Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: A axis isn't working

« on: October 19, 2013, 12:58:59 PM »

Here are two pics of the now-working A axis. Thanks to you folks on the forum this upgrade to my 3 axis machine is working well.

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General Mach Discussion / Re: A axis isn't working

« on: October 10, 2013, 02:17:50 PM »

Thanks for your helpful replies.

My next step now is to learn more about g-code programming.

Problems are really good because they help (with all of your advice/assistance) advance my understanding. I've made leap in knowledge as a result of working through this situation.

Thank you.

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: A axis isn't working

« on: October 09, 2013, 05:52:25 PM »

Oh, the joy!

Changed the Steps Per to 4.4.

I tried an MDI of G00 A360 F3600 but that didn't change the behavior of the a-axis.  Al, is this what you meant by controlling the feedrate in your F3600 comment?  I didn't see another way to change the feedrate for a particular axis.

Next, I set the Velocity to 3600 in the Motor Tuning (see attached pic). Now the a-axis rotates to the proper angle! (I do need to add more decimal values to the Steps Per like 4.4444.) The drive belt chatters or vibrates a bit on ramp up, but the motor sounds normal.

So, due to everyone's help, I am making progress.

Thanks a ton.

The spreadsheet is very helpful as well.

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General Mach Discussion / Re: A axis isn't working

« on: October 09, 2013, 02:42:02 PM »

Thanks for the replies.

Here is the XML file.

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General Mach Discussion / Re: A axis isn't working

« on: October 09, 2013, 11:20:35 AM »

Hi, Thanks for the reply.

I have used the 4.444 step per setting but the movement of the a-axis was virtually imperceptible, although I was able to hear a tick-tick-tick-... which was likely each degree. The velocity line was not visible on the motor tuning graph, probably below the range. Nonetheless, maybe I can jack up the Acceleration to compensate.

Thanks again for your help.

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General Mach Discussion / Re: A axis isn't working

« on: October 08, 2013, 10:46:20 PM »

Thanks for the replies.

Here is a pic of the '4th-axis'.

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General Mach Discussion / Re: A axis isn't working

« on: October 08, 2013, 05:26:21 PM »

Yes - the drive motor is connected to the a-axis shaft via two timing belt pulleys and a XL belt. Both are 15-tooth at .2 pitch. That would mean the distance of travel for one revolution of the motor would be 3 inches.

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General Mach Discussion / Re: A axis isn't working

« on: October 08, 2013, 05:22:17 PM »

Thanks for the reply.

No - G00 A1 gets a full 360 revolution. Yes, I agree. It should provide only 1 degree. I used the Automatic Calculation of Steps Per - it gave me back 1600.

I feel strongly that the problem lies with the fact that Mach3 isn't doing anything with the A-Axis is Angular check box. There is no different behavior whether the box is checked or not. I wonder if there is any code behind it??

The manuals make frequent reference to setting A-axis to Rotary but nowhere can I find where that is at. I am using R3 revision of the software, which is relatively new I think. I am wondering if this new version eliminated the A-axis to Rotary setting or put in some place other than the General Configuration page.

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General Mach Discussion / Re: A axis isn't working

« on: October 08, 2013, 04:12:44 PM »

Thanks for your replies.

Did the G00 A1 test. With the Steps Per in Motor Tuning set at 1600, the A-Axis turns a full 360. If the Steps Per is set to less than 1600, the revolution is less than 360. I just experimented to arrive at the 1600.

When I do the math for Steps Per, I get 13.333. That is 200 x 8 microsteps x 3 (I am using a 15-tooth .2 XL pulley on both the motor and the a-axis) = 4800 divided by 360 = 13.333. The motor will virtually not respond at this setting. It is invisible on the Motor Tuning graph. That is why I experimented to get up to the 1600 Steps Per.

By the way, the a-axis responds the same whether 'A-Axis is Angular' is checked or un-checked. Which leads me to believe this isn't the right setting to make the a-axis rotary, but then where is the correct place to make this change?

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General Mach Discussion / Re: A axis isn't working

« on: October 08, 2013, 02:14:10 PM »

Here are pics to support the text.