Messages

51

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z axis drift during X-axis motion...

« on: November 15, 2010, 10:22:59 AM »

MDI????
If this refers to moving the X-axis from the keyboard, I can do that without Z-axis drift.

52

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z axis drift during X-axis motion...

« on: November 15, 2010, 09:16:38 AM »

Just performed an interesting test...
There is NO drifting of the Z-axis when I manually move the carriage along the X-axis with the keyboard commands.
It only occurs when the X-axis is moving during a program execution.
What does that imply??

53

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z axis drift during X-axis motion...

« on: November 14, 2010, 06:55:39 PM »

Okay, let's see if I'm uploading the file correctly...
Hope you find something useful...
Chet

54

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z axis drift during X-axis motion...

« on: November 14, 2010, 05:07:33 PM »

Okay, which of the reply icons would I use to attach that file???
On regular e-mail I'd be confident, but I'm not seeing what I'm looking for in the icon list.
Of course it could be there, I just don't recognize it...
Chet

55

General Mach Discussion / Z axis drift during X-axis motion...

« on: November 14, 2010, 04:08:28 PM »

I'm using Mach3 with a computer running Windows XP and a HobbyCNC driver board.
I've noticed that the Z-axis motor will rotate slightly during runs on the X-axis only.
It is stable on Y-axis runs.
I'd love to get rid of the drift...
And, yes, I've already added the extra capacitors to the cables going into the HobbyCNC board to ground out cross-talk.
So I'm open to new suggestions...
Chet

56

General Mach Discussion / Re: X-Axis Motor Doesn't Start After Tool Change...

« on: November 14, 2010, 03:56:34 PM »

Happy Days! - The system is working again!
I first wrote a little program that would require a tool change.
But, most important, I also remembered that for some reason Mach3 XML programs can sometimes become corrupted.
So before running my new test code, I changed to a different version of the XML program I'd been using.
Bingo!  Test program ran correctly, as did the main program when it was loaded.
The advice to make back-up XML's is good advice indeed!
However, I also did one other thing differently - I used keyboard commands rather than the mouse...
I share that info just in case it can help someone else with mysterious problems...
Chet

57

General Mach Discussion / Re: X-Axis Motor Doesn't Start After Tool Change...

« on: November 13, 2010, 08:07:22 PM »

Thanks for replies...
I've designed a very small test program to try tomorrow.
The software that converts the bitmap into code sets up the tool change, I'm not actually writing the code.
(btw the bitmap to g-code software is the Acme Profiler)
Chet

58

General Mach Discussion / X-Axis Motor Doesn't Start After Tool Change...

« on: November 13, 2010, 03:53:00 PM »

Rough cut goes smoothly until program reaches tool change pause.
After tool is changed, I press Cycle Start...
The screen in the upper right of Mach 3 indicates the tool is moving and the numbers in the X, Y, Z axis change,
BUT the X-axis motor does not move.
I've tried to reset to a previous position with the Run From Here command, but the machine also seems to have forgotten where it was.
I'm using a HobbyCNC driver board.
This is a new problem for me...
Any thoughts, suggestions???
Chet