Messages

11

Mach4 General Discussion / Bridgeport BOSS R2E4 Retrofit

« on: June 03, 2023, 07:04:28 PM »

Just getting started on the planning stages of a retrofit to a 1985 Bridgeport Boss. This version has servos instead of steppers and the spindle is 2HP with 5 inches of Z travel. The computer boots, but as soon as it is done with all its system checks and goes into the actual run time it gets a little confused. Not a real problem. I bought the machine at a very good price and the mecahical portion of the machine is almost pristine.

I have been using a Sieg KX3 CNC with Mach3 for several years now, have not wanted to spend the money on Mach4 as I was also trying to get some tooling for the lathe and the Hardinge UM horizontal mill. Mach 4 will require getting used to a little different appearance and some changes in the logic of operating the machine. It is not Mach3, so I know there is going to be some learning curve.

My plans are to go with a Ethernet Smooth Stepper as the machine interface. I have been using one, and it has behaved very well for me. How difficult would it be to configure Mach4 so I could use some 20mm industrial push buttons for my Start, Feed Hold, and Stop buttons? I will have a keyboard mounted up where the current keypad for the Boss is mounted, and I would like to get it so I don't need the mouse quite as much as I do with my current setup.

I am also looking at the DG4S-16035 High voltage servo drives and probably the BRKC-180 braking units. from CNC4PC. The current drives are rated 140VDC and I am not sure what the performance would be with a drive limited to 80VDC. And besides, I already have the higher voltage DC supply in my machine...

Any thoughts?

12

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: MACH 3 to MACH 4 and USS TO ESS

« on: March 22, 2023, 06:48:52 PM »

I think you might find that your glass scales go to the servo drive, which uses, somewhere in its logic a step and direction control. The reason I say this is, I have several boards that take step and direction from the PC and have encoder inputs, and analog outputs to the servo drive. 

13

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Is this potentially an ESS Smoothstepper problem?

« on: March 22, 2023, 06:05:27 PM »

Write some code that just routes out a square pocket and a square raised boss. Then see how those pieces come  out. It looks like possible backlash or slop in a connection causing it to move in ways you are not expecting.

14

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Post processor modification to set end location for cycle end

« on: March 22, 2023, 05:53:20 PM »

Is homing setup on your machine? If so, you need to set the position for G28. For instance - on mill mill I have G28 go yo Z Machine Home 0, Y machine home zero, and X -6.5 from machine home to put the table toward the front and centered.

15

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Swap A and B axes - how?

« on: March 22, 2023, 05:50:10 PM »

Change the settings in your configuration files. Every axis has a listing for a step and direction port, those need to be set up for your machine.

16

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: G54 is changed in Z when using M6 tool change

« on: March 22, 2023, 05:47:58 PM »

G54 sets the X Y & Z coordinates to your reference tool. One of the pieces of data you enter for each tool is the LENGTH.What is happening as you change tools the Ddiplay value for Z will change to reflect the currently called out tool. So - if for your reference tool - the Z position at a certain height of the machine is 3", then is you change to a tool that is an inch shorter and have an M6 T?? line matching the new tool, the Z value would read 4 reflecting the current position of the now active tool.

17

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Just learning, need help

« on: April 19, 2022, 07:47:44 PM »

Thar is what G28 is used for. The head is retracted in Z and moved to an XY position that is part of the system setup.

18

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Mill brake when micro machining PCB boards

« on: April 19, 2022, 07:44:14 PM »

Too high a feedrate.

19

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: G code G91 como incrementar

« on: April 19, 2022, 07:43:19 PM »

You are going between the 2 modes, and as soon as you go back to G90 you cancel out your incremental move with you very next Y move, as G91 does not modify the work coordinates. You are mixing absolute and incremental modes in that subroutine.

20

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Mill Turning_Need Advice with Mach3 Work Offsets!

« on: April 19, 2022, 02:51:30 PM »

Use the Mach3 Parameters -
#5221 is G54X, #5222 is G54Y, #5223 is G54Z, #5241 is G55X, #5261 is G56X, #5281 is G57X and I think you can see the pattern here.

#5241=[#5221 +.875] (or whatever the distance is)
#5242=#5222 (so the Y is correct)
#5343=#5223 (unless the Z locations change)

And repeat for each tool.
You can put this in its own .NC file or at the head of each file that uses that tool block

Also works for general milling -
Set first tool
G54
M98P1
G55
M98p1
G56
M98P1
Set Second tool
G54
M98P2
G55
M98P2
G56
M98P2
and so on