Messages

11

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Gertrude Gets Some!

« on: November 23, 2014, 03:16:44 AM »

SO all looks like its running ok!

Clip of the path running https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp1ENjXegEU


Clip of the piece done https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K46d7-Wb5Ak

12

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Gertrude Gets Some!

« on: November 16, 2014, 05:16:18 AM »

Hi Chris

I like the idea of having A & B axes.

But I worry about the layout of the electronics. I had a very compact box like that once. It was fine until it stopped. Then I found out just how hard it was to work on it! Verged on the impossible. OK, it WAS impossible.

My current electronics system is very much '2D' in layout. You can get at everything from above. Debugging is easy. Since my system has just had a total rebuild, that was a bit essential. Yes, total: replaced the USB SS with an ESS, added two MB-20 BoBs, replaced the old (dying) servo drivers with Gecko 320Xs, replaced the (spectacularly) dying SCR-based KBMG spindle drive with a MOSFET unit (much quieter motor but the RFI was incredible), and added some custom interface cards and opto isolators for the encoders and the eStop system. Getting a CRO in there was so easy from above.

Cheers
Roger

Hi Roger, yes, been thinking about a rebuild of the controller,
I actually have a old server that is in a MASSIVE case.. and its current board is more than ample to run Mach3,

and if i dump its raid array and dvd rom bays, the driver boards etc would easily fit..

but..

that is  a project for another day.....

13

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Gertrude Gets Some!

« on: November 16, 2014, 05:11:14 AM »

Hey Tweakie, long time no see.. thanks dude. Yeah the X is still way off, if you watch the last cut from A0 you can see the "offcut" wax has thicker areas in X.. TBH havent dailed in X and Y yet, but 5th is quite forgiving

14

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Gertrude Gets Some!

« on: November 16, 2014, 04:05:21 AM »

Setup all the homing and G54 offsets at last
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9_JEFLKDehk

and finally some wax on her..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=oTRY9VHbECI

15

General Mach Discussion / Re: Altering a Macro Help please.

« on: November 08, 2014, 11:52:54 PM »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbliIh1EBv4

16

General Mach Discussion / Re: Altering a Macro Help please.

« on: November 08, 2014, 04:59:23 PM »

Thanks I got help.  Issue resolved

17

General Mach Discussion / Altering a Macro Help please.

« on: November 07, 2014, 05:04:02 AM »

Hey All,

Need some help from the code junkies please.. I have an existing macro that does my homing and a tool pro be for me.  it runs like so:

Z, Y, X then Probe.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQVm4YjLM3E


I have since upgrade to a 5th axis, and I need to home A and B as well..

BUT

B = no issue as it cannot crash anything//

A = Issues..

then script will need to run as follows now:

action sequence:

1. Home Z: then Move Z to a safe distance. (say 10mm down from home switch)

2. Home X: then Move it to Fixture 1(g54) X0  (XYZ share one input signal, I have to move off the switch for next axis homing run)

3. Home Z: then move it to Fixture 1(g54) Y0  (XYZ share one input signal, I have to move off the switch for next axis homing run)

4: Home B:

5: Home A: then move A to -A45

6: Probe Tool: (note Z MUST stay at same height until its directly over tool probe before going Down Z.

7: Return to the safe Z (10mm below Z probe) over X0andY0


So! Most of the code already exists, and the tool probe position is programmed via my interface so all I need added are the A and B bits..

Any help appreciated folks!

(here is the current standing of my build, jsut about ready to start making noise!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQVm4YjLM3E)

and attached is the current Macro. (adding it as file because code is being converted into smiley characters by forum)

HomSigY = IsActive(5)
HomSigZ = IsActive(
Xreferd = GetLED(7)
Yreferd = GetLED(
Zreferd = GetLED(9)

If HomSigX Or HomSigY Or HomSigZ = True Then
        MsgBox("Home switch active...please deactivate before tool change.")
        Exit Sub
End If

If Xreferd Or Yreferd Or Zreferd = True Then
        MsgBox("Axis not referenced...please home all first.")
        Exit Sub    
End If

LastFeed=GetOEMDRO(818)

SetUserLED(1001,False)
SoftState = GetOEMLED(815)
If SoftState = True Then
DoOEMButton (119)
SetUserLED(1001,1)
End If

SetUserLED(1002,0)
WorkUnits = GetOEMLED(801)
If WorkUnits = True Then
code "G21"
SetUserLED(1002,1)
End If

DoOEMButton(104)
While IsMoving()
Sleep 100
Wend

xTSensPos = GetUserDRO(1200)                
yTSensPos = GetUserDRO(1201)                
code "G00"                        
code "G53X" & xTSensPos & "Y" & yTSensPos      
While IsMoving()
Sleep 100
Wend

