Messages

211

General Mach Discussion / Re: Running Mach 3 in Windows 7 64 bit

« on: February 12, 2013, 10:36:32 PM »

Use a SmoothStepper.  M3 will run on W7 64bit, but the PP driver will not.

John Champlain

212

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Mirror Lasering With Shades

« on: February 11, 2013, 01:35:33 PM »

"white artist canvas"

Fantastic.  Good going, Jeff.  Another brilliant innovation from you.  You continue to push the state of the art even higher.

John

213

Share Your GCode / Re: How to speed up simple G Code

« on: February 08, 2013, 09:59:32 PM »

Jack,
Glad you got it working.  Your success is enough reward.  Please post another video showing improvement if possible and not too much trouble.

Best Regards,
John

214

Share Your GCode / Re: How to speed up simple G Code

« on: February 07, 2013, 07:56:08 PM »

Jack,
Enable the A axis and assign pins to it.  Set the velocity and acceleration to maximum values.   Connect a solenoid control to the A axis direction pin.  In your gcode, a G0 A-.0001 should trigger the solenoid.   A G0 A0 should turn off the solenoid.  If the solenoid works backwards to what you want, then reverse the Dir LowActive setting.

Do the same for the B and C axes.

Regards,
John Champlain

215

Share Your GCode / Re: How to speed up simple G Code

« on: February 06, 2013, 09:38:10 PM »

Jack,
I haven't used them, but same as M10/M11 commands as far as I know.  Tweakie does use them.  Both M10P*/M11P* and E10P*/E11P* are not well documented, and only work properly in later versions (post Ver. 057 ?) of Mach3.

To get M11 (or others) to work, enable an output (ex. Output1) and assign it to an output pin.  Then issue the command for Output1 On (M11P1) followed immediately by a G0 or G1 command, either on the same line or the next.  The G0/G1 command can be either a needed axis move or a dummy axis move (such as G1 C0).  The output1 pin will turn on immediately when the axis move begins.  Repeat to turn it off with the M10P1 command.

John

216

Share Your GCode / Re: How to speed up simple G Code

« on: February 05, 2013, 05:47:46 PM »

Jack,
You might try the M10/P* / M11P* (off/on) commands.  They don't have a time delay associated with them as M3 (other Ms?) do.

I don't know if you can use more than one output though, but you might try replacing the M3 first to see if it helps.  I also haven't tried, but maybe also use E10/E11 commands for another output.  If I am wrong, someone will hopefully jump in with corrections/another suggestion.

Regards,
John Champlain

217

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Laser Diode Engraving

« on: February 02, 2013, 08:29:07 AM »

Dave,

Much appreciated.  Wood dowels were my first choice, but I'm 20 miles away from a supply, so I just substituted what was on hand.  I plan to make more for gifts and will certainly use oak dowels.

John

218

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Laser Diode Engraving

« on: February 01, 2013, 06:19:48 PM »

Made some simple display stands today for laser diode engraved mirrors.  Red oak with clear lacquer.  Tomorrow I will laser a design and my logo on them.

219

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Mirror Lasering With Shades

« on: January 29, 2013, 07:10:17 PM »

Excellent work, Jeff.

All, it is important to note that Jeff is the inventor and developer of the gray scale image engraving process using an analog controlled (not TTL) laser diode.  He has freely shared his methods with all who have expressed interest.  Larger CO2 lasers do not seem capable of reproducing an image with the same high quality that Jeff is achieving.

For those of you who have an interest, more may be read here: http://hobbycncart.com/forum/63-151-3

John Champlain 

220

General Mach Discussion / Re: MI2000 CNC machine from 19's year

« on: January 23, 2013, 10:37:22 AM »

Is your Windows 7 computer 64 or 32 bit?  Parallel port won't work on 64 bit.

John