Messages

61

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

62

General Mach Discussion / Re: Moving to Smooth Stepper

« on: January 27, 2015, 03:20:41 PM »

Cheers Jeff. got a bloke coming tomorrow to have a look but I'm sure my old computer is knackered. Keep you posted.

63

General Mach Discussion / Re: Moving to Smooth Stepper

« on: January 27, 2015, 02:26:19 PM »

Cheers Jeff, I  think I will get the one in the aluminium box, not very good at electrical stuff. One question, it mentions plug ins and alteration to Mach programing, I installed Mach some 3 years ago and haven't touched it since. I take it would work on an old Dell Inspirion 8500 in excellent condition. I have loaded Mach onto it and put my xml file in and it all works on the computer beautifully  the ports and pins match my old machine. I have read your set up literature but still a little confused about plug ins
Jim

64

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

65

General Mach Discussion / Re: x axis problem

« on: January 24, 2015, 08:13:10 AM »

Have you got a soft limit set incorrectly
http://www.instructables.com/id/Setting-Soft-Limits-for-your-Industrial-CNC-Router/

66

General Mach Discussion / Re: Looking for a thumbstick mouse

« on: January 19, 2015, 10:49:35 AM »

Might be able to use this as a base for the thumbstick
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Thumbstick-Joystick-Repair-Replacement-for-Nintendo-64-N64-Controller-PF-/261623643150?pt=UK_VG_Replacement_Parts_Tools&hash=item3ce9fbfc0e

its cheap enough to experiment with.
Jim

67

General Mach Discussion / Re: dying motor(s)?

« on: January 09, 2015, 03:03:42 AM »

Check the wiring connections, after long periods of non use ( a couple of weeks) my machine shows the same symptoms as yours in the X axis. I only have to touch the connectors on the top of the X stepper drive and it corrects its self. I finally cleaned the connectors and the problem has gone.  Low voltage supplies are prone to missing pulses caused by bad connections with the resultant noise from your motors.

68

General Mach Discussion / Re: Steppers will not reverse

« on: December 28, 2014, 02:11:33 AM »

OK Carl, first thing to say is I'm no electronics engineer. I looked at the wiring diagram and compared it to my home built system using similar components, it makes sense to me. So I put in the component parts serial numbers in Google and came up with this site https://oceancontrols.com.au/LSK-001.html. I take it you have looked at all the diagrams and setup instructions on the site. However I did find one thing the SMC-223 motor tuning cable you have with the kit is no longer available and removed from the site. This is interesting and worth asking them about this cable as if there is a problem with this cable it could be the source of your problem.
Good luck mate.
Jim

69

General Mach Discussion / Re: Steppers will not reverse

« on: December 27, 2014, 10:31:52 AM »

Hi Carl not sure if this help, I have the same stepper drives and run them on XP, they have been fine except occasionally my X axis refuses to go minus, every time I press minus it went plus, I check the signal at the stepper drive plug and it was correct however no movement. After several attempts I tracked it down to a bad connection on the plug into the stepper, I had nipped the wire on the insulation round the wire so occasionally the signal never connected. I realise the chances of this on all 3 steppers is remote but check your connections, even onto the BOB.  Just another suggestion have you got the drives earthed, I'm sure when I set up my drives some 4 years ago I had an earth-ing problem but cannot remember if it affected the steppers.
Jim

70

General Mach Discussion / Re: Is it Backlash...still?

« on: September 21, 2014, 03:10:56 AM »

If you have eliminated all the axis slides backlash, two things spring to mind, tool deflection or spindle bearings either worn or in need of adjustment. What happens if you repeat the program using the same component (fresh air cutting till it reaches the step), does the side step disappear or reduce? I had to adjust my spindle bearings to eliminate a similar problem. I discovered it by putting a dial indicator on the plain part of the tool whilst cutting a slot and changing x axis direction. Hope this helps. Jim