Messages

11

General Mach Discussion / Re: Thing ran fine, now jogging skips?

« on: December 05, 2009, 10:17:37 AM »

The problem was in the driver. Mechatronics products can be good, but probably not as secure as Gecko. I don't know what fixed it, but I changed some chips, and adjusted the current with the little phillips head adjustment deals in the driver and it was good.

12

General Mach Discussion / Re: Machine won't move.

« on: December 04, 2009, 06:21:15 PM »

I think it's called Mach3xml. It's one I attached so you guys can see. I don't know what they mean, but I do know they make the machine work good! Something definitely isn't adding up here. I just ran this program yesterday with the xml. As soon as I switched to another computer, I had problems getting the xml (either into mach, or working with mach). Thats why I stated step by step how I put the xml in, because at this point I'm not sure of anything. Thanks for the help Hood.

13

General Mach Discussion / Re: Machine won't move.

« on: December 04, 2009, 06:08:07 PM »

Well, I got it moving and just ran a small  program, but the configs are all off. At least I know that it's confined to the configurations. I still don't understand how my xml didn't configure the settings like it did before. I hate to be back at square one with all these elemantary type issues, it's just instead of really learning the technical ins and outs of Mach, I had been actually using my machine and staying busy! I'm not sure what I missed here. Can someone tell me if I put the xml in the wrong way? The xml was attached to an email, I saved it to my documents, then made shortcut to desktop, then after Mach was installed and rebooted I went to my computer from start menu, went to c: drive files, clicked on mach3, and put the xml in there with all the other mach files in that folder. Should I have removed the mach3xml that was installed with the download or do they not interfere with each other? I checked with a 12" scale to roughly see how far off it was and the x axis alone says it's travelled about .552 when it really traveled about an inch. The other axes are off too.

14

General Mach Discussion / Re: Machine won't move.

« on: December 04, 2009, 02:00:54 PM »

Here's 2 different xml's, do they look ok? The zenbot one should be custom for my machine's steppers and all that.I don't know because i don't know how to read xml's.I followed manual, and rebooted right after download. Then dropped on of the xml;s in, and could get machine to neither jog or numbers to move on readout. Xbox controller plugin is in and good, checked it in device manager. One thing I don't understand is when installing Mach3, how important it is to create custom profiles. I do simple stuff, and only need it to run my machine without re-configuring or adjusting motors, ports and pins, etc. I just need one profile. If I have a good xml, where should I drop it so I can finally get this right? Thanks.
Just tried it again, re-downloaded,re-booted, placed zenbot xml. into the mach3 folder on c:drive. The mach screen came up as half a screen again, and lost my xbox plugin. What is the problem here??

15

General Mach Discussion / Machine won't move.

« on: December 03, 2009, 07:01:51 PM »

I ran a cnc router with Mach trial for many months, until my computer had a crash( a virus I think). I purchased another computer,(Gateway 3.06GhzCeleron 512mb, 40gb) and downloaded Mach trial again. I had the orig xml from the maker of my router, and dropped it in, got the xbox 360 plugin/driver and the whole nine. I can't get the machine to move. Screen comes up normal, the coordinates move when I toggle the joystick, and it says the xbox plugin is working, and I configured plugins, cancelled shuttlepro plugin, and all that.I ended up repeating this process a few more times. I shouldn't have to mess with configs if my xml was fine before. I checked device manager settings for all the hardware on the new computer and every port and hub is good. I even got the old computer started again briefly so i could get my old Mach program(that worked good) on a usb stick, and transferred that to the new computer. I can't make sense of why Mach won't work on this new computer. It appears right. I had the old computer running through Mach, and jogging my router around fine just before I shut it down for good to get repaired. The old computer was a Dell optiplex, but it shouldn't be much different than this Gateway. Does the Mach program have to be downloaded in the C drive to work? I sent it from the memory stick into my documents, mabye that is a problem? I'm confused.

16

FAQs / Re: In need of a low speed spindle motor

« on: November 28, 2009, 11:19:08 PM »

Just did some research. I believe what I'm looking for is called a rheostat. They sell on Ebay for about $18.00 bucks and work for ac/dc motors. If this works out, I'll be thrilled. Thanks again.

17

FAQs / Re: In need of a low speed spindle motor

« on: November 28, 2009, 08:20:10 PM »

I'll definitely look into that Rich. Don't know much about Sherline, but will look into it Mike. Thanks much, I always get the best help from the guys on this forum.

18

FAQs / In need of a low speed spindle motor

« on: November 27, 2009, 12:20:26 PM »

I posted this question in the router building section and didn't get any replies, so I thought I'd try it here. My question is... Is there any spindle motors or palm routers for cnc router that aren't jacked up to 15,000 to 30,000 rpms? I got a Rotozip on mine, and it's good for everything not metal.
I just want to do some very light machining on steel, and don't want to burn up my bits. Getting a milling machine is out of the question right now. What I want to do is plunge a 1/16" carbide endmill about .040 into steel, and do it repetitively. I need about 3000 rpms, but even a spindle tool that would go down as low as 5000/7000 rpms I would be happy with. I am unfamiliar with the 240v stuff, and I only have 110/120V electric. As of now, at 15,000 rpms and keeping the feed low, it's just not working. Thanks for your help.

19

General Mach Discussion / In need of a low speed spindle motor/ palm router

« on: November 22, 2009, 10:34:36 PM »

Is there any spindle motors or palm routers for cnc router that aren't jacked up to 15,000 to 30,000 rpms? I got a Rotozip on mine, and it's good for everything not metal.
I just want to do some very light machining on steel, and don't want to burn up my bits. Getting a milling machine is out of the question right now. What I want to do is plunge a 1/16" carbide endmill about .040 into steel, and do it repetitively. I need about 3000 rpms, but even a spindle tool that would go down to 5000 rpms I would be happy with

20

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Problems loading cad files to L-cam

« on: November 13, 2009, 10:18:20 PM »

What I'm wondering now is, if what I intended to make as a 2d spiral somehow accidentally had height entered(by myself in cad) and became a 3d helix. This would explain creating a chain( I think). Or it could have processed as 2d like intended, and now needs some manual inspection of the code lcam put out. I read that it could be as simple as a few z commands in the program that need taken out. (z zeroes generated by lcam). There's a lot of speculation here, and I have to assume first that the lack of success are the result of my errors, not that of the software.