Messages

801

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to install Shuttle Pro?

« on: November 27, 2009, 08:30:30 PM »

I love mine, Hood you could build a nice aluminum enclosure instead of the cheap plastic one! I would buy 1!

802

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't jog or MDI??

« on: November 26, 2009, 11:56:53 PM »

You can read it all and though it will help, there will still be times when it doesnt make any sense at all. Enjoy

803

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't jog or MDI??

« on: November 25, 2009, 11:34:01 PM »

Have you done any of the configuration of the native units, steps per unit, accel and velocity tunings etc? Even if you dont have it hooked to a machine it has to think it is going a specific distance.

804

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't jog or MDI??

« on: November 25, 2009, 11:31:05 PM »

You would have to tune the motors for mach to know how far it went theoretically. So some steps per unit will have to have been entered. So yes on the configuration.

805

General Mach Discussion / Re: New PlugIn just about done..

« on: November 24, 2009, 09:17:45 AM »

To all who worked on this feature, THANKS! It works great, it was easy to set up for a complete novice (though with all the late nights reading here and on the other forums when will I be an apprentice?). It sure is nice to stand right at the machine move the tool to touch the part, zero out, start running a file or even to just machine manually with incremental precision. BTW can I turn in my "Total time spent logged in" to some university and get a degree? Seems more effective here than in a classroom and I get to test yalls answers immediately. Thanks

806

General Mach Discussion / Re: confused about how to interface Mach 3 to Mill ....

« on: November 23, 2009, 08:42:17 AM »

If you go the stepper route, Hobby CNC  makes a kit for 3 axis for less than 100 bucks. Great kit, well built and organized.

807

General Mach Discussion / Re: S word?

« on: November 22, 2009, 09:56:30 PM »

Thanks Hood as always. It was my first foray into turn. I fudged it and it worked fine. Well at least just like the drawing. The drawing sucked but it cut it correctly. It was a practice piece.

808

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Shuttle Pro 2 is excellent

« on: November 22, 2009, 09:16:41 PM »

I had a joystick that I was trying to use and though it was ok, but that is about it. I do think my joystick was defective as it would not be very strong/fast on 1 axis and lose movement momentarily. I never liked the look of the shuttle pro but I bought 1 today  and all I can say is WOW! Easy to set up, plenty of options for the hobbyist at least and gives me the ability to jog as fast or slow up to the part with incredible precision. Program a button for the jog cycle increments and you can theoretically control down to .0001 with the inner dial. I get set up almost fast now of course I still screw up and throw the part out but that is a different set of problems. Get the probing plugin fixed and I will really be in heaven! BTW I am able to control 4 axis now (and that is all I have) and maybe up to five? Not 2 as with the joystick.

809

General Mach Discussion / Re: Homing the machine.

« on: November 22, 2009, 09:00:07 PM »

Some people have to insert a resistor in the homing switch circuit to eliminate errant spikes triiger them. Shielding is the best way to go also make sure the servo/stepper wires arent running right alongside the homing switch wiring.

810

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Probably a REALLY basic question....

« on: November 22, 2009, 12:46:35 AM »

I sure dont mean to sound discouraging but your journey has just begun! If you drew it in BC then have BC generate the toolpath. After drawing the part go to the data cam tree select stock and generate toolpaths.