Messages

121

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Metal Nibbler Two

« on: November 07, 2010, 09:49:39 PM »

I got the screws and anti backlash nuts mounted on my new (to me) even smaller machine The end of last week.  The mounting blocks were cut on my Mach 3 driven Taig.  They are to adapt an old style MaxNC 5 to acme screws and anti backlash nuts. 

The machine was assembled and hand tested Friday.  I would have done a full test except I don't have an LPT port on the PC I planned to use to drive it.  Oops.  I got one ordered and I'll see how it works. 

I tied it to my other computer today, and after making a recalculation to accomodate the screw pitch it seemed to work fine on a dry run of a helical cut.  After playing with it and testing some things I mounted a temporary spindle on it and made a test cut.  It worked fine.  Now to start designing its permanet spindle.  I plan to set it up with a redesign of my dual spindle mount, but I am playing with a couple ideas on how to zero the 2nd spindle to the 1st.  When I get it figured out and built I'll post a video of it cutting two pieces at once. 

122

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need help setting up Mach with Zenbot

« on: November 06, 2010, 10:44:52 PM »

If you run a simple g-code program does it move properly on all axis?  

Or in midi screen on the command line can you manually enter a g-code and have it execute properly?  

something like:

G00 X-1
G00 X1
G00 Y-1
G00 Y+1
G00 Z-1
G00 Z1

If it moves correctly then you just need to check / reassign your key assignments for jogging.  If not then you probably have a connection or hardware problem.  

One other thing.  When you start Mach you should use the loader and select your Zen setup.  And... always restart Mach after changing setup.   

123

General Mach Discussion / On board vs plug in LPT port

« on: November 04, 2010, 11:19:29 PM »

I just finished retrofitting a mchine and was going to test it when I realized there was no parrallel port on the computer I was going to use.  Oops.  I found this one:

http://www.cnaweb.com/pci-high-speed-parallel-port.aspx

It claims to work better than an MB mounted LPT port.  Anybody found any correlation between performance with Mach and MB VS high performance plug in LPT port? 

I went ahead and ordered it because a Smooth Stepper is just a little more than I have left of my allowance right now.  Its EPP so it shoud work fine. 

124

General Mach Discussion / Re: Using the the taig mill to turn parts...

« on: November 01, 2010, 11:56:57 AM »

Hi,
I apologise if this question has been asked and answered before, I had a look but could not see it.
I would like to use my taig cnc mill with mach3 to turn a part. The turning tool would be mounted on the table and the part on the z-axis in the spindle collet. What would be the best way to set this up in mach3?

many thanks,
St.John

Using a Taig Mill like a lathe.  There is a video on Youtube where a guy is making bushings that way. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbfXXeiSHsw

I think he is using a specialty 1/2" mill holder from A2Z CNC to hold 1/2" brass rod stock to make adaptor bushings. 

125

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 - G540 - Altronix RDC48

« on: October 31, 2010, 12:49:22 AM »

Never mind.  Its pretty much spelled out in the manual.  I had not looked at it since I initially hooked it up and got it working. 

126

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 - G540 - Altronix RDC48

« on: October 31, 2010, 12:17:54 AM »

That's kinda what I was getting at, but I'm not sure what to program to operate those outputs. 

127

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 - G540 - Altronix RDC48

« on: October 30, 2010, 07:44:11 PM »

Is this a 48VDC coil? If it is then you will need to use another relay to switch that one will you not?

Why?

Configuring is easy, Config menu, Ports and Pins, Spindle Setup then uncheck Disable Spindle Relays. You then put the output number there that you will use. Next go to Inputs tab and enter the port and pin you will use to connect the relays coil to.
Hood

And how does that correlate to terminals on the G540?   Or are you saying I have to add a breakout between the LPT port and the G540 and pull directly off the LPT pin?  Then I would understand the why of your previous comment/question. 

128

General Mach Discussion / Mach 3 - G540 - Altronix RDC48

« on: October 30, 2010, 07:32:18 PM »

One reason I hate to leave a small job running is because I hate to leave the spindle going after the job is done.  I've been thinking I need to add a relay to turn on and off my spindle (and coolant later) at the beginning and end of a job at the very least. 

The Altronix RDC48 looks like the ideal relay for the job.  Its 48VDC operation so I should be able to run it off the same power supply everything else runs off of.  Maybe throw a diode or an MOV across whatever switch I use to trigger it to protect the switch.  The coil only draws 20 mills so that's probably just paranoid overkill, but still...  Since its only 20 mills i really don't need to worry about the load on the power supply. 

Its rated for 10 amps on the contacts so it should be able to handle my palm router spindle just fine, or my lighter duty rotary shaft motors.  My only concern would be arc carboning the contacts.  Since the router is soft start that might not be such a big deal. 

So...  on a G540 what pins/terminals are available for triggering it, and how would I configure Mach to do the job automatically at the beginning and end of every code file? 

Since its DPDT I could use it to switch both my coolant pump and my spindle.  Maybe add a seperate switch to the coolant pump for when I want to dry cut. 

129

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Frankenstein Lives

« on: September 02, 2010, 11:32:40 AM »

Hi Bob,
that is a great idea, are you still using it and are you still happy?

many thanks,
Stjohn

Well, I'm not using it at the moment.  The basic idea worked pretty well, but my design needs some refinement.  I cut two sets of mold plates with it, and it worked perfectly, but I discovered when I was cutting my shallow (.003") air vents in the molds that they drift a few thousandths no matter how hard I tighten up the mounting screws.  I am working on a redesigned version with a squaring block bolted in between the two clamps that paired with a tighter fit to the Z-Axis should eliminate that.  Obviously I still need to plan this for my most common since plate size or plan to spend some more time setting spacers and shim to get the pieces square and the right distance when clamping to the table. 

130

General Mach Discussion / Re: not circle that is a polygon

« on: August 27, 2010, 02:46:33 PM »

EMC would be a lot more popular.  LOL.