Hello Guest it is March 28, 2024, 10:57:26 AM

Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - jtheath

Pages: « 1 2
11
LazyTurn / Re: LazyTurn
« on: May 24, 2009, 03:19:31 PM »
Hi All,

I'm a newbie trying to do something I thought would be simple... (heard that before have you?   :D)

Just trying to define the upper barrel of a "Cigar" pen.  The small end has a diameter of 0.470" and the large end is 0.570".  With the slight curve connectiong the ends, the barrel should have a max diameter of 0.675".  I drew the entire thing and snipped out the desired curve a couple different ways.  All dxfs load into LazyTurn without trouble but I certainly don't get a cut profile which looks correct.  I've been back to the manual and defining different tools but still cannot get good output.  The drawing is done using CorelDRAW X4 and exported as dxfs.

Please let me know what I've missed.

Thank you,   Joe


12
No worries, Rich.  Is the license you mention in addition to the Mach license (already purchased that one)?  I haven't yet tried using LazyCam or LazyTurn though these are on the list.  Most of what I want/need to do is pretty simple at the moment so I'm certain things will come together.  It's just time and effort, right?  ;)

Cheers,   Joe

13
Thank you, Rich. 

I pulled the WIZARDS_LIST_hcir.pdf document.  It covers the mill-related wizards but I don't see the lathe-specific ones.  Is there another lathe-related document I missed?

All the best,   Joe

14
Okay, figured out how to do the operations without using wizards.  Thank you, Chris (guycalledbathgate) for the code snippet at http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,6023.0.html.  That showed me how to do the parting and I understand what's happening.  The 60 degree taper I can cut using a center drill.

Still... does one of the wizards provide parting capability?  How does one cut a 60 degree cone in the flat face?

Cheers,   Joe

15
Now that the little Taig is completely controlled, my first project is making bushings for pen turning.  These are simple stepped cylinders - small diameter fits inside pen tube and larger diameter is desired barrel thickness.  The stepped diameters are straightforward using the OD wizard but I am struggling with parting off and figuring out how to create the 60 degree taper to fit onto my wood lathe centers.

I was trying to use the groove wizard for parting; the inner taper wizard for the 60 degree taper.  The taper goes in the flat face of the larger bushing end.  It only needs to be 1/4" deep to fit onto the wood lathe dead and live centers.

The groove wizard flat out refused to generate G-code.  The graphic from the inner taper wizard didn't look like the simple cone I was aiming for.

What's the recommended way to generate these operations?

Thank you,   Joe

16
Thank you, Chip.  I'm trying not to completely cut out the low end of the range however.  I currently have my main spindle pulley configured to go from 0-2400.  When setting to 300 the actual rate I get is more like 50.  In the diag PWM DRO it starts at a value of 0.08 or so.  If I request 200 rpm there isn't enough control voltage output to get the spindle moving.  What I would really like to do is get Mach3 to start any low end request at that 0.08 value.  That provides enough power to get an actual speed input and allow the PID adjustments to kick in.

All the best,   Joe

17
General Mach Discussion / Mach3Turn up and running - newbie questions
« on: April 25, 2009, 11:58:42 PM »
Hello All,

With the advise and guidance of a good friend I have my Taig microlathe up and running under Mach3Turn.  Little steppers on both axes; spindle control and feedback - all good.  I have all the motor stuff - lead screw, bearing blocks, carriage drive - on the back side of the lathe.  It all runs pretty well from the diagnostics and manual screens.  I do have a few questions...

First - my spindle control is Step/Dir using a CNC4PC C6 board.  Is there a way to set a step floor in Mach3?  Some minimum number of steps to output to get the spindle moving?  The low end is very non-linear it seems and unless the spindle begins turning the speed feedback doesn't update and adjust power to bring to the correct speed.  I tried running through the automatic spindle calibration but that created other issues.

Second - since my carriage is mounted backwards do I need to change anything to get motion going in the correct dimensions?  Like I said, things run correctly from the manual screen.  For example, the up/down cursor keys move the carriage slide toward the front and rear as expected; pressing left/right moves the carriage toward the headend or tailstock along the bed.  Am I good to go?  How should the movement limits be input?

Lastly (for now) - what's the best way to come up to speed on using Mach3Turn to produce things?  I'm wanting to do some pretty simple things at first - turning stepped guide bushings of various materials and making some pen barrels - but don't know how to get started defining and running the necessary shapes.

Thank you in advance!

All the best,   Joe

18
Hi Tom,

I just got my Taig microlathe fully converted.  For motor control I am using a C6 Step/Dir conversion as a potentiometer replacement.  The DC output and ground from the C6 provides input in place of two legs of the pot.  I also used a C3 board with optical sensor to close the loop.  Both boards acquired from cnc4pc.com.

The C6 requires a 12V power supply and the C3 a 5V supply.  Grounds should be case isolated.

Hope this helps,   Joe

Pages: « 1 2