Messages

81

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 and latest ESS Driver - threading now works!

« on: August 11, 2019, 08:49:14 AM »

not really happy with the m1076.m1s program version I have: 9/Apr/2015.

The one I use is way early that that one and have no problems with it.

I use G32 output for threading. That allows me to backplot thread passes should there
be a need to look into a possible problem, and  frankly never seemed, to be the Gcode.
Have the ability to mount a microsope on the carriage to monitor actual chip formation / cutting
of the material. Why you may see that a particlular thread pass is not removing the proper
amount of material could be due to a number of reasons. It is a complex process
greatly influenced by lot factors.

As far a updating the write up...............
Threading ( internal to Mach3 ), after it was fixed,  has not changed to my knowledge.
One can check the Mach3 revison history and will find nothing officaly recorded since 4/3/2012.
The last write update was 2/3/2012 - Rev 3 and have no intent on updating it.
A book can be written to cover just threading so one must start and stop somewhere.

As you noted external motion controllers like the ESS have improved, and it took "years" to have
lathe stuff addressed, thus I will leave it to them to anounce and explain the advances. That goes for
lathe CAM programs  also. Lathe has been and probably will remain an orphan child!

Maybe we should refer to this thread in  Member's Doc's and let the thread discusion be a source
of information. Going off topic can serve a purpose in a thread sometimes.

RICH

82

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 and latest ESS Driver - threading now works!

« on: August 10, 2019, 07:17:35 PM »

Roger,
 Now that you have high confidence in the threading may want to play around with the
different thread cutting feed methods. You may even be more surprised on the results of
your systems ability to do threads. Example; Alternating flank infeed to do a acme thread
with a single point threading tool. HP requirement is greatly reduced!

Just for info:
Back many years ago tried to get slaving of the spindle to the Z axis.
We had enough problems just fixing the Mach3 threading when it was broke.
So never happened.
Why the slaving? Because back manny years ago a DOS controller allowed that, and using an mpg
one could just move the Z at varing feedrate along the stock, back and forth, to do
threading. It was a model makers dream since you could easily do threads way smaller
than 0-80's.

Matters not how good  a controlling device addresses threading. If all the other items
of the lathe system  ( which includes the operator ) is not applied correctly for the
task success will not occur. The nut goes on has it's place, but, meeting design intent
and spec are the name of the game.

Have fun,
RICH

83

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 and latest ESS Driver - threading now works!

« on: August 09, 2019, 03:01:51 PM »

Roger,
Glad after 10 years that Andy was able to provide a type of electronic gearing.
No longer follow what's going on with Warp9 so my feed rate comment will not exactly apply to the ESS.

Would be curious as to what development procedure was used.

RICH

84

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 and latest ESS Driver - threading now works!

« on: August 09, 2019, 06:11:18 AM »

rcaffin,
Did you ever try using the different feed methods available for threading?

A key factor in threading is a non-fluctuating feed rate ( constant spindle rpm ) during the actual thread cutting.
Said differently, you need adequate HP to cut the thread, and or, a refined approach to cut a  thread within your machines capability. The above becomes even more important for punny lathes.

Mach3 threading allows for spindle slow down in that the current rpm data is used to adjust the following path of cutting
allowing for a possible adequate thread. It's all a matter of degree.

Enhanced data applied to the following path should assist in an altered feed rate and the data used is averaged so the affect is not as great as you may think.

Just some threading insight for what it's worth......,

RICH


 

85

General Mach Discussion / Re: Urn manual tool change (Read 102 times)

« on: July 31, 2019, 05:27:36 AM »

First and most important you should read the following sections in Mach3 Turn Manual for understanding.

 8.1.1.3 G28 positions
10.7.8 Return to Home - G28 and G30
10.7.9 Reference axes - G28.1
10.1.13 Tool Change
10.7.4 Dwell – G04
10.8.3 Tool change – M06
10.10.3 Select Tool – T

Under the General Logic Configuration  ( Tool Change ) you have a choice of how a YOU
want the call for a Tool Change to be handled.
- Ignore Tool Change - Mach will ignore the M6 command in the  g-code T404  M6.
   One could think of this selection as "switch" which turns the tool change off.

- Stop Spindle. Waite for Cycle Start - Mach will use both the M6 start and M6 end macros.
 
Typicaly code content for M6Start could be:
-turn spindle off
-turn cooling off
-go to a save place for toolchange
-anounce the new tool to System for all the the new offsets


Typicaly code content  for M6End could be:
-turn spindle on
-turn cooling on
-go back to a place where it it save to restart

- Auto Tool Changer  - only the M6 start macro will be used

Now the above said.......................
Change the M6 macro to do what you want to do.

RICH

86

General Mach Discussion / Re: MACH3 - 4th Axis Readout

« on: July 19, 2019, 05:55:03 AM »

 Steve,
You may find this thread interesting on the 4th axis.
Maybe start at reply #46 in the thread ........

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,35906.msg245747.html#msg245747

RICH

87

General Mach Discussion / Re: MACH3 - 4th Axis Readout

« on: July 15, 2019, 08:26:03 PM »

Steve,
Just some information on configuration.

In Config >General Logic your rotary should be configured as angular.
The motor tuning units are steps per degrees for an angular rotary axis.

NOTE:
Ignore the linear check boxes.
The checkbox for linear/angular only tells an axis not to convert when switching from mm to inch, other than that it has no purpose.
A, B and C are always rotary axis and the DRO shows in terms of degrees.

Example for calculating motor tuning:
For my rotary using micro stepping and a 72 gear ratio:
200 steps / rev X 1 rev /360 degrees = .5555 steps / deg X 10 micro steps X 72 gear ratio=400 steps per unit

RICH

88

General Mach Discussion / Re: turn manual tool change

« on: July 10, 2019, 08:39:03 AM »

chessie,
A tool change can be done a number of different ways.

First, understand in General Logic Configuration you have a choice of how a YOU want the call for a tool change to be handled.
- Ignore Tool Change - Mach will ignore the M6 command in the  g-code T404  M6.
- Stop Spindle. Waite for Cycle Start - Mach will use both the M6 start and M6 end macros.
- Auto Tool Changer  - only the M6 start macro will be used

Once you selected which of the options you want to use you can then place code in the macro to do whatever you want to happen.

Have not used Fusion in a rather long time nor modified a post processor in Fusion in a long time so you are on your owne.
You should use the post processor which includes the m6, and since the macro's would be different for a turret or quick change, you should have a different profile depending on what changer is mounted on the carriage. 

RICH

89

General Mach Discussion / Re: turn manual tool change

« on: July 09, 2019, 08:50:28 AM »

chessie,
May only need to modify the M6 macro's  such that it does what you want it to  for how you work.

Consider setting Part Coordinates= Machine Coordinates = Program Coordinates  all equal to 0,0
and define home  away from the work with home location also tool change location.
Note that a CNC lathe program can create the code based on the program  start point being X and Z =0
then you can easily just change the work offset by some Z distance with a different work offset for making additional
pieces.
I also add a dwell time in the program code such that  it allows 5 minutes to change the tool.
You can just change the tool and continue without waiting the full time limit.

RICH

90

Works in progress / Re: Coming soon to a lathe near you

« on: June 18, 2019, 05:28:35 AM »

Graham,
Nice work on the screen set.

RICH