Messages

4891

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 Slave Axis problems.

« on: February 19, 2010, 09:52:46 AM »

HMM....
I took a look at  the XML, and also tried playing with it.
I may suggest the following. Make a modified xml with all the fancy stuff off ( PWM, HOMING SWITCHES,SURGE PUMP, ETC). Set the the A axis up as not slaved and as an index or  spindle.This way you can tell that the drive / cabling is all workiing. Back to basics kind of thing.....
Then add in one by one all the other stuff.

if you do that "emulate the  Estop and also disable the spindle / or  finish the associated
configurations. the spindle settings will overide the a axis settings for A as an indexer

FWIW,
RICH

4892

General Mach Discussion / Re: threading success with mach turn today.

« on: February 19, 2010, 09:31:59 AM »

 tripleback,
Need to try to narrow down the problem. It could be a number of things and using versions of MACH
 prior to or after .033 may mask the real problem and what it is. To do that i am suggesting you use Mach version .033
as the base line. The problem you describe was fixed in later versions / 033.

There was a problem with fast pc's after version 033, see reply 707/page 71, 716/72 and 720/73 in the thread
 Problems Threading on the Lathe. Additionaly there was discussion on the Yahoo about VFD's and motor speed,
where the VFD was changing the speed and at the same time the threading was compensating for the change in speed ,
 thus both were fighting each other.   

Here is what i suggest you do:
1. post your xml as it currently is
2. go back to version 033 ( may need to clean up the pc to make sure the correct driver is being used)
3. I will assume that your "lathe system is accurate", use the Simple Threading ( lathe ) to generate the gcode
    for the thread with output of G32, generate a code for scribing, post the gcode file OR just use the attached
   threading file ( just 2" of threading  on a 1/2" piece and 26 passes)
4. -do a scribing test, if something goes wrong note the pass number and then post a picture of that threading scribe
   along with a close up at the beginning of the first few threads
    - was the rpm stable?
5.post the xml used for that scribing

Descibe your pc / a few questions.........
A-what windows system are you using:
B-what is the speed of your pc:
C-are you using the PP:
D-are you using a Smoothstepper:
E-do you have any anti virus or other software which could interfere with Mach:
F-When you run the driver test, what is your pulses per second and kernal speed you ran it at:
G-Set your rpm to 200, what is the rpm in the dro, does it change any:

How about item #1 above and reply to questions A to G for now:

RICH 

4893

General Mach Discussion / Re: threading success with mach turn today.

« on: February 18, 2010, 11:26:43 PM »

question is why does the g32 work and the g76 not , for me anyways ? all my test pieces had the code generated by the mach wizards, and with poppabears quick threads wizard.

All i  can say is  both the g32 and g76  worked for me during testing. I perfer to use the G32 as it provides more info to monitor during the threading. If one works so should the other. You should not have to run a hundred tests. Just do the tests in the Threading on the Lathe  write up as they willquickly tell you what your "system" is capable of. The scribing can tell you a lot about your machine and 1/2" piece of copper tubing can be scribed numerous times saving you some stock.

As of this date i still recommend version 033 when it comes to threading.

What do you mean by double tracking?

Did you read the writeup?

RICH

4894

General Mach Discussion / Re: Chinese Digital Caliper As Encoder?

« on: February 18, 2010, 06:58:59 PM »

Have a look at this site as they provide info about chinese scales and kits.
Shame, built mine some time ago, and have the scales and still not using it......
A friend loves his  ( for the money ) and uses them on his lathe.
 
http://www.shumatech.com/web/products/dro-350

RICH

4895

General Mach Discussion / Re: Record encoder position

« on: February 17, 2010, 09:09:44 PM »

If you want to copy something via axis moves and generate the Gcode to machine it you may want to look at using CopyCat. The manual for it can be found in Members Docs.
RICH

4896

General Mach Discussion / Re: X0Y0 Jumping?

« on: February 17, 2010, 08:51:30 PM »

Russ,
Good post.Never used the VERIFY and documentation is about nill in the manuals.
Nope don't have any of those switches yet......someday...... i guess. I need about 20 of them. 

RICH

4897

General Mach Discussion / Re: Chinese Digital Caliper As Encoder?

« on: February 17, 2010, 04:41:24 PM »

You measure the backlash and then go into config and implement it, here are some recomendations:

BACKLASH:

Here is what i would recommend for initial settings when using a machine with more than one axis.

"My"  50-50-50 rule of thumb.

Motor velocity setting: 50% of max velocity ( down from where you would start to miss steps post motor tuning )
Backlash Speed:          50%
Shuttle acceleration: .050 ( .5, or .050, or .0050 just an easly way to remember the setting )   

Then you can play with individual settings to get the system just so, such that you have no problems
during a two axis move. The motor acceleration can also be payed with.

RICH

4898

General Mach Discussion / Re: X0Y0 Jumping?

« on: February 17, 2010, 04:28:38 PM »

Alton,
Got to go and will check back later tonight on what you think.
RICH

4899

General Mach Discussion / Re: X0Y0 Jumping?

« on: February 17, 2010, 04:24:27 PM »

I am guessing you are missing a step when it is done with the letter R and then going to the letter C.
Don't know if it is in the rapid move .....
Additionaly you see the little .008" out of wack engraved portion  in #2. It is very small and at first i thought it may be the fine point of the tool deflecting sum, but , don't think so.

Are your motors getting rather hot?

I would try still try slowing down the velcocity and acceleration. Heck, try it at crawl speed.
The rest of the lettering looks good so i don't think it's mechanical ( backlash, etc ).

I always use constant velocity for my engraving work. My engraving machine also runs very slow and is extremely reliable. So even though it can run at around 10 inches per min i use it at 3 or 4.

RICH

4900

General Mach Discussion / Re: X0Y0 Jumping?

« on: February 17, 2010, 04:06:55 PM »

Explaination of exact stop vrs constant velocity, here is the link:

ftp://ftp.machsupport.com/Docs/Mach3_CVSettings_v2.pdf

RICH