Messages

2331

General Mach Discussion / Re: Toggling Spindle DIR Pin From CB Macro?

« on: March 27, 2014, 02:43:21 PM »

PM sent.

2332

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Use of Embeeded Widows OS - Good, Bad, or Ugly?

« on: March 18, 2014, 10:17:30 PM »

HIYA Steve IF you are asking if a dedicated stripped down embedded version of WIN would be better. Testing proved YES it created a more stable OS for Mach3 to run in. AND no it did not fix Mach3 s timing issues, that is a software problem.

You can get XP down to about 350 MB  and W2K down to about 250MB.  THe trick is to Research and test as to WHAT you can get rid of and still have Mach3 running correctly and that will depend of what you expect out of the PC and its uses.

Using it for JUST a controller there is a TON of stuff that Mach3 will never use but it still remains running in the background.

Most COmmercial Machines have there own OS and it is dedicated strictly to do business as a machine controller and nothing else. Many run more that 1or2 processors some up to 8 to take care of business.

Just a thought, (;-) TP

2333

MACH TOOL BOX / Re: G31 Probing Arrays

« on: January 10, 2014, 07:22:47 PM »

HI BOB which array were you running ??

(;-) TP

2334

General Mach Discussion / Re: Rigid Tapping

« on: January 08, 2014, 02:05:24 PM »

HIYA Hood I guess the difference is the some of us have a  great deal of 1st hand experience using and testing tapping on a mill and others just rely on 2nd hand info from others. (;-)

But I will let you continue to advise users as to how it really works (;-)

Been there done that, (;-) TP

2335

General Mach Discussion / Re: Rigid Tapping

« on: January 06, 2014, 01:15:43 AM »

With true rigid tapping the spindle SYNCs to the index signal to give it a starting point of reference of rotation that sets teh home on spindle rotation. The drive is setup with parameters JUST like the other axis servos are. The control knows exactly where the spindle rotation is as compared TO  the index signal. It can repeat or retap or peck tap a 100 different times and the depth will always be exactly as programmed and the thread pitch will always match up as long as the tap has not moved in the holder.

Around here we have only been working with these type or things  for about 45 years now so you are right we might not know what we are doing over here yet.  

So ends another discussion, (;-) TP

2336

General Mach Discussion / Re: Rigid Tapping

« on: January 05, 2014, 02:01:36 PM »

Those were NOT your standard VFDs they were Vectored VFDs where the VFD is connected to the encoder directly. I have access to a Mazak that runs it.

Those vectored VFDs are virtually a servo drive that uses a 3ph motor, very expensive and were later replaced by true ac servo drives.  The last Vectored drive that was replaced here was well over $5k just for a rebuilt unit.(;-) OUCH. The servo drive drives were only $3k.

IF mach through a controller can do synchronous tapping it will serve in most cases but it it NOT rigid tapping where it can stop on a dime.

IF you google Route66 rigid tapping you will see a version that does Synchronous tapping well with a controller that supports it. But as you see it is NOT doing blind hole tapping just through hole. It cannot do true RT as it cannot stop on a dime either.

In most cases with a compression tapping head and through hole tapping you can do just about as well without the encoder enterface Just G84 it .  If you do a LOT of tapping the same size you CAN get down to a 1-2 thread depth tolerance.

I use a compression tapping head WITH a clutch to prevent broken taps on blind hole. NOT the best solution but it works.

(;-) TP


Just a thought, (;-) TP

2337

General Mach Discussion / Re: Rigid Tapping

« on: January 05, 2014, 11:24:50 AM »

Actually only very expensive vectored VFD drives can do positioning well. Most cannot do positioning well but can do velocity mode very well.

But the expensive vectored drives are just as expensive as servo drives so there is no real gain.

Rigid tapping has true postional stopping of Z on command.

Synchronous tapping is what you have with a VFD and encoder. The Spindle is synced to the Z axis and normaly runs in FPR mode. AND probably for most applications it would be fine for though holes. BUT not for blind holes.

Been there done that one, (;-) TP

2338

General Mach Discussion / Re: Rigid Tapping

« on: January 04, 2014, 10:52:50 PM »

OK let me define what I consider to be rigid tapping . The Z must stop exactly where I define it to stop as a servo driven spindle can do because it has the accelration/deacceleration values to work with to plan the moves.

The best you can do with VFD and encoder is the Z follows the spindle to a stop. THAT is not rigid tapping that would be semi rigid tapping . Try that with a close blind hole at 100 rpm then 1000 rpm. The VFD will overrun the end point everytime as it has NO control over stopping other than stop as fast as it can. The controller has NO idea what that value may be and it can only follow the spindle to a stop then restart on reverse.

Just a thought, (;-) TP

2339

General Mach Discussion / Re: Rigid Tapping

« on: January 04, 2014, 10:12:30 PM »

Hiya Hood the ONLY example I have seen with Kflop was with either a servo or stepper drive spindle and with those I can do it without any outside controller. 

IF you have seen an example please let me know.  I do know it can be done with the correct vector driven VFD ,encoder and realtime software controller.

(;-) TP

2340

General Mach Discussion / Re: Rigid Tapping

« on: January 04, 2014, 01:14:57 PM »

Yes but so far NONE have done RT with a VFD ,encoder setup. Hoods setup uses a servo spindle on the CHinron.

With a servo spindle(expensive) you can simply use 2 sets of specs on the spindle axis( Spindle/C) and call the one you need.

The spindle will NOT get confused this way as  it just does whatever you tell it to do.

Mach3 cannot do RT (VFD/encoder) from the LPT version because it is a buffered system. To do true RT from a VFD/encoder it has to run LIVE in realtime.

With a VFD and Braking resistors you can get very good control with SRT (semi rigid tapping) with a floating tool holder. With the VFD using braking and DC injection you can stop the spindle very quickly on the down stroke.  Use the G84 cycle with this and you have a very good SRT system. I have even used it to do blind holes.

The G95 does NOT work well in Mill when trying to use an index signal. It does work well without using the index signal to sync the feeds.  Mach cannot track the signal through a spindle start /restart. It will crash your G84 cycle every time.



Just a thought, (;-) TP