Messages

541

General Mach Discussion / Re: Slotted opto sensors as limit sitches

« on: October 15, 2016, 11:56:29 AM »

Aha! I found the website, http://www.vinland.com/Opto-Interrupter.html

He tested the same type as you Hood, and they don't use lasers, I misremembered!

542

General Mach Discussion / Re: Slotted opto sensors as limit sitches

« on: October 11, 2016, 10:46:57 AM »

Thanks again - good input.  Actually only £3.94 one-off, even from RS!

543

General Mach Discussion / Re: Slotted opto sensors as limit sitches

« on: October 10, 2016, 03:28:46 PM »

Thanks Hood - do you have an actual value for the repeatability please?  This is actually for a pendulum sensing application.

544

General Mach Discussion / Slotted opto sensors as limit sitches

« on: October 10, 2016, 10:50:57 AM »

Hello all, a while back, on a different PC, I found someone's website where they had some nice info on using slotted opto sensors as limit switches, referencing a specific type that used laser diodes for a narrow beam and could sense very accurately and repeatably.  Of course I've lost the bookmark - any help or links to such a site or info on using optos in this way would be very welcome please!  The site also had information on making touch-off probes if that helps.

Thanks in advance for your help!

John.

545

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Make M-Code

« on: May 05, 2016, 06:00:50 PM »

If I recall correctly custom macros have a restricted number range, I think starting at M110.  I've had a similar problem.


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546

General Mach Discussion / Can’t get Probe to Work

« on: March 02, 2016, 03:57:30 AM »

You may not need it.  I assume that your machine is grounded so the tool will be grounded through the spindle.  But it's good practice to have a ground wire as shown which should go back to the star point ground in your electronics.  The "copper board" of course should be printed circuit board, so the copper layer which is uppermost is normally insulated from ground until the grounded tool touches.  I find that probing works fine through the machine ground.


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547

General Mach Discussion / Index RPM will not return to zero

« on: February 04, 2016, 03:43:29 AM »

Which parallel port?  Actually it doesn't matter, the sensor will output up to 200 mA, depending on the impedance it's connected to.  Actually a resistor is more likely to cause problems as it will reduce the voltage swing at the port input and reduce noise tolerance.

By the way I have the latest recommended version for threading and I switch the spindle on and off manually.  But have to press "spindle" button to tell Mach 3 that lathe is started and rpm reading still persists when I manually stop the lathe.


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548

General Mach Discussion / Index RPM will not return to zero

« on: February 02, 2016, 05:05:35 PM »

If you turn off the spindle manually Mach 3 doesn't know it's stopped.


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549

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: NFS Turn Wizard

« on: December 21, 2015, 06:27:02 AM »

Many thanks Tweakie.  Just to be sure, it looks like the add-ons come with R3.043.066 as a package, then they get unlocked by the license? 

Thanks, John.

550

General Mach Discussion / Re: Simple Threading - lathe heads for the hills...

« on: December 21, 2015, 06:25:16 AM »

I suppose it's based on thinking of the lathe like a mill on its side with the head to your left....