Messages

5431

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problems threading on the lathe

« on: November 11, 2009, 08:25:16 PM »

Hi All,
Just fooling around some and decided to try some multistart threading.
Here is a three start thread. The pitches are equal just couldn't hold the camera
correctly on the scope lens. NEVER was able to do this a year ago, couldn't even do a two start.
Used the G76 / 10 passes each thread and using Z offset method for the threading.

I did have trouble trying to use the format:
#99066=0
G76.....
#99066=120
G76.....
#99066=240
G76......
The code would just get hung up on the second G76 waiting for the triggering.

RICH

5432

General Mach Discussion / Re: New guy with new Mach3 and new controller

« on: November 11, 2009, 02:55:13 PM »

Mach demo is limited in how many lines it will do. So consider getting a license.
There are manuals available for the mill and lathe which go into a lot of detail and will answer many of your questions.
Mach is very configurable and depending on how complicated you want to be in running your machine it can do all sorts of things. Everybody works differently.
Enjoy the learning curve as it just never seems to end, 
RICH

5433

General Mach Discussion / Re: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems

« on: November 11, 2009, 10:18:33 AM »

Tweakie could be right on the drivers, like i said, i know nothing about them. 
RICH

5434

General Mach Discussion / Re: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems

« on: November 11, 2009, 10:14:16 AM »

HMM.....
Very brief look at the driver manual. Looks like you can bypass their board and go directly to the driver.
You can select 1/8 step for microstepping, the frequency rate may limit ipm, disable the current limiting function ( if automaticaly turns off during an idle time you may have problems) and  they give you what you need in general, so that looks promising.

Now, how the other board is tied into the drivers ( ie; if cable that's rather easy, if via the board it's  mounted on then you need to trace it all out PITA/ not impossible ) and i haven't the foggiest idea without looking at it.
You'll probably need to do some rewiring where the DB25  is connected to the first board.

STRONGLY,  suggest you find someone that is familar with electronics to help you out as otherwise you can ruin what you have. Also before you attempt doing all this try and find out how the drivers preform after a modiication
as you may go through a lot of work and not be satisfied in the end.

FWIW, I have four drivers sitting here that realy need to be run by programing via dos, etc, and a rep was kind enough to say they were "old" technology,  yes you could convert them , but their operation would be very unsatisfactory. I kind of got that feeling about you drivers, but then, i can be totaly wrong.

It's your stuff......LOL,
RICH

5435

General Mach Discussion / Re: Sherline cnc rotary table

« on: November 11, 2009, 09:38:05 AM »

There are a number of configuration settings that affect the A axis. In general config angular is measured in degrees and not affected by a whether you are working in inch / mm units and if inchecked it will be measured in linear units just like the other axis. Do a search , type in , ROTARY TABLE AS LINEAR , and you will find a number of posting s worth reading. There are a whole bunch of things associated with a rotary table. I have just used mine as an indexer
but you can program moves in ipm instead of degress , etc.
RICH

5436

General Mach Discussion / Re: entering info in gcode

« on: November 10, 2009, 10:21:20 PM »

N10 (REMEMBER IT IS TIME TO CHANGE THE TOOL)

Just like above, the N10 is just a line number, you shouldn't get an error.
RICH

5437

General Mach Discussion / Re: Sherline cnc rotary table

« on: November 10, 2009, 10:17:21 PM »

An 1/8 step is a nice comprimise. Going to 1/16 may not do much for you.  So it would be
40 steps / degree x 8 microsteps = 320 steps / degree
Then fool with velocity and accel some to see what works.
RICH

5438

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Mill a straight line

« on: November 10, 2009, 10:10:49 PM »

Position the part and cutter where you want, then in the MDI line
G01 X 8.0" F1.0 
G01 -thats a linear interpolation move, X8.0 - the X axis will move 8.0 units, F1.0 - at a feed rate of 1.0 ipm.
You change the axis, the  travel distance  and feedrate to suite what your doing.
RICH

5439

General Mach Discussion / Re: Sherline cnc rotary table

« on: November 10, 2009, 09:45:15 PM »

I don't know what settings you have available such as full step , 1/2, 1/4 1/8/ 1/16. If can change to 1/4   that will improve things and yes, you would change the steps /unit by aa factor of 4 ( four times as many steps to go the same angle ).
RICH

5440

General Mach Discussion / Re: Sherline cnc rotary table

« on: November 10, 2009, 09:13:17 PM »

You have a choice in how you want to work. I think it's in the general config, A axis can be degrees or linear, and i have only used mine in degrees. If in linear then is based on the circumference of the circle your doing. Check your drive and see if you can change form 1/2 step to something better as you will get a finer resolution.( smaller part of a degree that you can turn the table to) No bragging here, but the one table i have will do 3.5 ARC seconds and I actualy use it with a callimator to check optical stuff.
RICH