Messages

31

General Mach Discussion / Measuring Down Time

« on: June 01, 2016, 11:08:38 AM »

Hey all,

So is there a way to go into Mach and measure how much down time there has been in a week's time?  For instance, how much time the operators are leaving a machine sit before changing material and running again?  I'm doing an efficiency study.

32

General Mach Discussion / Re: New user

« on: March 04, 2016, 11:28:12 AM »

Don't be afraid to tackle it.  Just go for it!  Of course, be as safe as you can, there is no substitute for common sense, but don't be intimidated by it.  Learning CNC on my own has kind of given me a new outlook on life:  I'm not afraid to tackle anything, question anything, and try to always look for the more efficient workaround.

33

General Mach Discussion / Re: Pictures to GCode?

« on: March 04, 2016, 07:49:29 AM »

What kind of machine?

34

General Mach Discussion / Re: New user

« on: March 04, 2016, 07:30:40 AM »

KT:

I remember those days.  That was me about 11 years ago.  Basically the way I look at it is this: figure out where you're going to generate the Gcode, like some CAD program or Vectric is what I use, then you "load gcode" in Mach and Mach runs the machine for you.  So you need two programs: One to make the files, and Mach to run the files.  Yes, you can make stuff directly in Mach, I've never done it, Vectric VCarve Pro has just been so easy for me to learn.  I've been using it from the beginning.

What program do you use to draw?

Bill

35

General Mach Discussion / Re: REFERENCE

« on: March 04, 2016, 07:24:59 AM »

Just open up your Gcode using notepad and scroll down to the end of the code.  Put whatever coordinates you want your stop position to be at the end.  Then make sure there is one blank line at the end of your code or Mach won't read it.

You can do that from inside Mach by using the edit Gcode button or just go to the folder and open using notepad.

I use Vectric to generate my code so instead of doing this on every single file I generate I just changed the coordinates in the post processor itself.  Do you use Vectric VCarve Pro?

36

General Mach Discussion / Re: tabs

« on: February 29, 2016, 08:36:40 AM »

I wanted to do one pass on the drum sander but had to do as many as 5 on some pcs.  I couldn't put multiple pcs through the drum sander because it would bog the motor down too much.  So I had to break each one out individually.  That resulted in hours of manual work and a lot of scratches and bleeding on my arms from breaking the pcs apart.  I definitely got an education.  I would just really like to develop a sweet hold down system for cutting these parts out without much work after the fact.  We are a production shop, and my job is primarily finding out ways to minimize or eliminate manual labor from the process.  In my line of work, volume is the name of the game.  We are stealing work away from the Chinese exporters; but in order to do this, you have to be able to automate and eliminate steps to the final product.  I'd like to be able to cut these out and send them directly to paint, but at this point, I can't figure out a way to get it done.

37

General Mach Discussion / Re: tabs

« on: February 25, 2016, 06:09:20 AM »

do you put the ball bearing on the top of the bit, closest to the motor? what size bit is best?

38

General Mach Discussion / tabs

« on: February 24, 2016, 01:25:33 PM »

So I tried cutting out shapes by onion skinning and sanding through with a drum sander as per my old conversation here.

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,31824.0.html

It was not nearly as neat and glamorous as I had hoped it would be.  So back to the drawing board on hold down.

Tabs-does anyone use a trim router to cut parts out of the sheet?  I will be machining 4x8 sheets of 3/8 plywood.

Here is a pic of what I'm making:

39

General Mach Discussion / Re: jog keys overrun

« on: February 16, 2016, 08:00:24 AM »

Use MDI to make the machine move where you want it.

Also in the past I've experienced stuck keyboard keys.  that's annoying.

40

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle does not run when running G-code but runs when I click the toggle button

« on: February 09, 2016, 12:14:46 PM »

It happens to me too.  Usually I just shut down the program, restart, and it's good.