Messages

5101

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 5 axis Spinning Lathe: machine and control panel in progress

« on: January 21, 2010, 10:40:39 AM »

Scott,
Impressive to say the least. Glad you got some PR out it. Just shows what can be done if you know what your doing.
RICH

5102

General Mach Discussion / Re: What is a good probe to use with Mach?

« on: January 21, 2010, 09:10:22 AM »

Ray & Simpson36.
I have a nice probe just sitting in a box for a long time but have been reluctant to use it.
The COPYCAT center or edge finding worked quite well. I bent that probe when i used the wrong routine since one is ment for video and one is meant for a probe. Don't remember how accurately the probe found the center but was better than using video or a conventional edge finder. Say better than the runout of the tool end. The probe is rather easy to replace since the probe holder is placed in a collet chuck, piece of ground round is inserted,  and only the end need be trued. This way you can have  different end sizes or shapes if desired.
I never tried profiling something for 3d stuff, one of these days, just another learning curve to go through one of these days. So off to the side to learn something.
RICH 

5103

General Mach Discussion / Re: What is a good probe to use with Mach?

« on: January 20, 2010, 08:54:53 PM »

Ray,
Picture is worth a thousand words!  
RICH

5104

General Mach Discussion / Re: What is a good probe to use with Mach?

« on: January 20, 2010, 08:11:20 PM »

FWIW,
There is info on making a simple probe and how to use it in Appendix E of the  COPYCAT  manual in Members Docs.
Of course you can also use a video cam.
RICH

5105

General Mach Discussion / Re: Simultaneous 4th Axis..

« on: January 20, 2010, 06:51:13 PM »

The only wizard I have is my better-half and she ain't for sale! 
RICH

5106

General Mach Discussion / Re: Simultaneous 4th Axis..

« on: January 20, 2010, 06:28:24 PM »

bILL,
Not sure if this is what you are refering to

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,13707.msg89844.html#msg89844

RICH

5107

General Mach Discussion / Re: 4th Axis running to slow

« on: January 20, 2010, 03:33:58 PM »

Stepper or servo motor?
RICH

5108

General Mach Discussion / Re: Running Skype with camera while running Mach? Will this be ok?

« on: January 20, 2010, 03:22:28 PM »

rich05,

You should have the computer dedicated to running the machine.
Not to do so is just asking for trouble. And that trouble will come when you least expect it.

RICH

5109

Spanish / Re: Elipse con lazy cam

« on: January 20, 2010, 09:12:27 AM »

In the Lazyturn Manual, Appendix "C' (  located in Members Docs) you will find info on DXF. The info is not all inclusive but should be infomative.
RICH

5110

General Mach Discussion / Re: mach 3 and servos do you gain any accuracy

« on: January 20, 2010, 08:59:24 AM »

 I am really looking for is finer accuracy in repeatable positioning

This will can be had via mechanical gearing. ie resolution ( 1/steps per unit ) provided the rest of the system
is up to par with it. Even if all was perfect, like spunk said, you still will get a mark because of the spindle/ tool runout.
The end of a mill will shear the metal differently than the side of the mill. Heck, you have a little from the spindle +the collet+at the end of the tool= a run out far greater than the positioning accuracy. Add to that just how tight the spindle is in the head , etc.  You can experiment  by comparing a single plunge cut to say multiple finishing passes ( where the finish pass is just about cutting air).

It's a matter of degree and don't think you will ever make that mark go away completely.

Put an indicator on the end of say a ground stock in place of a cutter. Just push lightly with your finger ( about 5- 10 lbs of force ) then try again pushing a little harder and note the difference in indicator readings. That gives you a flavor of how the cutting force will affect the surface finish somewhat.

RICH