Messages

311

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: The Laser Project.

« on: August 15, 2011, 10:53:18 AM »

Tweakie,
I am having trouble with my small laser setup using the Digit Trigger (?).  When set active low, the laser stays on full time (even when no axis movement) - when active low the laser is off.  I am using a 1 watt laser diode - homemade TTL driver.  It works fine when using the Z axis direction signal, and I get excellent wood burns with sharp line starting and ending points.  I am using pin #9 output for both modes, and just change pin assignments in Config>Ports and Pins to test - no wiring changes.  I suspect that I may have not set something correctly in Mach3, but cannot find it.  I have tried both yours and Art's version of the Laser/Impact plug-in with same results.  The plug-in seems to work OK when I load an image and start Mach3 - just no laser pulsing response.

All advice greatly appreciated.
Best Regards,
John Champlain

312

General Mach Discussion / Re: gCODE /eXCEL SPREADSHEET QUESTION

« on: July 20, 2011, 05:47:14 AM »

Enter 0 in cell A1
Enter =+A1+.004267176 in cell A2

click once on cell A2 to highlight it

Scroll down to cell A261 (262 cells)

hold down SHIFT - click cell A261

hold down CONTROL key - hit D

cell A261 should now read 1.10946576

Hope this is what you need.
John Champlain

313

General Mach Discussion / Re: Programing M3 to take out error of Mill xy not being sqaure

« on: February 27, 2011, 05:58:28 PM »

Bruce,
I have used a formula: [Function Cfg's > Formulas]
f(y) = y + (x * .*********) or f(y) = y - (x * .*********) where .********* is the amount to correct
Y for X moves.

Has some limitations as formula function may not be active some other functions (ex: Go To Zero).  Formulas would be much more useful in many circumstances if the limitations were fixed.

Best to square up mechanically if possible.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
John Champlain

314

General Mach Discussion / Re: jagged curve

« on: November 17, 2010, 07:23:09 AM »

Are you trying to cut in one pass?  Looks like tool chatter to me.  Code looks good in Mach3.

Try slowing down feed rate and cut with multi-pass.

Regards,
John Champlain

315

General Mach Discussion / Re: Scale Question

« on: October 30, 2010, 04:16:11 PM »

Anthony,
Try exporting from Cut2D as a gcode file and see if the problem still exists.  If so, you have a Mach3 setting wrong.  If the problem is fixed, you have a LazyCam setup problem.  Cut2D and LazyCam are both gcode generators.

Cut2D is an excellent program - worth every penny Vectric charges, IMHO.

Regards,
John Champlain

316

General Mach Discussion / Re: Delayed axis movement

« on: October 29, 2010, 08:21:36 PM »

Rod,
Does your controller use a current reduction feature when the steppers are at rest?  If so, disable it following the driver board instructions.

Regards,
John Champlain

317

General Mach Discussion / Re: Milling marks????????

« on: September 06, 2010, 07:30:43 PM »

Donn,
Have you tried with CV turned off?  I don't know if CV affects the Z axis moves, but I know it can affect the X to Y moves.  Anyone else know?
John Champlain

318

General Mach Discussion / Re: Milling marks????????

« on: September 06, 2010, 04:59:30 PM »

It occurs to me that if you have any slight amount of play where your router can "shake" a micro amount (and most all cnc routers do as far as I know) when it comes to an abrupt stop or change of direction, then this might explain the gouges.  Try running the program at a slower velocity to see if it reduces the problem.

Regards,
John Champlain

319

FAQs / Re: Migrating Machine - Parallel Port Will Not Run

« on: September 05, 2010, 09:46:12 AM »

Doesn't steppers not locking up indicate a possible controller/driver problem?  What else may have changed in the setup?
Regards,
John Champlain

320

General Mach Discussion / Re: Milling marks????????

« on: September 04, 2010, 07:43:57 PM »

I engrave a lot of Corian, and get the same effect; even with a step-over of .005.  My suspicion is that it is caused by the original raster image (BMP - JPG - etc.).  To check, enlarge a simple raster drawing until the individual pixels can be seen in the pronounced height changes (light to dark colors).  It would help to see the original picture to confirm if this is the cause.  The effect is probably not noticeable in wood, but Corian engraves much more fine details than wood and other materials.

Regards All,
John Champlain