Messages

21

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3, Allen Bradley Ultra-100(1398-DDM-005), Y-1002-1 Motor

« on: December 31, 2011, 04:34:28 AM »

I fortunately found the problem.  It wasn't with Mach3, it was with the Allen-Bradley drive. 

LantonioA hit upon the source of my problem.  My drive (which I just received) has an internal gear reduction that has to be put into the drive controller.

I did that and things are now looking much better!

Thanks!

22

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3, Allen Bradley Ultra-100(1398-DDM-005), Y-1002-1 Motor

« on: December 31, 2011, 02:50:40 AM »

LantonioA,

I have the a similar Allen-Bradley setup for a rotary A-axis and I'm having the EXACT same problem!

The inputs are going like gangbusters and if I run the motor through Ultraware it's fast.  BUT trying to run the motor through Mach3 is dead slow no matter how much I tweak the motor tuning in Mach3.  I'm using step/direction

I'm absolutely sure there is a fix that doesn't require fudging with additional boards, and the current setup works perfectly with the other step/direction motors I have.  It's just this Allen Bradley drive's configuration that's the problem.

Have you had any luck?

23

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Generic Mastercam X thru X5 POST and much more information posted.

« on: October 10, 2011, 02:59:56 AM »

Bunches of real useful information here.
Go to  www.lowrynightsights.com,  then scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Bridgeport Manuals link.

Mastercam X thru X5 Post file. Enables the use of the Mach3 Mill tool table on a CNC mill which has no automatic tool changer. I have put some effort into this Mastercam Post, and it should do the trick for most people who have a Kwik-Switch or other type tool changer.

Also have these files and information freely available.

How to convert a Bridgeport Boss 6 to Mach3.
m3.m1s
m5.m1s
macropump.m1s
How to setup a Tool Table and Tool Change in Mach3.
Mastercam 9 to Mach 3 tutorial.
Series II CNC Maintenance Manual.
Series II CNC Operating Manual.
Series II CNC Programming Manual.
SERIES-1-CNC-PROGRAMING-MANUAL.
Bridgeport Series I CNC Program Entries Descriptions.
NC-Programming-Sheet.
Bridgeport-BOSS-G-Codes.
R2E4 CNC.
EZ-FILE.
Student Manual.

Enjoy!

Charles

24

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Mach3 post for Mastercam. This post enables use of the Mach3 Mill tool table.

« on: June 30, 2011, 03:09:32 AM »

I have double checked the links and found no problems with downloading, so I cannot figure out where your difficulty is.

If you want, I can email the file directly to you.

The post processor has been improved with the modification of returning to the initial 0,0,0 according to the g54 reference, along with some small improvements.

Although this post was created for Mach3 on a Bridgeport Boss 6, it is entirely generic and should work with a very wide variety of milling machines.

25

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Mach3 post for Mastercam. This post enables use of the Mach3 Mill tool table.

« on: May 30, 2011, 03:50:00 AM »

Mach3 post for Mastercam.  This post enables the use of the Mach3 Mill tool table on a CNC mill which has no automatic tool changer.

Tested on X3 and X5 without problems.  Will probably work fine on all versions X thru X5.

These release notes contained within the Mach3Generic.PST file says it all.

# --------------
# Release Notes:  This Post file is a slightly modified MPFAN.PST file specifically altered to allow manual tool changing with the benefits of the Mach3 tool table.
# Make sure to enable tool changing in Mach3 by selecting Config -> General config -> Tool Change -> Stop Spindle. Wait for Cycle Start.
# For Mastercam:  Set Machine Type to Mill -> Default.
# Make sure to allow Tool Changing in Mastercam by insuring that: Add to tool - Length 0  Diameter 0 - is selected and set from within the Control Definition.
# Also check that the Mach3Generic.pst Post Processor is selected within both the Control Definition and Machine Group Properties.
# Make sure the proper tool number is entered within the Define Tool -> Parameters tab -> Length Offset Number. 
# The Length Offset Number and Tool# within the Define Tool box should be the same. 
# These numbers should reference the same tool# in the Mach3 tool table.
#
# Additionally, this Post does NOT home the tool to machine zero.  This Post DOES raise Z an absolute distance of 1" above the work surface.
# This is to give sufficient room for a tool change and to clear any holding clamps.  Make sure there is 1" or more of vertical travel.
# I believe this should be adequate for all foreseeable manual tool changes.
# --------------

