Messages

91

General Mach Discussion / Re: treadmill motor for spindle

« on: May 31, 2019, 02:19:42 PM »

Plan to use mine also on one of my cnc machines...maybe the small lathe....maybe my bandsaw.
Friend uses one on his bandsaw and works great, just be carefull since the motor has a high rpm capability.
In the above comments the original controller from the thread mill will be used. Just put the controller into
a metal enclosure and " change out" the speed control ( just a variable resistor ).

FWIW,
If I find another one cheap will certainly buy it. Just need to get my lazy butt going .........

RICH

92

General Mach Discussion / Re: Hall Effect or Slotted Opto?

« on: May 31, 2019, 02:09:07 PM »

How accurate are these
make sure you look at the specs as some have faster response than others

The hall affect is more than adequate accurate for intended purpose. Mach3's PP real time readout is very accurate ( 4 decimal places if I recall correctly, thus, more so than what you probably will use / have to check the rpm independantly.

RICH

93

General Mach Discussion / Re: machturn...problem to star cycle G....

« on: May 27, 2019, 08:40:43 AM »

Guessing that you have have ringing on the pulses.
Only way to check is to have a look at the output with a o'scope.
I normaly don't even bother to reply to a post if the driver is a Chinese TB*********x.

FWIW,
RICH

94

General Mach Discussion / Re: Lathe Threading (Single Point) Fix - Mach 3

« on: May 25, 2019, 07:24:49 AM »

You are using a Smoothstepper and the problem would be associated with it, I am thinking.
I don't know what the Smoothstepper is currently doing these days!

Mach3 monitors the spindle speed in real time during the actual threading and if Spindle Speed Averaging
is checked it will modify the NEXT thread path based on the data. One could say it's trying to correct for
a varied / incorrect cut pitch and fix the thread via the feedrate. Idealy your spindle speed should be steady,
the more so the better,but relisticaly it will vary and +- 1 RPM should ok. So if the spindle speed is constant,
spindle speed averaging has little affect on the feedrate.Your spindle speed is what it is and setting of of the
spindle speed should be done manualy, else two systems related to the spindle speed will be fighting each other.
Again, I don't know what the Smoothstepper is currently doing these days!

Control of the threading cycle gets complicated very quickly............

RICH

95

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mill or Turn?

« on: May 25, 2019, 06:38:42 AM »

Thanks for the reply Hood.

Did a quick look at front and rear tool post use since my recallection  was not stated correctly.

WORK OFFSETS are manipulated when both front and rear tools and offsets exist in the tool table.
G55 is manipulated as related to the G54. The Part and Program Coordinates change to reflect a distance
relationship of  front to rear tool.  That is the extent to which I explored the use of front and rear tool posts.

FWIW,
RICH

96

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mill or Turn?

« on: May 24, 2019, 07:26:55 AM »

Dave,
Trying to use only one tool limits what and how you may be able to do things.The progression of machining steps
will vary but in the end the work gets done. Simplisticaly the thought process is just autonation and refinement of doing it manualy.
I use a quick change on my CNC lathe and serves me well. Just need to setup for tool change position and allow time to change tools.I KISS it by having home, referenced position, tool change position= Machine Coordinates 0,0,0 and define the G54 offset since my default G54 has no offset. Post cutoff off of a part one can just select another offset to make the same  part again if  you wish ....same gcode.

BTW, If I recall correctly G55 is used for rear mounted tool offsets, never mix front and rear tools in the tool table.
Hood can correct me if that is not correct.

There is no comparison of say LazyTurn to the higher end lathe programs, but, it can be a quick and dirty tool to learn and try different approaches to do work.
What is learned will have value in using the higher end programs.

Just something to think about...........,

RICH
 

97

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mill or Turn?

« on: May 22, 2019, 08:45:39 AM »

best not to use cheap triangle insert tooling

I sharpen mine first  before using them on a universal grinder and they work fine.
Let me state that they don't seem to hold up under some conditions.
Carbide inserts grades and quality vary even between the best manufactures.
One problem with cheap carbide tooling is the grade of carbide and how made .....whatever it could possibly be..... even if stated!

Have a magnified comparison of the HSS and carbide tooling that you used and probably the nose radius is
smaller and cutting edges are sharper. Not surprised that they machined to spec.

Like I said before, the tool table can be right on as far as offsets but a lot of things affect machining to spec.
I sum it all up with the catch words  " ones  machines system" which is all inclusive!

RICH

98

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mill or Turn?

« on: May 19, 2019, 10:04:05 AM »

2 - Does anyone know precisely what the tool DRO's/buttons actually do - 175/176 & 324/326 respectively???

Precisely in general terms..............................
DRO 175 requires an input from the user. Button 324 uses the inputed value of  DRO 175 and when pressed,
executes the following code:
x=GetOEMDro ( 175 )
call Set Tool (x)

For a description of  Set Tool X see page 81 in the Mach3 Macro Programmers Reference Manual.
Now have a look at GetOEMDRO on page 24 and also look at SetOEMDRO on page 73.

Similar for 176 DRO / 326 Button which relates to the Z.

You actualy have three positional DRO's in Lathe, namely Machine Coordinates, Program Coordinates,
Part Coordinates MC / PC/ PartC respectfully. Additionaly there is  Radius and Diameter Mode.
That said, depends, can't say  "precisely".

RICH

99

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mill or Turn?

« on: May 18, 2019, 06:58:16 PM »

Can't see why yet??

TOOL OFFSET ADJUSTMENT
1. Tool accurately machined the stock to dimension.
     - no adjustment all ok
2. Tool when used caused the stock to be over dimension.
    - The tool offset needs to changed such that the tool moves in more / removes more
       material. So the tool offset needs to be increased.
3. Tool when used caused the stock to be "under" dimension.
    - The tool offset needs to changed such that the tool moves in less / removes less
       material. So the tool offset needs to be decreased.

Think the above is right!

FWIW,
Machine coordinates are displayed in radii. The tool table offsets are in radii for the X axis.
KISS!

Be carefull when making manual adjustments to tools and consider radius or diameter mode.

I confuse easily..............
RICH

100

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mill or Turn?

« on: May 18, 2019, 05:51:15 PM »

The tool table can perfectly reflect the tool offsets.
Just understand that everything associated with and when using / moving the tools controlled point can influence the final cut dimension.

As Hood stated wear and offset adjustments can be used, but, for the most part, I leave the original populated values for the tools alone unless the tool wears or breaks. My tool table has a few tools with names call TEMPx and the x represents some modified version of the original tool #. Logical or meaningfull names that reflect the tool
is helpfull. ie; Threading tool , then copy rename it to LRTO ( Left Right Turning Outside) and with a adjusted offset.Do what ever makes sense to you.

I added an X and Z adjustment DRO's and a button so I can adjust the current / any tool in the tool table. It realy comes in handy for drills, reamers, and other tools used on my lathe and when touching them off.

Using the tool  to probe the work or a setter is a thumbs up over the cut and measure method. Just my thoughts and to each their on how they want to work.

RICH