Messages

11

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle speed control - serial port

« on: October 03, 2011, 07:26:09 AM »

Sorry - being stupid . No the LEDS on the board stay off. On the computer screen in diagnostics the output LED flashes.

No sign of life on the board at all

12

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle speed control - serial port

« on: October 03, 2011, 06:28:00 AM »

Sorry - within Mach 3 leds do come on just fine

13

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle speed control - serial port

« on: October 03, 2011, 06:27:25 AM »

Hi

Thanks for the replies...but..yes the relays are enabled and No LEDs  at all

Could anybody send me a tested XML there are some odd settings in the one I downloaded from Texas microcircuits site (might be right what would I know!)

14

General Mach Discussion / Spindle speed control - serial port

« on: October 02, 2011, 11:36:44 AM »

Hi I have just bought a Texas Microcircuits serial port speed control board (apparently developed by SoundLogic) I have loaded the plugin and using the XML suggested.....nothing narda zip ... an M3 command does nothing at all... Any ideas folks??

15

General Mach Discussion / Lathe threading - I Love Brian!!

« on: September 04, 2011, 03:42:21 PM »

This is just a thankyou to all who created this program - After a year of failing to be bothered I set up my late spindle index properly (who would have thought a TTL signal needed a ground.....) The result perfect threads - I am soo happy. I forgot to cook dinner - the family have gone for a take away and .....I don't care!!!!!

So Brian (whoever you may be) Thanks!

16

General Mach Discussion / Re: Index/rmp/threading issues

« on: November 10, 2010, 07:41:30 AM »

Thanks Hood - I will do that tonight - I will see what I can do with the signal as well.

17

General Mach Discussion / Re: Index/rmp/threading issues

« on: November 10, 2010, 07:23:39 AM »

Thanks guys

Hood - I have done what you suggested - I formatted and reloaded - I only preserved my XML file.


Does my slot size seem about right? Any idea how I could improve the signal?

John

18

General Mach Discussion / Re: Index/rmp/threading issues

« on: November 10, 2010, 06:36:37 AM »

Hi Hood - many thanks as usual - it was your help that got me up and running!

I am such a good boy that having bought an industrial pc with Mach3 loaded and discovering that it was a hacked copy - i bought a proper licence! I am fairly sure Mach3 knows that because at your suggestion I have upped the kernal speed - my wonky little pc has a fit over 35k!

I have checked spindle speed average but it made no difference - at 750rpm it will occasionally drop say 70rpm and then revert - it does this every 5 seconds or so.

I used the simple threading wizard to generate the code - it is tricky for me to post it or the xml as the industrial pc has no usb/floppy/cd attached (I must do something about this as I get into trouble when I trail it through the house) 

19

General Mach Discussion / Index/rmp/threading issues

« on: November 10, 2010, 06:00:10 AM »

With much help I have got most of my lathe working properly (thanks all). I had a dodgy multiplier in my servo drive causing inaccuracy. I now have a machine that is slow but accurate - that will do! But......

I cannot cut threads. I have a single slot disc and a C3 index board. I have lowered debounce and have a broadly accurate RPM reading but it flickers up and down around the correct reading.

When I try and cut a threat the lathe waits for an index pulse (I think) jerks but stops then jerks then stops until I panic and press stop. I have tried very slow speeds - no change. The DROs remain accurate. It looks like my index signal is unreliable. The slot in the disc is ab0ut 8mm on a 125mm diameter (enough according to the manual). I have switched active high and active low.

In diagnostics the led lights up when I turn the spindle by hand but when I run the spindle on the motor there is just an occasional flash.

The sensor is 2m from the board but the cable is shielded and not too close to any nasty cables.

Any thoughts?

John

20

General Mach Discussion / Re: Still being driven mad by arcs

« on: October 11, 2010, 08:10:36 AM »

Hi Hood

Firstly many thanks for your help - I can see how much expertise you contribute to this forum.

You are almost right (and I got my maths wrong) mechanical gearing by toothed belts is 4:1. The lathe is a Harrison M250 professionally converted to CNC from new by Anilam for a college. I discovered that the anilam electronics and coolant did not mix well.....there is a snapped off boring bar in the roof of my shed just to prove it!