Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / Tool change info

« on: August 20, 2013, 11:22:39 PM »

Hi, I am new, I have the g code to a sign, it calls for 3 different tools, there are 3 M6 tool change lines, I assume the machine will stop at these, do I just jog away from the work, change the tool with an equal length one and hit cycle start? I realize there are macro settings etc. etc. but for my first multi tool cut I would like to keep it simple.
Thanks for any help.
Terry

2

General Mach Discussion / ball screw question

« on: February 06, 2013, 11:10:22 PM »

Hi, I am building a new cnc with mach, I am using a ball screw on the Z axis, what is the procedure to determine a start point setting for
 the steps in motor control screen, I have set them with regular acme lead screws but ball screws are new to me, the one I am using is 12mm.
Thank you
Terry

3

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Blank wall re dxf files ??

« on: November 07, 2012, 05:29:39 PM »

Hi, new to the hobby, have built a desktop three axis machine using Mach3 through a Gecko540. I have the machine up and running using supplied g-code, works well, my problem is I have access to several dxf files but have no idea how to convert to g-code so Mach can run them. On reading everything I can find I suspect I have to somehow put them into Lazycam then convert to g-code for mill. Any help you can offer in laymans terms would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Terry

4

General Mach Discussion / Please look at my xml file and tell whats wrong.

« on: October 08, 2012, 07:50:14 PM »

I have mach 3 running on a small 3 axis router through a Gecko 540, I have had this system running with a hobbycnc board, I have all motors running and moving properly, all limit and home switches work but when I call for reference all, the motors move at a snails pace and growl loudly. Sounds like they are getting very low voltage?? I must have missed something in the ports and pins setup. If you see something wrong please let me know, I am stumped.
Thanks for any help you can offer
Terry

5

General Mach Discussion / Need help with two problems

« on: October 02, 2012, 08:41:06 PM »

Hi, I have a 3 axis router with mach 3 and a Gecko 540 board, I have it hooked up with all motors turning correctly etc. what I cannot figure out is when I hit reference all, the motors turn very slowly with a loud growl, when jogging individually they work fine. The other problem I am having is when I try to access the automatic step button to set up the motors, it will not come up so I can enter the axis and distance.
Would sure appreciate any help you can offer.
Thank you
Terry

6

Mach3 under Vista / Really need help

« on: July 18, 2012, 10:36:42 PM »

Hi, I have been running my 3axis cnc on windows xp for a few years, the computer is tired, so I loaded the program on a newer HP  with Vista. The download went fine, the driver test worked first time. The new computer of course did not have a parallel port so I purchased one and installed it. My problem is the program comes up fine however there is no power to the board. I went into device manager and clicked on the parallel port properties, it shows LPT3 , in the Mach program settings the LPT address is 0x378. Is that not the address for LPT1? Any ideas? I know enough about computers to be dangerous, so if you know what is wrong please keep it simple.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Terry

7

General Mach Discussion / Moving program

« on: July 01, 2012, 07:17:27 PM »

Hi, I have Mach3 on an old shakey computer running windows xp, I would like to move it to a newer unit that is running Vista. The newer computer does not have a parallet port. If I understand properly buying and installing the port is not a big deal, what is the safest way to move the program? I have saved the license file on the old unit.
Thanks
Terry