Messages

11

Galil / Migrating to newer computer

« on: January 19, 2014, 01:50:00 PM »

The computer that came with my mill is on it's last leg so it's time to move this over to a new platform.  I have a Galil 18x2 4 axis controller (currently using 3 axis) and ICM-1900 interconnect module.  Software on the current system is SmarTerm as well as the Servo Design kit.  I'm hopeful there is a way to easily back up/copy the existing config over to the new system so I don't have to relearn everything to get the new computer operational.

Thanks,

Mark

12

Galil / Re: Galil + Mach3 slowly losing position

« on: January 19, 2014, 01:42:19 PM »

Finally got back to this.  Well, actually found the problem and then got busy making parts and forgot I owed a response back to the forum.

It was a very simple fix.  I tightened the servo attachment on the X-axis and the problem magically went away.  Looks like it was slipping but only when driven one direction.

Maybe next time I won't procrastinate so long before troubleshooting or asking for help.

Thanks for the advice,

Mark

13

Finished Screens / Re: Mach3 2010 Screenset - Now available

« on: January 12, 2014, 09:24:06 PM »

This looks like something I'm very interested in.  A couple questions;

Can I assume since this is just a screen that it would have no affect on plugins?  I'm going to be adding the XBox 360 controller for jogging as soon as the controller I ordered arrives.

I watched all of the videos and read through this entire thread.  I noticed in the video's you are using a wood router so have two pieces of metal for your surface contacts.  I did hear you reference using the actual part for a mill for the first contact.  I assume you're just using a ground so you could ground to the workpiece (assuming it conducts) and perhaps a know thickness piece of aluminum on the top of your vice, right?

Thanks,

Mark

14

Galil / Re: Galil + Mach3 slowly losing position

« on: December 02, 2013, 07:13:42 AM »

Thanks, I'll try the things you suggest.
If you don't hear back from me for a bit it's not because I'm not taking your suggestions.  I just don't have a Galil background.  I've got the books but when I got the mill I learned just enough to get it working and, as it was a one time effort, have forgotten most of it.  I guess I'd rather be writing G&M code and making parts than mucking with the machine

However, I'll dust the books off, do some reading and testing, and report back with my findings....it just might be awhile.

Thanks for your assistance,

Mark

15

Galil / Re: Galil + Mach3 slowly losing position

« on: December 01, 2013, 11:46:16 PM »

"Also, check for noise issues."

Hmmm.....do you suppose having a 3 HP rotary phase converter about 2 feet from the X encoder/servo might be a problem?

Mark

16

Galil / Galil + Mach3 slowly losing position

« on: November 30, 2013, 08:46:21 PM »

Some time ago I purchased a used Wells-Index NC that had been converted to CNC with a Galil controller.  After much assistance from Ken I got it converted to Mach3 and have been very happy with it.  However, I noticed recently that it seems to be slowly losing it's 'place' in the X-axis.  When I first got it running I noticed the "DRO's" in Mach3 didn't always go back to 0.000 when I zero'd the machine out, did some machining, then gave it a G1 X0 Y0 manually.  It will be off sometimes by as much as a thousandths or two.  My tolerances aren't that finicky so a couple thou here and there isn't that big of a deal typically.  The Mach3 DRO's read to the tenths.  First question is; shouldn't Mach3 at least zero out to the thousandths?

Bigger problem:
Recently I was doing some 1/16" round overs and noticed that after cutting out a part and going straight to the round over bit I'd end up with a "lip" on one side where the cutter obviously didn't maintain the correct offset.  I started documenting the X and Y dials and have found the X axis seems to be creeping.  So far my solution has been to zero the machine out then mill a bit.  Between MOPS I do a G1 X0 Y0 and then give it manual moves until the dial is back at the documented location.  Then I zero it out again.  Preliminary information seems to show the X creep gets worse with longer, more time consuming runs but resetting it occasionally 'fixes' the problem. 