SensGapPos = GetUserDRO(1203)
code "G00"
code "G53Z" & SensGapPos
While IsMoving()
Sleep 100
Wend

zTSensPos = GetUserDRO(1202)
SensSpeed = GetUserDRO(1204)
code "G31Z" & zTSensPos & "F" & SensSpeed
While IsMoving()
Sleep 100
Wend

CurrFixture=GetOEMDRO(46)

Select Case CurrFixture
Case 2
     ProgXZero = GetUserDRO(1209)
     ProgYZero = GetUserDRO(1210)
     ZtoProbe = GetUserDRO(1212)
Case 3
     ProgXZero = GetUserDRO(1213)
     ProgYZero = GetUserDRO(1214)
     ZtoProbe = GetUserDRO(1216)
Case Else
     ProgXZero = GetUserDRO(1205)
     ProgYZero = GetUserDRO(1206)
     ZtoProbe = GetUserDRO(1208)
End Select

SetDRO(2,ZtoProbe)

code "G00"
DoOEMButton(104)
While IsMoving()
Sleep 100
Wend

code "G00"
code "G53Y" & ProgYZero & "G53X" & ProgXZero
While IsMoving()
Sleep 100
Wend  

If GetUserLED(1001)= 1 Then
DoOEMButton (119)
SetUserLED(1001,0)
End If

If GetUserLED(1002)= 1 Then
code "G20"
SetUserLED(1002,0)
End If

18

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Gertrude Gets Some!

« on: November 04, 2014, 07:20:33 PM »

ok so i progressed..

the machine is pretty much modelled so i can detect crashes and I have written a few paths to play around..



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg5TEj5xIIc

19

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Gertrude Gets Some!

« on: November 02, 2014, 11:27:20 PM »

pretty good question as ive not actually written on and run it yet.. I got the 5th axis version of RhinoCam and took a poke at it once so far..
the pathing is easy.. its doping it so it doesn't hit stuff that wil be more challenging..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxYSbWn0ikA

20

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Gertrude Gets Some!

« on: November 02, 2014, 08:51:32 PM »

Ha! nope .. having hair at all is an issue now days..

here is a copy of the build to so far from 3dcad.. its ALMOST there, my last headache is wiring the limits built into the A and B axis'

I made the decision to add a 5th Axis to my Minitech Minimill 2 as a hobby project.

I bought a second hand Minitech 5th axis trunnion table unit from fellow forum member Stewy, and assigned a little time each weekend to work on it.

The initial arrival was a worry as it looked far to big for my table.. but it worked out ok.


The BEFORE shot:



Getting the 5th Table positioned required some poking around before the stripdown occurs.


4th Axis off...



Tool Probe off, XY table ready to fit the trunnion.


This position is the only way it will fit and still allow access to the tool probe.



Probe is available.. Just barely..


Cutting forward of the table is impossible.. but the back 120degree of A and teh full 360 of B will suffice



The wiring!!:

I solved my 5V issue by using an external PS 5V 1000ma. It is wired it to a plug socket so that swop out will be easy if this dies (see white plug point wired in the back)

From the initial layout to get motion, the task of fitting it all in the original controller box seem daunting.. but a beer later it was solved.. sometimes resolving an issue requires walking away from it and coming back..



And its all in... Again a very tight fit..


I also mounted the B driver board to left of the main 48V power supply



As for the B driver I had to reduce it from 2.7A to 2.1A, in my burn in test B stepper was running way to hot.. I wired it to the only space left, above the power inlet.


and all assembled and running! (still need to solve the A and B limit wiring)



I have no hard data for the stepping/microstepping of the B axis so some poking in the Motor Tuning got me to a guesstimate of about 1250 steps/per, which after tests below of 20 and 40 revolutions of the B axis turned out to be pretty accurate.. (I will go play the lotto next!)


Line up cutter with edge of D tooth on the chuck


Then Lifted Z, and ran B7200 in test1,B14400 in test2.


Then drove Z back down to photograph and examine. EXACT as far as I can tell.



And the Burn in running!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2eZlWv7vYA

The "run in" code i wrote it longhand so use with caution whomever else may follow this thread in future, it relies on you already having zeroed out stuff in safe distances.. it then loops a reasonably safe bit of code 50 times. "reasonably safe being relevant to your experience level...

USER BEWARE!!

G0X0Y0Z0A0B0

M98 P01 L50
G0X0Y0Z0A0B0
M30

O01
G0X30Y30Z20A90B90
G0X-30Y-30Z-20A-90B-90
M99