Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / Could this be done with Mach

« on: August 20, 2011, 11:02:01 AM »

I am thinking about trying to build a Wood Lathe controlled by Mach. But I would need 2 cutters that are about 1.5 inches spaced apart following the same z axis but the 2 X axis would happen at different times. The 1st cutter would be a roughing cutter and would leave approx. .25 from the final dia. the other cutter is a finish knife that will take it down to the finish dia. They would both be tied to the same Z axis. This is how one of the commercially made lathes are. I have racked my brain but I don't think that Mach can do this. Can anyone think of a way that this might be done

Thanks,
Tom

Here is a link to a video of a commercial machine doing what I am trying to accomplish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEt6dFmcZYU

2

General Mach Discussion / Micro stepping confusion

« on: June 20, 2011, 08:41:17 PM »

I am trying to get my homebuilt 24X36 Aluminum CNC to run without losing steps but I can't seem to get a handle on it.  I am using Keling drivers KL-9082 (http://www.kelinginc.net/KL-9082.pdf) with keling NEMA 34 1200 oz-in Steppper Motors, 72V power supply, PMDX126 BOB and a smoothstepper.

 I can get my motors tuned to run great when I am jogging, however when I try and run a 2 1/2 D  file the motors stall at different times. If run a program that does the carving along the x axis and the steps over in Y lots of stalling, if I have the program run on a 45 degree angle where both X and Y are both turning it runs 100% better.

When I look at all of the different setting for the micro stepping I don't know what is the best one. What would give me the best reliable performance.   I am trying to get my max cutting speed to be around 100 IPM my motors jog at 300 IPM no problem. Am I just expecting to much? I have been working on this for a year now and still can't get the performance that I want. I have tried so many different settings I am lost.

I have attached a photo of the router if that helps.

Thanks for any help

Tom

3

General Mach Discussion / Jogging Servos

« on: December 14, 2010, 11:36:22 AM »

I have just started messing around with a servo drive. I am using a Gecko 320X driver, a US digital 500 Line count encoder and a servo from Keling. In testing the servo I can control it from the MDI ok but when I am jogging it, I will work one direction ok but the other direction is hit or miss, and when I do get it to go the other direction it will only go once the I have to the reverse direction a few times then it will allow me to reverse again.

  I think it is in my setting in Mach because the Dro will not move if the motor is not moving.  I hope this is not to confusing the way I have described it.  Does anyone have any idea to point me in the right direction.

Thanks,
Tom

4

General Mach Discussion / Mach e-stops on Program Load

« on: December 09, 2010, 12:11:21 PM »

I am have an issue with mach going into e-stop when I load a long program. I am using the current development version with the machstd screen set. I am also using a smooth stepper. It only seems to happen on the long programs.  Is there something that I should look for that could be triggering the e-stop?

Thanks,
Tom

5

General Mach Discussion / Y axis toolpath display is inverted

« on: November 19, 2010, 06:07:31 PM »

I am having a issue with the toolpath display and it has me stumped.  I have my Home 0,0 with home switches in the upper left corner of my machine.  From home the Y axis move  away from home is a positive move, toward home is a negative. My dro's all are showing  correctly.  I can't get the display screen to move the correct way in the y axis if I move the y axis in the positive direction (away from home the display shows it moving toward  home. The display show's that my home position is in the lower left instead of the upper left. No matter what settings I change I can't get the home display in the upper right and have y positive away from home.

I hope I have explained this well enough, hopefully someone can point me in the right direction.

Thanks,
Tom

6

CVI MachStdMill (MSM) / Inhibited LED

« on: July 21, 2010, 07:12:58 PM »

Dave is the Inhibited LED operational?  I have input 1 setup and the check box set, The functionality is working but the LED does not light.

Thanks,
Tom

7

SmoothStepper USB / Stop button press loses comm with SS

« on: July 20, 2010, 05:55:57 PM »

I am using the current dev version with the new standard screenset and when ever I press the stop button after appx 1 sec it get the error screen that the SS has run out of data.  Anyone know how to fix this?

Thanks,
Tom

8

General Mach Discussion / Inhibit Function for input #1

« on: July 20, 2010, 04:12:25 PM »

I am trying to setup the Inhibit functionality in Mach. I have input 1 set to pin 15 of the bob, I have checked the General Config box to Enable the Function, the input 1 led will toggle on and off but the Inhibit led and functionality will not work.  I am trying the use the inhibit function so that my programs will not begin to run unless my charge pump is active. Can anyone point me in the right direction on this?  I have checked the manual but I can't seem to find anything on this that will help.

Thanks,
Tom

9

CVI MachStdMill (MSM) / Tool Touch off

« on: July 19, 2010, 10:28:11 AM »

Hi, 1st let me say that I really like this new screen set, Great Job.  My problem is that I am trying to use the z Tool touch off button, and nothing is working.  I can get the led to light up when I touch it.  I was using the Big Tex touch of macros before.  I am sure I probably don't have something configured right.

Thanks,
Tom

10

SmoothStepper USB / SS losing Data on Long NC Files

« on: May 17, 2010, 05:41:06 PM »

Has anyone had problems with the SS and running extremely long nc files?  I try to run a long nc file and the SS will lose data at the very begining of the program. I cut the NC file in half and it is running fine.  Does anyone have any idea why this would happen? I does not happen on shorter files.

Thanks,
Tom