Messages

11

General Mach Discussion / Re: Smooth Stepper questions

« on: September 28, 2013, 10:50:03 AM »

I have my Warp9 smooth stepper.   Does someone have instruction for setting up a computer with an XP op system.   The Warp9 instructions are more for
WIN 7 op systems.

I find myself not knowing what to do.    I need to setup IP address.   Somehow I managed to shut off my eithernet port altogether.

Thanks Jim

12

General Mach Discussion / Re: Smooth Stepper questions

« on: August 05, 2013, 08:53:26 AM »

Thanks  for the info.    Sounds like smooth stepper should work.

Will I need to change the laptop itself to run Mach3?     I tried a laptop years ago and just could not get it to work.   I have heard the power saving features of the laptop need to
be turned off in order to work rightl.

Thanks,
Jim

13

General Mach Discussion / Smooth Stepper questions

« on: August 04, 2013, 10:09:08 AM »

 A friend gave me 3 XP Dell laptops  that I would like to run my cnc machines with.

The laptops do not have 25 pin printer port but has a couple of USB ports and an Ethernet port.

What is the best way to connect one of these laptops to a CNC machine?.

I have heard this can all be done with wih a "Smooth Stepper" and the Ethernet port is best.    Are these smooth steppers easy to set up and where should I buy one?.

I also heard Mach4 will address these issues.    Should I wait for Mach4 to be released and just use it?.

Right now I'm running my CNC machines with Mach3 from desktop computers and one machine with a WIN8  computer running Turbocnc
Jim

14

General Mach Discussion / Re: Inside threading

« on: August 14, 2012, 04:49:40 PM »

Mr.  Hoods suggestion is really all I was looking for.   I thought "quick threads" was something I should  know.
Thanks,
Jim

15

General Mach Discussion / Inside threading

« on: August 13, 2012, 05:52:46 AM »

I have succesfully cut threads with Mach3 using the G76 code.

Is there a way for the G76 code to do inside threads?

I have the "Threading on the Lathe" write up printed out.   There are several pages that discuss quick threading.    Where to I find this wizard?   I have not found it in Mach3.

Is there a video somewhere on threading with Mach3?

Jim

16

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need Encoder for threading

« on: July 02, 2012, 09:38:24 PM »

Here is my test result.    This  was after two passes.   I thought Mach3 did a great job, better than I expected.    The thread pitch is consistant and the second pass proves Mach3 is repeatable.



Jim

17

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need Encoder for threading

« on: July 02, 2012, 11:34:36 AM »

How did you know John was going to do that.   He already said it wouldn't work.

I ran a test piece with 10 TPI and cut threads 5" long.    I measured with an eyeglass and steel rule and the last of 50 threads was off about .010".  Much better than I expected actually.   Not bad for a $5 encoder and $175 for Mach3 program.

I did calibrate my "Z" axis.     Before I calibrated Z, I was off 1/2 thread in 5".
Jim

18

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need Encoder for threading

« on: July 02, 2012, 09:09:05 AM »

I'm now cutting threads and love the way this works.

Encoder:


Tachometer:


First thread:


Video of thread cutting
Jim

19

General Mach Discussion / Re: can threading be done in mach without an index pulse?.

« on: July 01, 2012, 04:32:54 AM »

I have done threading with a stepper driven spindle before and it works.   However, it is slow and the stepper motor I used
did not have enoiugh power to thread steel threads.

Setting up my lathe to send Mach3  one pulse per revolution.
Jim

20

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need Encoder for threading

« on: June 30, 2012, 08:29:44 AM »

Hood;

I got it working!!!     I tried evrything to wire the sensor to J23 so I gave up and used the terminals for "A Home" since I don't plan to use homing.    "A Home" has terminals for +12v, GND, Sensor.   No longer need the 5V power source.   My  electrical cabinet just got a lot cleaner.

Went to ports and pins and set INDEX to  PORT  1 and PIN 15  and then ACTIVE LOW and it works.   I just checked the
tachometer reading with a handheld tach and they agree to better than 1%.

Now I'm reading to try threading.  

Thanks,   Jim