The machine has balls screws and seems pretty tight.  I've noticed that if I use it for a few hours I'm putting in a -.001 to -.0025 about once every 30-45 minutes.  If my understanding of everything is correct it can't be a mechanical problem because, over time, I'm adding as much as 10-15 thou in one direction only.  Seems if it was mechanical slop I'd be adding it to either side depending on the direction I approached 0 from.  And, by doing this I'm getting finish passes that are taking material off all sides consistently and symmetric parts I can cut, round over with a 1/16" round over then flip and round over with a nice outcome.

I'm not even sure where to begin looking into this.  It would seem that with encoders the system would either work or wouldn't work.

Thanks for any advice/assistance,

Mark

17

General Mach Discussion / Tool Information Diameter

« on: May 28, 2013, 02:23:53 PM »

I'm making a fixture plate that will have some ground precision .25" locating pins installed.  I drilled them to a rough size smaller than the final size and am then using a CW drill MOP with a .1875 end mill to cut it to finish size.  My CAM program has tool offsets so I can just enter the tool diameter and it creates the path.  I'd like to 'sneak up' on the final hole size so I get a nice fit, not too loose, not too tight.  To do this I've been going back to my CAM program and modifying the roughing clearance, starting with .003 and moving down a thou each time.  This is a bit laborious as I have to generate the tool path and then the code each time.  This is compounded by the fact that I intentionally don't use my Mach3 machine for anything else and it's not on my network so I'm 'thumb driving' the files back and forth.  I'm guessing there is a more intelligent solution.
I noticed Mach3 has a tool diameter.  Could it be as simple as putting in a tool diameter entry in Mach3 such as .1878 and then run it to get a .006 undersized hole, then enter .1877 and rerun the same program to clean it to .004 undersized....and continue decreasing the tool size until I get the fit I'm after?  Is Mach3 smart enough to see that I coded a .1875 tool in the G code but have a .1878 in the tool info and it will then do the math?

Thanks,

Mark

18

Galil / Re: Galil support

« on: March 16, 2013, 08:26:42 PM »

Thanks, appreciate the feedback and it makes sense.

In the short time I've had my Galil components I've found the outstanding support I needed....right here in this forum.

Mark

19

Galil / Re: Galil Communication Failure - Restart Program

« on: March 10, 2013, 11:36:49 PM »

Finally got this working.

At Kenny's recommendation I updated the firmware to the latest version.  This can be a bit tricky as it resets your Galil card when you update firmware which is typical when updating firmware.  Kenny talked to one of the guys that helped write the Galil plug in and gave me a very nice/easy way to update the firmware and retain your settings.  Here's the process if you need to update firmware.
1) Download and run DMC Setup.
2) Using DMC Setup upload your .dmc settings to a location on your computer.
3) Download and install the new firmware.
4) Download the .dmc settings you previously saved

It's that easy!
 
At that point Mach3 quit locking up but still wasn't functional.  Kenny recommended that I verify the data record was accessible.  I verified that it was so then started poking around to see what I could find.  I found an entry in DMC Setup called Echo that was set to off.  Knowing I had a communication issue I thought it worth a shot so I changed it to on then wrote the settings to the E-prom.  At this point Mach3 started functioning perfectly.  To be honest I don't know that this is what fixed it because I have no idea what Echo does...it just started working so now I'm completely up 

Last thing I'd like to note;  I'm absolutely amazed by the assistance Kenny gave me.  He's on the other side of the country and doesn't benefit in any way if offering his assistance.  He spent several hours on the phone with me, not only helping with getting my machine running but also educating me on servo's, Mach3 features, limit switches, home switches.......just an absolute wealth of information.  He was away over the weekend but called me back Sunday night just to check in and see how I was doing. 

Thanks so much Kenny, you saved me hours of what I'm quite sure would have been intense frustration.

Mark

20

Galil / Re: Galil Communication Failure - Restart Program

« on: March 08, 2013, 02:29:23 PM »

Do I have the wrong .pdf manual?  I assume you are talking about the plug in pdf manual.  It has no phone number that I see, an email, but no phone number.

thanks,

Mark