said that board may dedicated to their software, i don't know...., but if it works with the pulse out of a PC using  Mach then
life should easy.

RICH

4463

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can I convert to Mach 3

« on: July 20, 2010, 08:18:12 PM »

Not sure how your controller board works and have attached a picture of it from the Larken site.
I would only guess that there "may" be some info in the associated software.
Don't know what exactly the estop is doing on that board as i only guess that it is disengaging the drives and not killing the whole power supply.

So it seems like you have Starcam software board ( i will just call it a break out board / BOB) and for steppers they provided a choice of Starcam or Mach2.
Not sure Mach3 will work with the BOB. If the board is bypassed, and you got an xml file from them, then you would have pinouts, maybe.

The question you should ask Larken are:
 If you now want to use MACH do you need to bypass the board? ....or....
Can the board be used with any step and direction software?
Can they supply you with an xml for Mach2?

If you get nowhere.....Then i would try removing the estop wire from switch to the BOB. In mach i would assign say pin 10 and check the emulated in config.
Then i would disconnect the wires to the drives for y & z and start by trial and error for the x axis only to jog a small distance using pins 2-9 for step and direction.
2 x 9 = 18 x 2 ( high and low settings = 36 possibilities

We had to do this with a Chinese drive that had no known literature, the first axis was rather quickly done....then the others somewhat longer.

Hope this helps, I don't know of a shorter route if Larken won't respond to you. Hey they want to sell their own controlling program.......

RICH

4464

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Problem posting Lazycam to Mach

« on: July 20, 2010, 12:19:55 PM »

 
RICH

4465

Sieg Machines / Re: Seig X3 configured in INCHES.

« on: July 20, 2010, 12:18:51 PM »

Hmm.....
I'll leave to Adam what is his opinion, and, as long as you are a happy camper that is all that matters! 
RICH

4466

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Problem posting Lazycam to Mach

« on: July 20, 2010, 08:31:51 AM »

You can dry run / simulate a file in Mach with no machine movement if  the controller is disconnected from the PC ( PP cable not attached), or the motors are disengaged, or if the PP port is not defined in Mach. Simply put, if the pulse stream from the PC is not going anywhere.
I think that is what you are meaning.

LC posting / use  is still restricted as noted in my other reply. If unlicensed then you will get an error if you try to do a pocketing for example.

RICH

 

4467

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Problem posting Lazycam to Mach

« on: July 19, 2010, 06:03:12 PM »

Does it need to be opened from MACH?

Yes, otherwise it goes to whatever directory you defined.
So open MACH, and then open LC via the File tab.  The in LC check the box as said in my other reply.

LC will post IF the parallel port setting in MACH is turned off so it will "simulate".

I don't know where you read that......


RICH

4468

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help Please! arcs in Mach turn

« on: July 19, 2010, 05:45:18 PM »

I never found any problem with ARC's on my lathe.

Any cutting on the lathe will only be as accurate as your machines system.

Hood can help more relative to setup since you use servos.

RICH

4469

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Problem posting Lazycam to Mach

« on: July 19, 2010, 05:36:33 PM »

Did you open LazyCam from within Mach? ie; FILE>LazyCam
Did you check the box....post file to Mach3 when posted in LC's ....SETTINGS>POSTING OPTIONS?

Free version of Mach and or LazyCam? Free version of Mach limits the number of lines it will run and you need the Pro version of LazyCam
to post when using any of the advanced features.

RICH

4470

Sieg Machines / Re: Seig X3 configured in INCHES.

« on: July 19, 2010, 05:23:40 PM »

Steps per unit are calculated, but, you should actually see that the movement agrees with the calculated value over some working distance , and if not, then tweak the step value.

You can use Mach to accomplish this quickly, open the SETTINGS SCREEN>SET STEPS PER UNIT...AXIS CALIBRATION located by the reset button. ( use is covered in the manual)

1/12700= .00008" per step ( if life was perfect )........ .00008 x 76.66= say .006" change .......so run the calibration and forget the
" should work" thinking

I would then also just check the accel and velocity and reduce max velocity to say 50 to 70% of max velocity

You should not need to scale up the Step Pulse as usually the driver manufacturer provides info for it.

RICH

BTW, I don't know who Mr Stephenson is but I am sure he had reasons for saying whatever based on his discussions with you.