Messages

181

General Mach Discussion / Re: Nema34 Problem

« on: December 16, 2012, 09:09:51 AM »

I have the same system (motor, stepper drives and power supplies from China) and they work fine on an old Dell desktop PC and converted Triac mill. Just a couple of thoughts.
Have you a parallel port connection in the back of your laptop and not one of those PP to USB cables? Secondly I noticed in you video the motor keeps running when you take your finger off the computer key, that suggests a delay in the signal reaching the motors. I'm sure its your computer pulse signal output. I know they suggest using a smoothstep connection between your computer and BOB. As Hood suggests find someone with a desktop and as them if you could load Mach3 demo on it to try your system, if it still gives you problems you know its not your laptop.
Hope this helps

182

General Mach Discussion / Re: Windows 7 with 64bit

« on: December 04, 2012, 05:37:23 AM »

Hi Hood the units are in the UK, the USB one is £158 +p&p the earthnet one is £175 +p&p. (click on stepper units) Be interested on you comments on the full £600+ package, it seems a bit steep in price but might be good for a dirty dusty workshop. I have bought stuff from Syil UK they offer a good service and are based in London. As usuall the smooth stepper units are made in China and you can buy them in large batches on a couple Chinese industrial site (who wants a 1000 units !!!!!)
I had a problem with a drive card for a Syil machine for a trainee I was teaching and Hugh (the owner) was great, he just replaced it free of charge. The machines are not my cup of tea and are not a patch on my old Denford Triac but do the job.

183

General Mach Discussion / Re: Windows 7 with 64bit

« on: December 04, 2012, 02:07:12 AM »

Hi EJ found this for UK smooth steppers.

http://www.syiluk.com/#!cnc-products/vstc4=smoothstepper

184

General Mach Discussion / Re: Windows 7 with 64bit

« on: November 30, 2012, 09:10:54 AM »

Cheers Hood your a star, can you direct me to where I can get one from. Jim

185

General Mach Discussion / Re: Windows 7 with 64bit

« on: November 30, 2012, 08:01:08 AM »

Hi Hood nice to hear from you. Can you explain smooth stepper to me. I have the origonal D32 stepper on my Denford mill and replaced the Denford stepper drives with 3 drive boards. Will I have to replace the motors and stepper drives if I use smooth step or just the BOB and spindle card pluged into the BOB. Jim

186

General Mach Discussion / Re: Windows 7 with 64bit

« on: November 30, 2012, 03:46:17 AM »

Hi EJ yes I've been told laptops have problems, however I use a Dell Desktop in the workshop, it uses 32bit processing and has a old style printer port for my BOB. I was hoping my home 2010 Dell 580 would replace the workshop machine, but this does not appear to be the fact as its 64bit and does not have the old style printer port (called a RS232 port, I think!). Someone out there will advise me what I need to do in the event of the failure of my 32bit workshop computer or do I look for another old 32bit computer as a replacement. I use my machine as a hobby toll to make model 5" gauge steam trains so use it every other week for an hour or so don't want to have to make expensive alterations for such limited use. Jim

187

General Mach Discussion / Re: Windows 7 with 64bit

« on: November 30, 2012, 03:09:04 AM »

Hi I think your correct. I know nothing about the internal bits of a computer but from what I have been told machines need 64bit processors if the have more than 4GB or more of process memory (most new computers). They have also stopped fitting the old port for the printer using the USB ports for driving the printer therefore our Break out Boards. This means most BOB's will not run from the USB port. Looking on the forum it looks as if smooth step is the way to go (whatever that means). I must admit there seems to be a gap on the Mach forum to help plebs like me understand the intricacies of 64bit v 32bit systems. There must be lots of basic CNCers using old computers that are going to be in trouble in the years to come. All I want to know is if I download the demo version onto my 64bit machine it will not corrupt my 64bit computer, and like you what do I do when my old 32bit computer (with a licence) running my machine in the workshop packs up. Is it going to cost me much to replace the BOB and possibly the stepper drives and D32 motors. I say a prayer evertime I go down to use my 1988 Denford Triac mill and my 2005 Dell computer still work. Its a shame that we might all be in trouble soon.

188

General Mach Discussion / Windows 7 with 64bit

« on: November 29, 2012, 04:10:26 PM »

Hi got a questions. My Dell 580 desktop computer had a major hard drive failure last week, it seemed all the BIOS also got corrupted. I had a hell of a game to reload all my stuff after installing a new hard drive, couldn't even get it to load from the CD. Before the failure I was running Mach3 on it but not connected to my CNC machine, it worked fine. My question is can I still run Mach3 on my 64bit computer for program compiling without fear corrupting my hard drive or BIOS settings. I have no intention to run my CNC machine from this computer, this option allows me to construct the programs in the warmth of my living room on my 64bit. I then use a USB stick to transfer the program to an old 32bit computer in my workshop driving my CNC mill.
Basically I'm asking if Mach 3 software is safe to run on a 64bit computer as a program compiler and proving process providing its not connected to a CNC machine as I dont want to have the same problem.
Apologies if I'm stating the obvious only dont understand 64bit or 32bit options and dont want to repeat my computer failure again. 

189

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 and Tapmatic Tapping Head

« on: October 25, 2012, 01:39:59 AM »

Sorry forgot to say page 33 gives example of fanuc programming.
http://www.smiag.ch/ModuleFiles/Werkskataloge/107/PDFFile2/TIC_Katalog06_engl_081206.pdf

Jim

190

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 and Tapmatic Tapping Head

« on: October 25, 2012, 01:32:36 AM »

Hi, This is the website for the manufacturer, it looks like and auto reverse is part of the internal actions. By the look of the exploded drawing don't attempt to take it apart.
http://www.smiag.ch/ModuleFiles/Werkskataloge/107/PDFFile2/TIC_Katalog06_engl_081206.pdf

Jim