Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / Spindle drive

« on: February 24, 2022, 12:06:36 PM »

Can someone give me advice, when running my spindle at 500rpm when I stop the spindle with M5 it still runs at 15rpm however at 800rpm I stop the spindle and it stops, go back to 500rpm and stop the spindle it creeps at 15rpm. I've had this for years and thought it was electronic interference but feel it might be something to do with my initial setting as checking the RPM with a strobe 500rpm gives 400rpm but at 800 rpm it gives me 800rpm. Any advice would be welcome as the only way to change the tools is to change the low revs programs to over 800rpm and introduce a tool change them put speed back to 500

2

General Mach Discussion / What controls the main spindle drive

« on: February 19, 2022, 06:39:19 AM »

I'm going to replace my spindle drive board on my Denford CNC but need to know what signals are given out by Mach to control the spindle speed. Everyone who knows me I'm useless at electronics so any advice is appreciated, the only thig I'm sure of its not gas regulation 3 

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General Mach Discussion / Spindle drive

« on: January 03, 2022, 06:22:20 AM »

I know its hard to believe but my original spindle drive control (Lynx 08) on my 1988 Denford Triac has finally given up. I know they don't make things to last however 33 years seems a fair deal. From my previous posts you can see I'm useless with electronics, if it don't move I don't understand it however the spindle started hunting up and down then stopped. So looks like i have to replace the drive card. I have a Parker 508 drive but not sure if its in working condition as I got it off Ebay some 5 years ago. Think Ill buy a new unit. Any suggestions as to the best ones to purchase at a reasonable price.

4

General Mach Discussion / reset button not working

« on: April 27, 2020, 06:18:16 AM »

Recently my computer controlling my CNC failed. So replaced it with the same HP 7800 SFF computer. Set it all up and the machine worked perfect. switched it off and it automatically said 74 updates. next time I turned it on I ended up with a blue screen of death. So did the modification as suggested on forum Windows7/parallel port crash. Fine can now load program but cannot get the rest button on MAch3 to flip. Any suggestions.

5

General Mach Discussion / Special driver

« on: April 01, 2016, 11:45:44 AM »

Just got my Mach machine program running on a new computer again but it was pulsing to fast so pressed special driver and got nothing. How do I get back to the original driver. I clicked it but nothing again? Any ideas how to get back to original driver.

6

General Mach Discussion / Suitable computer

« on: March 28, 2016, 12:32:32 PM »

Hi everyone, my computer failed so need to replace it. I'm still using the printer port to control the machine. So need to get an old computer, I have a chance of a Dell OptiPlex 170L but not sure if the pulse rate for this computer is suitable. So I guess what I'm asking is there anyone out there running Mach 3 through a Dell OptiPlex 170L with an Intel Pentium 4 (2.8GHz) processor. If no what's a suitable computer.
Cheers

7

General Mach Discussion / Missing program

« on: July 29, 2015, 12:11:15 PM »

Ha anyone had this problem?  Been using Mach for 5 years on a Denford Triac Mill with a few niggling problems but nothing major, however today I had a strange occurrence. I was doing a batch of 12 components and came to the last one and set the machine off on its 15 min cycle cutting the final shape in copper. I decided to tidy up the workshop and after 10 minutes noticed the sound of the cutter cutting had stopped but the spindle was still running. It turned out the CNC program had completely disappeared from the Mach stack screen (it was blank) but the rest of the Mach screens were OK. I re-loaded the program and started the cycle from the start and the cutter followed the original path and completed the component. I was cleaning round the machine and computer and wondered if I had accidentally erased the program. Is it possible to do this?

8

General Mach Discussion / spindle problem

« on: February 06, 2015, 11:57:59 AM »

Hi everyone got a problem someone might know what it is. Been running my Denford triac mill on Mach for some 3 years with a DELL OptiPlex 330 computer with no problems. Then last year got through 2 motherboards on my computer for no apparent reason. However I have noticed that when applying M5 spindle stop the spindle stops then starts creeping, not every time but most times. Just put another motherboard in and M5 stops the correct rev but the spindle continues to rotate at about 100 revs. I think I have a back feed form the BOB back into the computer. Also when I turn the Triac on the spindle revs start up without a command. Think I have a voltage feed back problem.
Any suggestions

BOB and spindle plug in card from cnc4you and the spindle drive is a 1988 LYNX 180v drive

9

General Mach Discussion / Moving to Smooth Stepper

« on: January 27, 2015, 11:39:06 AM »

Hi Mach3ers. I've come to the end of the road with my Dell 32 bit desktop computer and thinking of moving to a smooth stepper conversion. This will allow me to bring the laptop from down the workshop in the winter as I think the damp is causing my desktop power supplies to short out. If I go to this conversion can I just plug in the laptop with the new board and connect it to the 25 pin cable to my BOB. Obviously I will have to set reload my xtml file  into the laptop and do a bit of fiddling but is that it, or do I need more bits. What's the best smooth stepper board and is there any restrictions on the laptops I need as I have and old Dell Inspirion 8500 I would like to use, its built like a tank so wont get damaged easily.

Jim

10

General Mach Discussion / Best simple CAD/CAM software

« on: November 14, 2013, 03:28:40 PM »

Christmas is coming and my sons are asking the question, what do you want for Christmas Dad. Well I'm asking the forum what's the best CAD/CAM software to link to Mach for 3D milling on a small Denford Triac CNC milling machine making 5" gauge model steam train parts. Don't want the CAD/CAM to be to complicated as my brain has its limitations. Keep it simple please and don't want to spend a fortune just to be able to do small 3D parts in brass and steel.
Thanks in advance. Jim