Topics

11

General Mach Discussion / Need help--or ideas

« on: October 04, 2013, 02:03:44 PM »

Hi all-

I have a nc Amada iron worker that looks like the CPU is bad.    I shipped the CPU to a circuit board repair company in Charlotte NC earlier today.

Now I am looking for options incase the CPU is not fixable.

The iron worker is a simple design.   It has a hydraulic pump and cylinder, several switches, and a x axis stepper motor, and gear rack.


All I have to do is to set the required length, the pitch (number of offsets) and then press the run button.
Once the run button is pressed, the x axis backstop moves to the correct position, I press a foot pedal and the ram presses, then the x axis moves to the next position.   Then everything repeats.


There is also a turntable that rotates to different dies.   But this is a simple motor contactor.

Any ideas on where to start?

I have built a CNC flame cutter, so I am not new to this.   Just need advice.    I need this for my business.



Steve

12

General Mach Discussion / Flame cutter won't jog.

« on: May 19, 2013, 04:27:02 PM »

My flame cutter has been working great for the last year.   I have not done anything to it besides use it.   It is not connected to the Internet, and I have not upgraded either Mach or sheetcam in a year or so.

Yesterday I powered everything up, and tried to jog the cutter.   It will not move in high speed.

I reset the DROs and moved the head.  According a tape measure it is moving the correct distance.

Where should I start looking?


Thanks


Steve


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13

General Mach Discussion / Linking three programs

« on: February 08, 2013, 11:32:20 PM »

I am needing help figuring something out.   I have several thousand pieces of 4 x 4 x 1/4 square tube that I need to notch on three sides.

How can I right / link three separate programs together so that the first program runs completely, then stops at a wait point.   I then manually rotate the tub in a jig.   Press an aux. start button and program #2 runs.   Then #3.

After the third program runs the flame cutter goes home and starts over with program #1 on the next start button push.



Thanks


Steve


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

14

General Mach Discussion / External start button

« on: July 06, 2012, 08:42:37 PM »

I finally have my flame table running halfway decent, so it is time to start monkeying with it.   I am trying to add an external start button.   I have a switch wired up already, and it works.   I have it assigned to turn on an input #1 so I can watch the led turn on and off.

The problem is when I try to enter a number "1000" in the ports and pins for OEM trigger #1 .   I can't enter a number, it will only allow me to press a key and then the number is automatically entered.

What am I doing wrong?


Thanks for the help

Steve

15

General Mach Discussion / 4 to 20 ma

« on: June 03, 2012, 05:13:59 PM »

I am working on a idea that I need help with.   I tried the search, but nothing showed up.

Is there any way to get mach to output between 4 and 20 ma that I can control?

Steve

16

General Mach Discussion / weird parallel port issue

« on: May 31, 2012, 12:25:21 AM »

Hi all-

I have figured most of the bugs out with lots of help-  THANKS.

Here is the latest one.  I can deal with it, but it is a pain.

I am using two parallel ports.  One is on the mother board and the other is on a add on slot.

I have it configured correctly in mach, and everything works as it should.  I made sure I saved everything.

I can close out Mach and restart the computer.  Open the ports and pins page and everything is like it is supposed to be---except the second parallel port is not working.

All I have to do is the save the address as a bogus address, close ports and pins, open ports and pins, then change the address back to the correct address.  Then save


everything works correctly then.


Any Ideas???


Steve

17

General Mach Discussion / Indicator led lights

« on: May 21, 2012, 06:52:49 PM »

I am having problems with my flame cutter.   I have narrowed the problem down to either the parallel port or wrong ports and pin settings.   Is there a way I can add a light on my screen that changes color when the switch is made that detects the top of the plate on my z axis?

I am using the BOB from Tom at candcnc.   



Thanks



Steve

18

General Mach Discussion / G31 question

« on: May 06, 2012, 07:32:45 PM »

I am trying to get my flame cutter back up and running after 8ish months of no use.

Every thing is working except the g31. Code.   I am using macros to turn the oxy and propane on and off.

I currently have the home limit switched set so that the x and a are located to the far right of the table, the y is to located closest to the control panel, and the z is all the way up.  I did it this way so loading the table with big sheets is easier.

Since my home limit switch is located in the up position, can I use the the limit switch that detect the top of the plate to reset my z axis dro?

Or is there a better way?


Steve

19

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Moog Hydrapath

« on: February 29, 2012, 05:14:50 PM »

After trying to keep the MHP mill up and running, I have finally given up.  May the MHP RIP!

Now time for the UPGRADE.

I have started to strip all the electronics out of the cabinets, and disassemble most of the mill.  Once it is disassembled, then I am going to repaint most of it.

This is what I am planning (unless something changes)

3 granite devices servo drives
1 DSPMC motion controller
2 I/O cards from Vital Systems
1 10 HP spindle with Toshiba VFD


While removing the existing components, I found some electronics that I am unsure what they are or what they are for.  I will post some pictures later today.


I will keep everyone posted on the progress


Steve

 

20

dspMC/IP Motion Controller / Step and Direction

« on: February 23, 2012, 06:11:37 PM »

Can the dspMC/IP do step and direction?

The manual say it is not supported "Yet".   Any ideas?



Steve