Messages

661

General Mach Discussion / Re: Lathe Threading Wizard Rev 1.17

« on: January 31, 2014, 05:53:00 PM »

I didn't have to do anything with the relay or M3 but just click the spindle button.  Have you checked the  pulse polarity?

662

PoKeys / Re: Setup Edge finder with pokeys

« on: January 31, 2014, 09:07:49 AM »

You could also look at this thread: http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,22888.10.html

I posted a VB script there for tool height setting.  I also have a script for edge finding using an isolated-tip probe that interfaces to the offset screen (replacing the macros it normally uses); and one for hole centre finding; which I'd be happy to share.  Why use Pokeys?  Just need to use the probe input on your BoB.

John

663

General Mach Discussion / Re: Lathe Threading Wizard Rev 1.17

« on: January 31, 2014, 08:54:31 AM »

See this pageb for how to add a Hall effect sensor - an Arduino is rather a complicated way of doing it!

http://www.jeffree.co.uk/pages/ml7-cnc/part-3-files/myfordcncpt3.htm

HE switches that give a digital ouput are easily available, and even if you don't have one you only need a simple op-amp and a couple of resistors to square up an analogue output.  The A1101 that Tony Jeffree uses are a pound or two, save you even that trouble.

664

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Use of Embeeded Widows OS - Good, Bad, or Ugly?

« on: January 24, 2014, 05:40:07 AM »

If I was a commercial supplier of CNC machine tools which go into a workshop environment and are used every day to make stuff, so they have to be reliable and safe, I wouldn't want anyone fiddling with any part of the tool, including its control system.  Not only will it make it more reliable it will save me support effort and warranty problems.  If I have to use some third-party software that needs another third-party's OS to run, I'd like to lock down both of those so I know precisely what the controller software config is.  This view is based on a career spent in the electronics industry associated with a number of complex software-controlled products and systems.  Maybe these are the type of considerations that Tormach have in mind?

665

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: XBox360 Controller Plugin New User Info

« on: January 21, 2014, 05:59:37 PM »

Mine rapids the same.

666

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Use of Embeeded Widows OS - Good, Bad, or Ugly?

« on: January 21, 2014, 01:10:11 PM »

Quote:

"You could also win admiring glances from beautiful women by telling them that your system is embedded. Me? I'd just tell them I can program in both Pascal AND COBOL..."

Let alone the embeeded widows....!

667

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Tool zeroing macro help

« on: December 25, 2013, 05:13:27 PM »

Try reading and executing the instructions in my previous post.  You save the macro with a changed extension Iin e macros folder and just have a short "M*********" instruction in the button script.

668

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Tool zeroing macro help

« on: December 25, 2013, 10:12:02 AM »

Hard to say not knowing what you mean by "it did not work".  I suspect you have a software config problem.

669

General Mach Discussion / Re: help choosing right Power Supply

« on: November 26, 2013, 10:12:22 AM »

Jim, is this the breakout board (BoB) you have?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/160896548661?lpid=83&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=83&ff19=0

This is what Google came up with when I searched for your text "Mach3 6 Axix Breakout Interface".  What stepper drivers do you have?

You should need only a +5v supply for the breakout board; and (probably) a fixed supply at 30 - 40 volts for the steppers.  What is the current rating of the steppers you have got?

For the stepper supply see this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/36V-9-7A-350W-AC-DC-Universal-Regulated-Switching-Power-Supply-PSU/350858687521?rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D286%26meid%3D2976572373932611043%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D1048%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D370888525779%26

It is possible that your BoB might need 12 volts as well - need confirmation of what sort it is first.

And this is a 5V supply (has 220V input but probably version available for 110 V).
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5V-2A-10W-Regulated-Switching-Power-Supply-/330687475603?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item4cfe826f93

Note that Mach3 is purely a software product - what power supplies might be needed depends not on Mach3 but the BoB and stepper drivers.

Hope this helps!

670

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Tool zeroing macro help

« on: November 26, 2013, 09:49:32 AM »

I thought you might be East Coast.  I'm near Cambridge, UK.