Topics

31

General Mach Discussion / Any Microscribe users in here?

« on: April 24, 2010, 01:11:37 PM »

Sorry, I know this is probably the wrong forum, but I'm desperate! (Microscribe is a portable CMM device)

I'm using my Microscribe in Rhino4.

I know how to find the mstip.dat file, change my delta 5 to the correct number, but when I try and save the change it says it's a read only file and can't be saved.

What am I doing wrong to let Rhino know the correct non standard tip length that I want to use?

Help please! trying to get this project finished!

32

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Rhino for cad and Madcam for cam

« on: February 10, 2010, 01:07:38 PM »

http://www.madcamcnc.com/start_page.html

This is the set-up I think I'm going to end up with for my 5 axis build.

I have a microscribe digitising arm, Rhino4.. now just need to purchase this Madcam. I had the demo but let it expire before really getting to play with it because I was learning Rhino and the Microscribe.

It's a 3+2 right now... but rumors of full simultaneous 5axis is very soon. Maybe even within a couple of months.

There's a guy on CNCzone that uses this in a production machine shop and he says this is almost comparable to his $20k programs!

33

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / heeks cad and cam

« on: February 04, 2010, 01:28:22 AM »

anyone see this heeks cad and cam? Free opensource software.

I think it supports 5 axis... maybe even 6?

Just google heekscnc or heekscad or http://code.google.com/p/heekscnc/

What do you guys think?

34

General Mach Discussion / Save probing output as XYZA instead of pointcloud data

« on: August 07, 2009, 10:53:37 AM »

When probing a part in 4 axis, what steps are needed to save data as XYZA data instead of pointcloud data?

Is there a box in the Mach program to check somewhere to switch between the two?

I haven't probed a part yet, but from my understanding the data by default is pointcloud. Is this correct?

35

General Mach Discussion / setting up a 5th axis

« on: June 05, 2009, 10:46:35 PM »

Introductions are first I suppose, hello my name is Jesse and have been a Mach user for about 3 years.

I currently have a Townlabs 4th axis machine running in Mach2. Uncrated machine, plugged it in and made a simple Gcode that I made long time ago for one part and have run it since with no changes.

Now I want to get a second machine and have some fun. The Townlabs is perfect for what I use it for, but won't be accurate enough for my new needs.

So... looking at a Syil X4 with 4th axis. My issue is I'll need a 5th axis, gantry style I think it's called for cutting and probing.

Questions:

How do I drive the 5th axis? Do I have to buy a seperate controller for just that stepper? If so do I need 2 parallel ports on my computer?

The Probe wizard on Mach3, does it only support 4 axis?