Messages

421

General Mach Discussion / Questions 1st Aluminum Cut Sample

« on: November 14, 2012, 07:48:31 AM »

Generally if you are selecting a series of shapes (pockets etc) that are going to receive the same machining technique. Though MC might choose the start point and will have a default entry/lead in style. In my understanding which is very little MC is very professional software. I am sure both values are selectable and variable. These are common and accepted practices.

422

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: Removing tool changes in a multi op wizard?

« on: November 13, 2012, 10:58:36 PM »

at the moment spindle isnt under Mach control so the M3 wouldnt have an effect anyway. Again thanks and it opens up the possibilities.

423

General Mach Discussion / Re: Questions 1st Aluminum Cut Sample

« on: November 13, 2012, 10:55:06 PM »

The lead in will allow you to do just as Gerry is suggesting. I am sure MC has these same abilities if not more. You are running a higher rpm than I can IIRC 8000rpm? so your plunges could be faster than mine but just try to get to depth first and then let the side of the tool do the cutting. When I say square, the cutout that will be scrap (the part right above the word "spindle") could be where the entry was initiated or ramped in parallel a s Ger is saying. Do you ever simulate it, or run it in Mach with the tool above the work or the machine off but running Mach? I do this sometimes due to ignorance of the proper way to a simulation or verify.

424

General Mach Discussion / Re: Questions 1st Aluminum Cut Sample

« on: November 13, 2012, 09:39:26 PM »

I could never plunge at 15" a minute with an end mill (not in my present configuration anyway). I would most likely plunge in the 3-4 inch per minute range but I am conservative when breaking tools (that was a joke) my feed rates might be in the 10-16 ipm though I am limited by a 1900 rpm ceiling at the moment. Also as Gerry mentions and I recommended you practice on some scrap, ramping is a form of entry and should leave no marks that arent removed with a finish pass. The helical ramp if used would have been used on the inside of the square, again only noticeable if the small square piece is the part you are keeping. I believe you are trying to cut the panel and the square would be scrap. Same for ramping in along/parallel to your line of cut, the tool should be cutting not dragging and therefore deflecting off path. I only mentioned the feed rate becasue you should stick to what the calculated feed is for that tool and conditions.

425

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: Removing tool changes in a multi op wizard?

« on: November 13, 2012, 09:30:51 PM »

Each operation screen will always start with a tool screen. It should open  with the same values you used for the last tool, so there should be no need to make any changes, just click Continue.

This is the case on the set up of the op but during the running of the file, each op stops and waits for the confirmation of tool change, pressing cycle start begins running the program again though the tool request is the same as the tool from the last op (therefore still in the spindle.

When the code is generated it tries to only put in a tool change gcode if there has been a change. There are some places where this doesnt always do as you expect it to.

I was using the slotting/keyway wizard in different widths and locations but using the same cutting tool. Is this one of the places?

There is a radio box on the config screen that lets you ignore tool change. I agree, this is not often a wise choice. The choice to stop and wait for a cycle start is usually the wise choice.

This is what I usually do because I do have my tool set up in my tool table. I am using the TTS system.

There may be extra stops for tool change that are not really necessary, but the opposite- not stopping when a tool change is really needed is usually very bad.

If the tool was to remain the same, could I remove the M6 T# of each op with no other changes, or if there were other changes that would need to be made. What would they be?

Yes, .125 mills dont hog well at all!

Anybody know what to do with small pieces of end mills :-)

Thanks again Ron and the new usefulness of a tool like this just makes it so much easier.

426

General Mach Discussion / Re: Questions 1st Aluminum Cut Sample

« on: November 13, 2012, 07:45:18 PM »

The lower picture looks like a 2 flute end mill, hard to say if it is center cutting however plunging is an aggressive move and on my machines I generally get uncomfortable and flex or deflection seems visible during the action but I dont see it in the results. It might just be paranoia on my part. You might try slowing the plunge rate of that tool, not the feed rate. Otherwise everything looks great. And congrats. Also think twice about slowing the feed down and confirm it in the feed and speeds calculator if possible.

427

General Mach Discussion / Re: limit switches work and dont work i need help

« on: November 13, 2012, 07:37:27 PM »

no (off and on) but when it works it works till i start it up again
Well that isnt helping me so maybe someone else will chime in however ground loops and such can be very hard to track. So we will keep looking.  

yes
This makes me think it is most likely something that was never connected, designed or implemented correctly.

pmdx-126
Good board, lots of great features. Is powered by 120/240. It is the one I am running currently on my G0704.

where would it be in the controll box
The PMDX 126 has wires running to the drivers for each axis, the power supply will be feeding those drivers only, as the PMDX gets it power from the mains. There will be wires going from the drivers to the steppers also. The terminals on the drivers are most likely marked with a - & + symbol for the input voltage. Most hobby level machines are running 24-48vdc power supplies with a few running higher.

not sure what debounce is
Debounce is a setting on the "general config" page of Mach 3. There are 2 settings. You only need to concern yourself with the 1 marked "debounce interval" this setting is the amount of time (40us) a signal has to be present before Mach recognizes it. This is a software work around for systems with electrical noise present. Small numbers of 100-500 are acceptable and will help many machines. Many people cant get away with 0 levels for some reason or another. The only negative I am aware of with this setting is running high numbers, remember it is not recognizing the sugnal til it is present for the specified amount of time you enter there. So the machine is still traveling all of the time between when a limit or home switch is triggered and the interval is reached. I am not trying to worry you here just start with say a value of 100, see if it works. If it does leave it alone. Btw each microsecond (the amount of time per  of this setting) is 0.000001 x 40 of a second. Probably not too much travel for a couple of hundred of those LOL.

not sure
That all right. If problems with noise turn out to be the culprit, we will get back to that.

there is a emi filter on the plug to the control box
Excellent at least incoming lines are quieted.

the box has a ground inside for the control box...
Is this just a chassis ground? (the green wire from a typical ac wiring in the US) Is there a wire from the power supplies (that feeds the drivers) V- terminal to this same ground point? Though this is the negative supply of the vdc, it also needs to be tied to the chassis ground, along with the incoming ground of the ac and the shields of your stepper wires and limit switches.
 
the kit is a cnc router parts nema  34 built by them
They most likely use off the shelf components like everyone else.

 can you pm me with info and i will send pics from my phone
As a last resort I will be glad to but you can post pictures directly thru tapatalk if you are using a phone. Dont be embarassed about wiring or organization.

thanks keith

428

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Removing tool changes in a multi op wizard?

« on: November 13, 2012, 05:15:37 PM »

   I just learned to chain ops together. At the moment I am using the same tool and tool number for each op but after each keyway or pocket it prompts for a cycle start after the tool change.

   There is an ignore tool change feature within Mach but I wouldnt think i need to change my settings there. I have been wrong before, alot.

   I cant believe how long it took for me to learn that chaining ops was possible. Beautiful performance if I would get over my fear of feedrate or doc commitment. .125 end mills dont seem to hog very well for me :-)

429

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: Adding multiple operations?

« on: November 13, 2012, 10:09:59 AM »

You are not alone! I have been using it for single ops when I was too lazy to CAD it for over a year (not daily or anything just hobby learning). I resist a manual more than anything. Reading and comprehension issues can make that cumbersome. YouTube demos would have been great. Uh Oh, did I look on YouTube before posting this?  No but you can guess how many syllables there are in ASS/U/ME cant you? Always better late than never.

430

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / The Laser Project.

« on: November 13, 2012, 09:04:23 AM »

Now that is funny!