Messages

101

General Mach Discussion / Re: how the helll do i calucalte m steps per unit????????

« on: April 30, 2008, 09:33:46 AM »

You could just go to the settings page in Mach and click on the 'Set Steps per unit' Button and run the configuation Utility.  Then the computer would tell you what it is 

HTH,
Sid

102

General Mach Discussion / Re: HELP - DELL OPTIPLEX 520 - SIGNAL QUALITY - other pc's

« on: April 30, 2008, 09:30:40 AM »

Hey Rich,

Perhaps this might be something you already thought of but....  Maybe it's time to give the Optiplex the Old 'Gravity Test'?

I think if you took a poll on what peeps thought of Dell you would get a mized bag of results.  In the past Dell has chosen to do some funky (proprietary) things with some of their machines which have raised compatibility issues fo some folks. 

Seems to me like every Office Depot nowadays is having a sale on a Core Dual Desktops - for the agravation that you are going through would it not be easier to just swap your computer?

Just my $.02

Sid

103

General Mach Discussion / Re: HELP - DELL OPTIPLEX 520 - SIGNAL QUALITY - other pc's

« on: April 27, 2008, 10:19:44 PM »

Have not used it but, Ron Rogers sells this one made to work with Mach. 

http://rogersmachine.net/PCIport.html

Maybe time for a SmoothStepper Board?

Regards,
Sid

104

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: Shuttle Xpress Problem

« on: April 27, 2008, 05:11:33 PM »

Hey Barry,

The last file was the correct one.  It doesn't seem like we have the same problem.  However, I did notice that the Shuttle Plugin version you are currently runing is an older version (2.1).  It has since been updated.  Why don't you try re-downloading the new version (2.6) and install that.  I think that should help you out.  If not, give us another shout!

HTH,
Sid

105

General Mach Discussion / Re: Noobish Question On Motors & Drivers

« on: April 27, 2008, 02:08:23 PM »

Cool!  Thanks for the NON-"Silly Answer"     BTW- What happened to your "Bad-A$$" Avatar- I kinda liked it!

Regards,
Sid

106

General Mach Discussion / Re: Noobish Question On Motors & Drivers

« on: April 27, 2008, 01:40:18 PM »

Ahhhhhhh  the Good Old Lovejoy Coupling!  I love 'em but I think you're going to see a lot of backlash.  I guess you could weld the 2 couplings together to form a rigid coupling.  But then, why not just get a rigid coupling?  Better still, check out http://www.sureservo.com/couplingconsiderations.htm there is a list of servo coupling manufacturers there.  One Company, Ruland has a really good pdf explaining the differences between the diff types.

(Quick Hijack) Hey Hood, have you ever tried the Rogers encoder interface?  I was speaking with Ron the other day about how it works and it seems like it would be great for steppies & Servies?

Regards,
Sid

107

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: Shuttle Xpress Problem

« on: April 27, 2008, 03:45:04 AM »

Hey Barry,

Well, I can't really answer the original question yet because it seems this XML file is either- incomplete somehow, not the mach3mill.xml file or perhaps it is from a very old version.  Can you verify that this is infact your Mach3mill.xml file anf tell me what version of Mach you are running?

Thanks,
Sid

108

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: Shuttle Xpress Problem

« on: April 25, 2008, 11:11:51 PM »

Barry,  I have noticed similar 'weirdness' as of late.  I think I may have figured it out but, rather than give you bad advice- could you possibly post you .xml file (you'll need to rename it something like barry.xml to be able to upload to the forum) for the machine you are having the problem with.

I'd like to have a look at it to confirm my theory.

Thanks,
Sid

109

General Mach Discussion / Re: Automation Direct Photo switch

« on: April 25, 2008, 11:40:29 AM »

Yeah, maybe.  It's just kind of a shame to have to go that route if you don't already have the PLC integrated.  Here is a link to a relay that has a 3V coil http://www.factorymation.com/s.nl/it.A/id.4962/.f?category=99 in case you wanna give that a go...

Regards,
Sid

110

General Mach Discussion / Re: Automation Direct Photo switch

« on: April 25, 2008, 11:26:59 AM »

Here's a thought... How about you add a relay to the mix.  Have the photo switch trigger a relay (coil) and then use the switched relay circuit to trigger the BOB?  I know it involves adding another piece of hardware but it's about all I can think of right now...

HTH,

Sid