Messages

131

FAQs / Re: Laptop requirements with Mach 3

« on: July 17, 2008, 04:04:31 AM »

What about pin voltages? I believe a lot of lap tops don't give out the full 5v on the parallel port pins more like 3.3v which is just in the spec for a TTL 1 signal but not enough for some input devices. I've tried to controlling some home build multiplexers with my old lap top in the past (Toshiba) and this has been one of the problems. I ended up using pull up resistors on the ports and inverting the 1' signal so that the device took a o to be a 1 (if this makes sense). I have a different problem trying to get driver test to run on my lap top. I've seen a screen shot of a pals PC and his mach3 icons are grey scale with a grey background mine are coloured but his works and mine doesn't does anyone know why there is a difference?
Thanks.

132

LazyTurn / Re: LazyTurn

« on: July 16, 2008, 12:08:11 AM »

As I¡¦m newbie and lazy I think I fit the profile mentioned on page one of this thread. Will LT also set the feed rate/spindle speed depending on material type? Thus as well as picking the diameter you could also pick the material and auto generate suggested feed and spindle speeds.  Of course they could then be adjusted by folks that think they know better but for me it would be a very handy hint. I hope this isn¡¦t a silly suggestion. ƒº

133

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Warco VMc /Chester 626 knee mill CNC conversion

« on: July 15, 2008, 09:04:53 PM »

A pic paints a thousand words as they say. I'd be interested in where you got your gearing from IE did you use toothed belts and wheels ? I'm thinking there's no point reinventing the wheel here and if you are happy with your system and have proven it to work well then that's just where I want to end up   Work interferes with all the best past times doesn't it ? I've had one day of in the last 30 days and that is really slowing the progress on my mill conversion. I get down to Hertfordshire every now and then as I come from Stevenage and have family there so not too far from N London.

134

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Welcome to SmoothStepper forum.

« on: July 15, 2008, 08:41:09 PM »

Splendid. I've emailed warp9 to get one on order. :-)

135

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Warco VMc /Chester 626 knee mill CNC conversion

« on: July 14, 2008, 09:35:01 PM »

Oh yes I see the difference. Nice bit of thread milling there.

136

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Welcome to SmoothStepper forum.

« on: July 14, 2008, 09:00:55 PM »

Thanks for the reply. Decisions decisions I have enough bits and pieces to knock up a 2 port PC that I could dedicate to Mach but is only just over the recommend processor speed and thus would run flat out though I could tweak it and put XP on it etc. Or I have a lap to which is the latest speediest without LPT's which I could do all the CAD work on as well as generate G-code and run Mach but this is a Vista machine and won't be dedicated though it will only be running Mach when I'm machining. Now a smoothstepper that has an RJ45 interface would be the best solution as this would also enable me to use any PC on my network (password interlocked) and could keep it well away from the dirty bits.. Will smoothstepper do 5 axis ?

137

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Warco VMc /Chester 626 knee mill CNC conversion

« on: July 14, 2008, 12:42:13 AM »

I tried to find the thread milling video without much luck. Here's one very similar
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Dlz0EUq6k9M
I can see this fellow has a shaft encoder. Even with the encoder I'm still amazed it gets the start for the thread spot on with every cut. I'm used to lathes where there is a physical connection between the feed and the chuck so it has to line up. I still think this sort of thread cutting would be better on a lathe but if you've got a CNC'd miller then I suppose you are going to use it for everything you can think of.

138

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Welcome to SmoothStepper forum.

« on: July 13, 2008, 11:47:37 PM »

OK I'm going to ask a real newbie type question here. I'm building a CNC miller and have a Lap top with USB's or I can knock up a PC with the bits I've got to run it with a Parallel ports. What are the advantages in having a smoothstepper rather than going straight from a Parallel port?  I'm really hoping not to offend anyone with this question but I'm guessing there is a lot more to it than just a Parallel port replacer. My second question is will it have enough I/O to run a 5 or 6 Axis mill ? I'm only building it with 3 axis to start with but would like to expand in the future. Thanks.
Ps how come the spell checker doesn't know what a CNC is ?

139

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Warco VMc /Chester 626 knee mill CNC conversion

« on: July 13, 2008, 09:16:55 PM »

Thanks for your answers. It’s good to see someone has already done it on the same machine and with the same steppers and drives.
Wantcnc did you try to direct couple these steppers?  When you say 10:1 or 3:1 I’m assuming you mean 3 turns of the stepper for one turn of the lead screw. How did you mount the steppers ? Was it with toothed belts ?
Sorry I may be being a little slow but I couldn’t quite follow.

I turned around the X axis screw and then fitted the X motor “under” the table
This is done so I can fix a scale on the other side of the knee.

The X axis screw has a bigger over hang on the right hand side due to it being possible to put a powered cross feed on it. Did you mean reverse this so the extra was on the left ?
Any chance you would have a couple of pics I could see to help me visualise the set up?
You must be happy with the outcome and the machines performance so that’s given me a bit more confidence in surging forward. Motion control products have a few steppers in their clearance section so I may need to get on of these for the Z axis as my Z axis stepper is much smaller than the others. I had thought of putting the Z on the hand wheel purely due to the weight of the knee but I take your point about the play and thus will probably follow your example. I assume you are in the UK somewhere? Anywhere near Bangor N Wales ?

Thanks again Gents. I’m a member of other forums (not CNC related) and have spent a lot of time trying to help others and it’s real nice now I’m a newbie to find a forum where experienced people are willing to help

140

Share Your GCode / Re: GCode Sharing

« on: July 13, 2008, 08:58:49 PM »

Excellent site. Clear and easy to navigate. You have spent a lot of time getting this stuff right by the look of it and the quality does you justice. You need to build a 10m router now to start making yachts