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Topics - gd.marsh

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General Mach Discussion / Tool Change Offset issues
« on: December 20, 2011, 01:17:09 PM »
I'm using R3.048.053 with a SmoothStepper and TTS tooling and I'm having a difficult time getting the tool change offsets to work properly.

I set up my ref tool (TTS Dial indicator) as tool 1 and add several other various tools all carefully measured using the Tormach system.

After referencing tool 1 to the top surface of the part, re-zeroing Z, then pushing START.  It will call for tool 2, I change to tool 2 & hit start again. As tool 2 moves down to the part it stops at .257 above the surface and begins executing the cut.  It's not ramping to the cut depth here .. its executing the entire pocket or profile but cutting nothing but air.

I have tried several things to discover where the problem lies as follows:
Homing the machine & making sure Work Coords = Machine Coords before referencing Tool 1 to the part.
Double checking that I don't have any offset parameters set in G54.

I can also reproduce this by implementing tools changes manually as follows:
From the Program Run screen - manually entering tool numbers into the Tool DRO.  (I know that's not the proper way to do it, but it's the way Tormach shows to on their video)
From the Offsets screen - manually entering tool numbers into the Tool Dro.
From MDI - typing t1m6 (enter) then g43h1 (enter) .. or whatever tool number I'm calling for.
In all cases the correct offsets show up in the H dro, but all of the above give the exact same results Z0 = (Z0+.257)

It doesn't matter what tool# is called for .. they all stop short of the surface of the part even if I call for Z0 from MDI.
I've checked & re-checked that I'm measuring the Ref Tool & all others correctly.
When comparing Work Coord to Machine Coord the math adds up when taking tool length offset into account.

I'm stumped & need to get this resolved.  I suppose I could uninstall everything and start over with Mach & the smoothstepper software, but I'd rather not have to go there if it's something I'm missing or doing wrong.





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Modbus / My SJ200 & Mach3 setup
« on: April 27, 2011, 08:09:12 PM »
Switched to a Hitachi SJ200 after my original Teco drive failed on me.
There were many frustrating hours spent trying to get this working but I finally figured it out. 
Below are the Modbus setup screen & the Brain I'm using to accomplish Forward / Reverse / RPM's in Mach.

Since all it takes is to write to 1 coil for reverse motion that was easy (the second coil defaults to 0 which changes direction to forward)
The hardest part for me was figuring out how to write to two coils at the same time to get forward motion. 
Finally dawned on me I could use the same 'Spindle CW on' LED twice to do this .. mapping it once to coil '0' & once to coil '1' .
Once I made that single change in my brain .. it worked perfectly.
RPM's also have to be written to register '0' to work .. because again that's actually the first register.

Hope this helps someone else who's struggling like I did to understand this stuff.

3
Modbus / Struggling with RS485 & Teco 7300CV
« on: March 19, 2011, 02:42:06 AM »
I've read & re-read the articles .. I've tried copying other peoples settings & brains .. but I just can't seem to get modbus controlling the VFD.
I will admit I'm new to this, although I do have considerable computer experience. 
I'm using Serial w/ plug-in and a RS232 to RS485 converter straight out of the serial port. 
I can communicate with the VFD using the setup software that came with it.  I can read & write to output holding registers from the modbus test window but all I get are timeouts & VFD faults when trying to deal with coils.
I have a working brain (everything lights up as expected) 
I would gladly start from scratch if someone can help me set this thing working.

Attached is the VFD function code & memory map manual for those who know what their looking at.

4
Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Custom Guitars
« on: January 22, 2010, 04:39:10 PM »
Here's a couple of pictures of the first MDF mock up to come off the newly built router .. Actual guitar will be made of hardwoods and I'll post some pictures after it's machined.
Software used: AutoCad, Cut2D, Cut3D, Mach3.  Machine specs: 660mmX1270mm, 25mm profile linear rails, zero backlash ballscrews & nuts, 680oz steppers, gecko 203v, steel & aluminum construction.

gd.marsh

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