Messages

161

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 toolchange for dummies???

« on: February 21, 2011, 12:02:40 PM »

Well, I tried It and had moderate success. I can now manually type in a tool number in Mach and then run the vb script editor and it will move the a axis stepper. I can't get it to mOve to position 1 though.

I also can't seem to get it to move to the correct angular position. I just have the a axis stepper sitting on my bench right now so I have the steps set to 200 for one rotation. I also tried 2000 thinking I might need 2000 because of the geckos microsteping.

Additionally, I can't get the a xis to move from g code. I tried inserting t0201 into my code and running it to see if it would index a axis to 90 deg.

Your thoughts?

162

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 toolchange for dummies???

« on: February 20, 2011, 09:16:19 PM »

Hot damn! (american slang for- excellent info, I am very excited about trying this out)

163

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 toolchange for dummies???

« on: February 20, 2011, 08:22:12 PM »

Thanks hood!

I cut and pasted what you wrote.

where do I store this macro? and what do I write in the g code to call a particular tool?

also any hints on activating "output2"? do I set up an output signal in mach to put out 5v on the output to activate a relay that will power the solenoid?

why did you call it output2?

164

General Mach Discussion / Mach 3 toolchange for dummies???

« on: February 20, 2011, 03:38:29 PM »

Hello!

I have done several stepper/mach3 conversions to some of my machines. I most recently converted a Hardinge CHNC Lathe circa 1980.

I have removed the original toolchange internals and now have an 8 position turret that raises and lowers with a 4way solenoid. I have just finished making an 8" .375 pitch timing pulley that fits around the base of the original rotating turret (for stepper motor indexing of the turret)

Within the next few days, I will have an A axis G203V wired to the stepper that will index the indexer.

can you please tell me (in a nutshell) how I can get mach to call for and then execute the toolchange? I feel really lost.

Also, might you have a sample of code that you use to change tools?


Again, for clairity, heres what I want to do-

Call for tool change in G code to tool X
Move to safe tool change position
Activate turret air solenoid (raise)
Index turret to position X
Deactivate turret air solenoid (4 way valve will automaticly lower and lock turret)
Continue executing G code

I hope you can spare a moment to help me...I have almost got the toolchanger ready, and cant figure out how to run it!

Best,
Nate.

natefoerg@gmail.com

165

General Mach Discussion / Re: can threading be done in mach without an index pulse?.

« on: December 23, 2010, 09:30:31 PM »

Yes, it all makes sense.

I did have a cnc4pc index pulse unit, which I somehow fried. I will have to buy a new one.

I think that I now know that I must have an index pulse.

I actually have this stepper running on a hardinge lathe. I normally use a vfd and 3 phase motor for turning ops. The motor is under powered and I have never been able to thread due to the spindle slowing so drasticly when taking a threading cut.

because I wanted to be able to index on the lathe anyway for milling flats etc... i decided to retrofit a stepper to the spindle that I can engage/disengage when I need to. (disengaged for regular turning, engaged when i need to index or thread)

I can just upgrade the motor and have enough power to thread with the lathes spindle motor, but that upgrade will cost me about a grand. I dont have 3 phase power and so all the spindle control options I have are sub-optimal and expensive.

I actually am running the spindle indexing stepper with a 3to1 reduction, so it takes a threading cut fairly well. I know it would suck for regular turning, so thats why I made it disengageable.

166

General Mach Discussion / can threading be done in mach without an index pulse?.

« on: December 23, 2010, 08:24:42 PM »

I am dying to figure this out.

I want to know if I can thread without an index pulse just "relying" on the spindle to keep in correct position. I have a lathe that has a stepper motor on the spindle for indexing and threading (if I can figure this out)

Originally, I thought that I would use the stepper on the spindle as an A axis and write the code for threading and indexing by hand.

Is there a way to run the stepper as the spindle motor (yes, I can configure it this way, I know) and then use the threading wizard? I have tried just this, and I cant keep the thread synced... I have a powerful enough stepper running on the spindle, I dont know why mach cant just assume that when I tell the stepper (spindle) to do 30 rpm, it does exactly 30 rpm. when I run the threading wizards program, the thread looses position.

How can I get mach to believe that the rpm is 30 without an index pulse?

Is their a setting that would allow me to not be reliant on an index pulse? and for mach to just believe that the rpm is as it should be?

before you ask, my index pulse generator is cooked.

Additionally, how would I write code that would work in machlathe that would use A as the spindle and as an indexer (rotation in degrees) I assume that I would have to write the code as "circular interpolation" can this type of code be read by mach lathe? or do I have to execute it in mach mill?

any ideas???

167

General Mach Discussion / Re: Hardinge CHNC retrofit. ASD drive (old school) and threading...

« on: October 28, 2010, 10:14:22 PM »

Thanks peter!

168

General Mach Discussion / Hardinge CHNC retrofit. ASD drive (old school) and threading...

« on: October 28, 2010, 08:55:09 PM »

Hello!

I have a Hardinge CHNC lathe that I have running steppers, smoothstepper, G203V's and mach 3.

I have not had good results using a inverter duty motor and a VFD, probably has to do with the fact that I'm not willing to spend big money to get a really nice big VFD and motor.

Since my motor was bogging down under any mild or greater cut, I have decided to go old school with the spindle control. I have a Adjustable Speed Drive, like the drive found in a bridgeport series 1 2hp mill head.

This ASD will allow me to rotate the ASD dial and change the speed manually. I don't need computer control of the speed. what I really need is torque for cutting...the ASD should give me what I need.

Since this lathe does not have backgear or changeable pulley ratios, the ASD should give me enough torque at lower speeds to let me thread without losing spindle sync.

OK, enough background, here is my question-

I will have manual control of the spindle rpm.
If I use my tach (optical pickup) on the spindle, I should be able to dial the ASD to a set speed for threading. lets just say 300RPM. the ASD should hold the 300rpm fairly well, and only vary +/- 5 or 10 RPM.
I can then tell the mach threading wizard that I want to thread at 300RPM.

With the Tach pickup sending pulses into mach, will mach have enough info to keep the feeds synced with the spindle RPM, and not loose the threads position?

I guess what I don't understand, is with mach threading normally, the spindle speed is controled via a 0-10V signal. If that signal is not present, and the spindle speed is set manually and fixed, how can mach know where to keep the bit. How, if it cannot alter the spindle speed can mach keep the thread synced? Can mach see the spindle speed as stable at 300 and just keep the timing correct to cut the thread?

now that I think about it, how does mach keep the thread synced with the spindle? does it modify the spindle speed (0-10V) or does it modify the feed speed of X and Z and when it leads into the cut? does Mach modify both?

169

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 digitize wiz, import points into bobcad?

« on: September 21, 2010, 06:20:03 PM »

Anybody?

170

General Mach Discussion / Mach 3 digitize wiz, import points into bobcad?

« on: September 20, 2010, 02:39:45 PM »

anyone have a script or an easy way to import the XYZ data that the Mach3 digitize wizard creates into Bobcad ver 23?

I have tried 3 diff point cloud programs, and they all either crash or cost hundreds of dollars.

anyone have any ideas?