Messages

5921

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: New Project for the shop.

« on: August 16, 2009, 09:29:02 PM »

I see your now in the race Dave,  as he who dies last and has the most machines wins!
Just in planning or on paper dosn't count.
or was it.....Tools, machines, guns,  and wifes...just can't get enough of them!
or is it .....CNC is just an incurable disease once you get it!
Get on with it and post,

RICH        

5922

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Climb milling a pocket

« on: August 16, 2009, 09:10:42 PM »

Any "RED" text in the manual just means it needs to checked out, finished or confirmed. There are only a few of them and it's really more of a flag to myself.
I am not sure how the programmer was thinking when he was writting the program. Not knowing that, i have been trying to find the logic. But that takes time.

So in the mean time, if the pathing is the way you want it, and the axis motion is correct in relation to the spindle rotation such that it is climb or convention millng, then just check the code / dry run in Mach to make sure
the code represents what was shown in LC.

There is a difference in sequence of delineating the offset between Pocket and Offset.
I just need to fool with it here and put the correct verbage in the manual.
Unless, somebody beats me to it,  then all i have to do is duplicate what is said.
RICH

5923

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Climb milling a pocket

« on: August 16, 2009, 03:25:52 PM »

HI ALL,
To change the cut direction in offsets or pockets , well i think both are buggy!
I'm happy you guys are exploring the pocketing some and finding what bugs exist as that really will cut my efort.

For an offset, i can get the direction to change, but.........a newbie may find it very frustrating, sometimes no problem...sometimes three tries.....just buggy! That climb mill "switch " dosn't always work!

In the mean time, attached  is a preview of some additions which will be in REV 1 of the manual.
The bug list in the preview will be cleaned up and indexed to an appropriate page in the manual.

RICH

5924

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Climb milling a pocket

« on: August 15, 2009, 02:38:23 PM »

Hmm...
You can just go to the layer and click the leadin and redo the selection for the lead in.
Something  importrant worth mentioning...... in Gcode programing there are some rules that are usually followed.
I need to look at the posted code and see for myself.
RICH

5925

General Mach Discussion / Re: Really need help

« on: August 15, 2009, 02:19:04 PM »

Simpson,
1. The logical conclusion is that this is not so simple as it's made out to be.
            Depends on where you are comming from.
            If you start with a clean sheet of paper, then you define what you want the system to do
             and go through all the itinerary steps to arrive at an acceptable design within all the
            constraints  that are placed on doing the task. This is done in a way which utilizes good
            engineering principles, techiniques, judgement and includes past / present / researched  experience.
           The task utilizes all the different disciplines involved in a respected and valued manner. In the end a
           rationalized design is provided in terms of cost, quality and time (CQT).
           CQT is related and requires sacrifice to improve the other.

2. I don't reacall finding any clear advice on exactly how to select a 'quality' component.

The suppliers of material components cover the gamut of required items. There is a lot of choice
to be had and the evaluation of all of them would be mind boggling. User experience of tried items
is invaluable and manny recomendations / suggestions satisfy a general need in the hobbiest arena.Consensus may never be had. We are here to offer suggestions for consideration and not make decisions for someone. In the end is falls back to oneself  to make a decision.

3. Is there some way to be proactive in interpreting a spec, graph, or other perfomance
   documentation?

Yes, and when given, most folks don't full understand it, or, will shy away because it's too technical. For even a simple item a book can be written and probably already exists.
All too often data and application must be related to the system and intended use.

4.What are the caveats to avoid?

Putting it all together and then asking others to fix it for you and challenging their experience.

RICH

5926

General Mach Discussion / Re: Really need help

« on: August 15, 2009, 08:52:47 AM »

Tom,
Sounds good to me. When confident the signal is good you can then continue
to develop applicaton of Mach to your project. LOL

RICH

BTW: Suggest next time you start a topic, post in the context of what your after.
         There is a difference between a software problem, an application of the software,
         clarification for understanding, etc.
      

5927

General Mach Discussion / Re: Really need help

« on: August 15, 2009, 08:25:01 AM »

Simpson,
" if properly engineered steppers "
" How does one go about 'properly engineering a stepper? "

I believe what VMAX  refers to, is the proper selection of a component to a system and not the actual design of a just the one component. Systems are "designed" at the professionsl level. True engineering of a system is beyond the understanding of most hobbiest's. In fact, the total engineering of a system requires the application of multiple engineering talents. In light of the above, one does not know how lacking they are until entering anothers discipline, or as Clint would say " a man needs to know his limitations".
 
With a defined basis of design, any level of engineering deisgn can be applied to support a selection. Good engineering judgment is always part of application of a component.

Discussions are great, but when entangled in replies to a thread, it goes off course real quick,
  
Rich

5928

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Climb milling a pocket

« on: August 14, 2009, 11:21:17 PM »

Steve,
REV 1 of the manual will have a seperate tutorial which goes deeper into the offsets and pockets, the cut direction,
moving the leadin / lead out. Till then, sorry you didn't find what you were looking for in the manual.
Remember that you can look at the cutting order of the layer/chain/entities, then just highlight / follow the entities down the list as that is the order of cutting.

In the mean time your already in good hands.  
RICH

5929

General Mach Discussion / Re: Really need help

« on: August 14, 2009, 06:14:31 PM »

Tom,
What are the steps / unit that your are using for the pc that you will ultimately use for MACH?
Can you show us how they were calculated?

I would suggest that you first confirm the signal quality generated from that PC ( at the PP outlet / pins ).
If you can have a knowledgable friend take a look at the pulse with the right equipment that would be benifical.
Then look at the signal with the cable hooked up. Then look at the signal with the BOB hooked up.
So you are just checking the quality of the signal from the source and on down the line until it feeds the drive.
I would also suggest that you start off with the Z axis, as that is the one that seems to be off.

RICH



 

5930

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to install Dolphin CAD/CAM post processor file

« on: August 13, 2009, 11:55:56 PM »

You may want to try using the Fanuc one and there are specific ones for the lathe that you can download
from the Dolphin site. I don't really remember but the one from this site didn't didn't work very well .
Oh, think you just copy it to one of the directories of Dolphin.
RICH