This file is available freely.  Just go to WWW.LOWRYINDUSTRIES.COM and scroll to the bottom of the page.  Click the link "Bridgeport Manuals".  The file is available for download from this page, along with a great deal of other information.

Thanks!

26

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Manuals update and Conversion to Mach3 CNC information.

« on: May 28, 2011, 11:48:02 AM »

I'm sure glad I could offer something back!  You guys have always been the best.

27

General Mach Discussion / Bridgeport Manuals update and Conversion to Mach3 CNC information.

« on: May 27, 2011, 01:06:20 PM »

I have posted more Bridgeport Manuals and CNC conversion information.

Go to WWW.LOWRYINDUSTRIES.COM and scroll to the bottom of the page.
Click on the link BridgeportManuals. Here is what you will see.

"Bridgeport Manuals

A gift to the Bridgeport Community.

This document outlines how to convert a Bridgeport CNC with Boss controller to Mach3.

How to convert a Bridgeport Boss 6 to Mach 3.pdf

There is also an important accompanying Video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD8-iQ83oZY

I have also scanned and posted the following manuals.
In my experience, most if not all of these manuals are virtually impossible to obtain till now.
The manuals are either jpg pages or PDF files collected into ONE ZIP FILE TO DOWNLOAD FOR EACH MANUAL.

R2E4 CNC
EZ-FILE
Bridgeport Series I CNC Program Entries Descriptions
Series II CNC Programming Manual
Series I Programming Manual
Series II CNC Operating Manual
Series II CNC Maintenance Manual
NC-Programming-Sheet
Bridgeport-BOSS-G-Codes
SERIES-1-CNC-PROGRAMING-MANUAL-Untitled

Student Manual.

Many who own ANY Bridgeport CNC will be specially interested in the maintenance manual. It has
all the schematics for both the electronic and mechanical components plus tuneup, repair, and
overhaul details.  Although it covers the Series II CNC, much of the information applies to ALL Bridgeport CNC vertical mills.

The programming manuals are excellent resources for programming CNC mills irregardless of
whether you are running a BOSS controller or Mach 3.

Free of charge. All I ask is to only download what you need so I do not run out of bandwidth."

28

General Mach Discussion / Does anyone here know anyone in northern Utah who uses Mach3?

« on: January 26, 2011, 04:39:56 AM »

I live in Riverton, Utah and set up a milling machine using Mach 3.  It runs very well except for a couple of small but irritating details and I'm looking for someone who can help me through them.

Does anyone here know anyone in northern Utah who uses Mach3?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks!

29

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Which controller code is most compatible with Mach3?

« on: July 12, 2010, 05:00:40 AM »

I am starting to use Mastercam X3 and I need to know which mill type controller is most compatible with Mach3.

For background, in Mastercam you have to choose a machine type to begin working.  I want to know which is best.
I am currently running a bridgeport with 3-axis but I do intent to add a 4th axis.

Generic Fadal Format_1 4x mill.mmd
Generic Fadal Format_2 4x mill.mmd
Generic Hass 4x Mill.mmd
Mill 4-axis hmc.mmd
Mill 4-axis vmc.mmd
Mill default.mmd

I am not too keen on the Mill default.mmd because I don't know if it has 4th axis capability

Any suggestions?
Thanks!

30

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: Mach3 to not recognize/move the x, y, and z axis while operating the spindle jus

« on: May 26, 2010, 10:20:40 AM »

Thanks!  That did it!