Messages

31

General Mach Discussion / Re: Lazycam posts wrong g-code? SO LOST!!

« on: May 21, 2011, 01:43:55 PM »

In this case I would:-

In Autocad - insert the scanned image as follows.

Drop down insert menu, insert > 'Raster image reference' ( this  inserts say a 'jpg image onto the ACAD drwing)
Use the image as a guide to draw the geometry. i.e trace the shape with arcs and lines.
If you have some known dimensions such as the slot width and pitch, set these exactly in ACAD.
Only draw 1/2 of your shape and mirror to ensure that the part is exactly symetrical.

Import the geometry to your CAM package.

ATB
Derek.

32

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 Problems - Rant!!

« on: May 20, 2011, 02:11:00 PM »

Your results will only be as good as the machine Iron.
The reliability is proportional to the operator patience.

Your machine might be" crap" - Mach is not.

I have been using Mach for 3 or more years and it still astounds me every day at how good it is.
.....but then I talk nicley to MY machine  

33

General Mach Discussion / Re: Lazycam posts wrong g-code? SO LOST!!

« on: May 19, 2011, 02:29:05 AM »

It could be caused by posting the Gcode in absolute IJ mode and mach is in incremental IJ mode. ( they need to match)

ATB
Derek.

34

General Mach Discussion / Re: Controlling Mach with Powerpoint? Is this possible?

« on: May 17, 2011, 01:55:32 PM »

Maybe even easier......

Connect a relay to mach and use the contacts to "press" the space bar of the PP computer.
i.e wire the relay contacts across the keyboard space bar switch (its normally the space bar that indexes to the next slide in PP).

Agreed, it's a bit of a hack, but "simple shimple" 

ATB
Derek.

35

General Mach Discussion / Re: Controlling Mach with Powerpoint? Is this possible?

« on: May 16, 2011, 02:24:05 PM »

Good idea and I was also contemplating an optical sensor to do the same thing. An image can come up in between the slice images with a small graphic in the upper right corner of the screen where a mounted optical sensor can pick it up and send a similar signal to Mach to advance to the next position. This would alleviate any external noise that might false trigger the audio sensor/microphone.

You could connect directly to the speaker output socket on your PC - there would be no problem with external noise.

ATB
derek

36

General Mach Discussion / Re: Ghost in the room

« on: May 16, 2011, 02:12:37 PM »

Thanks Gerry,

 I am aware of the settings as I have had to go through them carefully around 20 times now.  Think I have them memorized

I shut everything down and restarted computer and Voila she is running fine.  Finally !

I am semi convinced that the Computer is the issue or the controller.  Super fresh install of xp 32bit sp3 plus updates.  1.5gb ram 3.2ghz processor. 
Tuned for performance with everthing shut down.  What makes me of this mind is the Fan does run contiuously at times and usually when not much going on.  Comp is super clean inside.  Cleaned her out 4 days ago, wrote over ubunto with xp at same time. 

Could be bluetooth adapter, wireless adapter.
Very little softare: adobe reader, mach, mozilla, and that is about it.  .

  I thought maybe there were some definite no no's when it comes to Hardware and Mach.   

Someone had a similar problem when a USB memory stick was left connected - if your bluetooth is a USB dongle type - maybe that's the problem?

ATB
Derek

37

General Mach Discussion / Re: Controlling Mach with Powerpoint? Is this possible?

« on: May 16, 2011, 02:04:57 PM »

Maybe there can be a plugin or wizard written to call up the images one by one and display them while Mach runs a couple lines of code each time an image is displayed, that would be ideal but I'm not a software engineer so I'm clueless when it comes to programming.

Remember, Mach only has to run a few lines of code, basically to move the Z axis up or down a few thousandths for each image displayed. Mach is doing very minimal work here. It just has to be in sync with the images as they are displayed.

Thinking aloud.....

For each image slice have PP output a audio tone. (Speaker O/P)

Using a simple electronic circuit, the tone can be rectified and turned into a square wave pulse.
Feed this pulse into Mach to index the next Z position ??

Would that work?

ATB
Derek.

38

General Mach Discussion / Re: 4th axis question, possibly configuration ?

« on: May 15, 2011, 02:34:57 PM »

Derek:
The program was written for inches (G20). Therefore 1300 in/min. A crazy speed of 21 inches per second. (or in metric 550mm /sec)
I suspect for the A axis that might be interpreted as DEG per minute which is 21 deg per second a (somewhat) manageable number. My A axis has no problem with it (surprisingly since my motor is small) so it must be deg/min.

also

The moves in X,Y and Z as you mention, are locked together is speed only if the commands are on the same line. In the example programs the Z moves are on a separate line from the A moves with a G0 in front which should revert the Z moves to whatever the config says for maximum speed for the Z axis. (as far as I understand it anyway). It works fine single stepped.

Sage


Hi Sage,

Yes, 21"/ sec is a bit fast :-)

39

General Mach Discussion / Re: 4th axis question, possibly configuration ?

« on: May 15, 2011, 12:03:42 PM »

Hi Todd,

just as an aside.. what machine are you using, material you are machining and size of cutter/ max spindle speed.?

1300mm / min is reasonabe if you have the spindle speed to get the chip load correct.

ATB
Derek

40

General Mach Discussion / Re: 4th axis question, possibly configuration ?

« on: May 15, 2011, 11:12:31 AM »

Hi,

This might be related to normal 3 axis moves where the max feed rate of the individual axis don't match... for eg.

My BP can run 750mm / min in X & Y but only 300 in Z.

So, if Im running a profile part with "hold in tabs" at greater than 300mm / min, Mach is happy to run the X & Y at the requested feed of say 400, but in order for the cutter to follow the desired profile has to move at the same 400mm/ min. You can only do  an XYZ at 1 feed rate.
To explain more, if the hold in tab has 45 degree ramps then the xyz feed is even. BUT if say the ramp is 60 degrees, X & Y feed is output at the requested (say300mm /sec) Mach outputs the pulse train to Z at a considerably higher feed rate in order for the profile to be correct because X & Y are moving at 300mm/sec. ( sine of the ramp angle).

?