Messages

3931

General Mach Discussion / Re: how to change axis orientation

« on: November 20, 2011, 09:34:41 PM »

Config>Homing/Limits. Check the "Reverse" column for the X axis.

3932

General Mach Discussion / Re: problems understanding PWM and spindle settings

« on: November 20, 2011, 12:04:11 PM »

Hi 

It all connects up through the printer port.    There are two boxes of electronics, ones seems to be power for the spindle, that connects in to the other box thjat i presume is the stepper controller ( big box ). 

Ideally, you really need to know what's in the box controlling the spindle, as that should dictate what settings you need.

The main issue though, could be either the VFD settings, or the PWM settings

it says either pwm to low bumped to minimum setting or to fast for pully

This usually means your g-code is telling Mach3 to spin the spindle slower than you have it set up for. Since you appear to have it set for 6000 rpm, you probably have an S5000 or lower in your g-code. Get rid of that, or change it to S6000, and the error should go away. But, note that that error shouldn't cause the spindle to not run, it should just be running at the minimum of 6000.

Try setting the PWM Base to 50, and the minimum to 5-10%

3933

General Mach Discussion / Re: parralell usb adapter

« on: November 20, 2011, 08:46:33 AM »

Or by a PCI parallel port card for $25

3934

General Mach Discussion / Re: problems understanding PWM and spindle settings

« on: November 20, 2011, 08:45:50 AM »

HOw is the VFD connected to Mach3?

Do you have some type of PWM to 0-10V converter?

anyone know what the steps per/accel and vel settings should be for this. 

I don't believe they have any effect, as the VFD should handle all of that.

3935

General Mach Discussion / Re: mach 3 going mad. Should i try turbocnc?

« on: November 19, 2011, 06:54:26 PM »

I use automotive air filters to keep the dust out. They're cheap, very effective and still let you use lots of fans.

3936

General Mach Discussion / Re: LPT2

« on: November 18, 2011, 07:09:42 PM »

Their website seems to say the C15 only works with 5V parallel ports, while the C36 works with 3.3V and 5V ports.

3937

Mach3 and G-Rex / Re: DIR Pulse

« on: November 15, 2011, 06:13:31 PM »

The values entered in those fields is the amount of time to be added to the standard pulse width (around 3uSec). So if you enter 5 there you will get an 8uSec pulse width.

Are you sure? I've never heard this before.

If you need a wider pulse than that then use Sherline Mode (under Ports and Pins), which will give you around 20uSec pulse width.

I believe Sherline mode is 40us pulse width.

3938

General Mach Discussion / Re: Another Newbie 4th axis problem

« on: November 14, 2011, 08:00:53 PM »

why 1/8 stepping and how did you arrive at the answer?

1/8 stepping is usually much smoother running then full step.

1/8 stepping gives you 1600 steps per rev.
1600/360 = 4.44444

3939

VB and the development of wizards / Re: How to halt a script halfway & wait for a user entered CR?

« on: November 14, 2011, 07:59:11 PM »

Press run....tool then moves to the first position - the registration mark

So the tool starts where you want it, then you want to move the webcam where the tool was, and set an offset so the tool is back where it started from? either I'm not understanding you, or you're not explaining it right.

OK, I think I figured it out while typing this. Maybe not??

Does the first g-code move have the coordinates of the registration mark? I think it has to for this to work.

If so, I think you might need 2 macros. How about turning on Single Step mode, and running until you get to that point. Run the first macro to store the position in variables. Then, turn off single start mode, jog to position with the webcam, and run the second macro, which can retrieve the position from the variables, change the offsets, and resume cutting. The second macro could even turn off single step for you.

I think it would be far easier to have your registration mark always be 0,0, though.

Perhaps someone else has a better idea that I'm not aware of.

3940

VB and the development of wizards / Re: How to halt a script halfway & wait for a user entered CR?

« on: November 14, 2011, 07:07:55 PM »

Seems like a lot of useless moving around, when the g-code will do it for yoy.

If you're g-code X and Y zero positions are where the crosshair is, all you need to do is this:

XOffset = 3.5   'X offset from webcam crosshair to spindle
YOffset = 4.0   'Y offset from webcam crosshair to spindle

SetOEMDRO(800,XOffset)
SetOEMDRO(801,YOffset)


This will set your tools 0,0 position where the webcam crosshair is. The g-code should move it into cutting position.

You don't need to wait for the CR. Just jog until the webcam is in position, run the macro, then run your g-code.