Messages

41

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to calibrate unit - i.e. ensure that x0 and y0 are always the same

« on: August 10, 2010, 02:49:00 PM »

What kind of power supply, motor and drivers are you using?  If the machine always skips at a certain spot in the travel I'd suspect a mechanical issue.  If its truly random it is more likely noise or a power supply issue.  Make sure your motors are getting enough current!

42

General Mach Discussion / Re: Trying to troubleshoot inputs

« on: August 09, 2010, 10:14:35 AM »

ps the parallel port is a TTL level input output.  Logic low is 0V, logic high is +5v, so yes it acts as both a sink and a source, depending on the pin number.

43

General Mach Discussion / Re: Trying to troubleshoot inputs

« on: August 09, 2010, 10:10:08 AM »

Try wiring just a simple switch between the pin assigned as your e-stop input (port 1 pin 10) and signal ground (pins 18-25).  Toggle the switch a few times on your diagnostics page and you should see the LED for the emergency stop toggle along with the switch. 

44

General Mach Discussion / Sensorless spindle operation

« on: August 09, 2010, 08:59:52 AM »

Why do the supposedly easy parts always seem to cause the most headaches??

I'm trying to set up a high speed NSK spindle to run with Mach3 and have seemingly run into a brick wall.  One of the three speed sensors on the motor has burned out and now my servo drive (Copley Accelus) can't spin the motor without its full feedback. 

I'm hoping I can alter my setup to use one of the remaining speed sensors as my index pin and run the motor using mach's pwm output.  Problem is I can't think of how I can set my current driver to run it.

Can anyone recommend me a good servo driver?  I need something that meets the following criteria:

-PWM input
-Sensorless (or single sensor)
-ability to run up to 50,000 RPM

Any input, comments, recommendations or tomfoolery will be much appreciated!

45

General Mach Discussion / Re: Trying to troubleshoot inputs

« on: August 09, 2010, 08:52:18 AM »

It sounds to me like your wiring an external +5v into your e-stop pin.  You should actually be getting your logic 5volts out of the parellel port and having a switch between this 5v and signal ground.  Active low would require a normally closed e-stop button, meaning the switch is normally shunting your logic 5volts to signal ground.

46

General Mach Discussion / Re: zero an axis before every move

« on: August 02, 2010, 11:56:44 AM »

That would work but I need to have all the other axes moving in absolute coordinates at the same time I'm dispensing.  I'd be worried that the inremental change would cause an absolute headache.

47

General Mach Discussion / Re: X axis seems to be mirrored..??

« on: August 02, 2010, 11:53:47 AM »

Also recommend setting "Dir LowActive" to on in your Config> ports and pins> motor outputs tab.  This will reverse the direction of your step pulses and should take care of the mirror effect.  Note that you will also have to check the "Home Negative" box in the config>homing and limits tab, because reversing the motor direction will make your machine home in the wrong direction.

48

General Mach Discussion / Re: dispenser suckback script - incremental move in macro

« on: August 01, 2010, 04:17:18 PM »

thank you again!  You've cured both of my big headaches today!  If only I could email you a beer....

49

General Mach Discussion / Re: zero an axis before every move

« on: August 01, 2010, 04:02:18 PM »

And away she goes!  That did it perfectly, thank you! 

50

General Mach Discussion / Re: mach 3 set-up has me stumped

« on: August 01, 2010, 03:57:46 PM »

I was using Rhinocam and had the same problem!
My workaround was scaling the model by 0.03937, effectively making 1 inch = 1 mm!  I'm sure it was a setup issue but we switched to mastercam before we had a chance to investigate further