Messages

11

General Mach Discussion / Re: New parallel port card question

« on: February 03, 2017, 09:12:37 AM »

Here is more history on this problem. I sold my 'BlackToe CNC' to a friend. He didn't want the PC that has been running the 'BlackToe' because he has two PCs that we thought he could use. It has been my understanding that Mach3 would run on any PC using an USB drive with a working copy of Mach3mill from the PC that had been running the CNC before on it. But the USB drive with Mach3mill doesn't recognize the parallel port on ether of the PCs. I can open Mach3 from the USB drive and run the DROs but "motor turning" will not open. Something tells me that Mach3mill will not run on a different PC using a USB drive and see the Parallel port, but has to have the full copy of Mach3 installed on it. Is this correct?

12

General Mach Discussion / New parallel port card question

« on: February 03, 2017, 02:57:40 AM »

I installed a new parallel port card but Mach3 is not seeing it. I'm not sure if I know how to input the I/O address. The I/O address of the ECP Printer Port (LPT1) shows C400-C470. If I input 0xC400 Mach3 doesn't like it. And 0x400 won't work. Is there another way of enter C400-C470? I'm not sure I understand what "enter in Hex 0-9 A-F only"  means. 

13

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problems with Z not cutting the right depth

« on: January 25, 2017, 10:11:00 AM »

Hi Tweakie,
I'm sure my problems was noise coming from the spindle. I ran some g-code without any difficulty. Let's hope that this is the last of the glitches with this CNC router.

14

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problems with Z not cutting the right depth

« on: January 25, 2017, 08:34:30 AM »

This morning I connected the shielding in the output wire from the VFD to the spindle.   
Looks like the shielding has to be grounded on these Chinese spindle-VFD. And some advice: NO ground wire from the spindle motor to ground.
The noise output from these Chinese spindle-VFD is significant.  Caused all kinds of problems while running G-Code even though the gantry would jog up & down the table smooth as silk.

15

General Mach Discussion / Problems with Z not cutting the right depth

« on: January 24, 2017, 09:18:17 PM »

I'm using Mach3 ***.056 and have been for some time. I'm building a Joe's EVO CNC and now I've found a new problem. I thought I had been through most of the glitches. I'm trying to make a plaque that I've made about 50 times before on my old Blacktoe CNC router.
For some unknown reason the Z axis is not cutting to the right depth when the g-code calls for a depth change. The code says to cut to 0.045 below zero but the tool (a 90 deg v-bit) barley scratches the surface of the wood. The Z DRO shows the depth change but for some reason the stepper is not moving to the right depth. I have re-calibrated the stepper so many time I've lost count. I use the auto calibrate and move Z down 4" to set the steps. When I recheck the movement of Z it is almost perfect. But this is not reflected when I try to run g-code.
Question: could this be noise in my system?   Or is there a setting I'm missing?  
I'm using a Chinese spindle and VFD which has been the source if most of my problems because of the RF noise. I have shielded wire on the spindle but I don't think the shield is grounded very well. So tomorrow I will do a better job of grounding the shield.

16

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problems with my probe???

« on: January 23, 2017, 03:51:01 PM »

OK I have it running ...... I wasn't sure how important the 104 capacitor on the C10 BOB between the pins on the probe were and I had removed it. Now I know that having the capacitor in place is very important. I reinstalled the capacitor and the probing works as advertised. What a relief I now have a fully functioning Joe's EVO CNC Router!!!! And just in time too. I received an order for a plaque this morning. Gerry thank you for your help. Without these forums I would never have been able to build my two CNCs.

17

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problems with my probe???

« on: January 23, 2017, 03:18:49 PM »

Sometimes the bit will not touch the probe plate when doing a single Z zero and the probe active does not come on??

18

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problems with my probe???

« on: January 23, 2017, 01:26:48 PM »

Well good news.......    I think I may have identified my problem. I had read that there is no wire inside the Chinese spindle motor for a ground and that they thought that they should put one in.  So I did also. But I found that since this CNC is all metal everything is grounded inside the VFD. Which turns out not to be good. It causes strange things to happen to the ground on the C10 BOB if you touch the probe plate to the bit. After I disconnected the ground inside the VFD everything (well almost everything) works normally. If I do a Z zero for a single tool the Z axis comes down touches the probe plate (probe active light lights) and retracts to 1.5" normally. But if I do a Z zero tool change probe the script will only run the bit down about 1/4" (not even close to the touch plate and the probe active light does not come on) and retract about 1/8" down 1/4" and retract up 1.5". I never changed the script for the Z zero so what's happening? 

19

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problems with my probe???

« on: January 22, 2017, 08:16:57 AM »

Gerry Sorry I didn't pick-up on the 'parallel port or motion controller' question.
I use the DB25 parallel port.
Gene

20

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problems with my probe???

« on: January 22, 2017, 12:09:50 AM »

Mine is .056
Do you think I should try to get the probe cable away from which wire?
I don't understand why the probe works if I hold the plate in my hand and touch the bit, but not if I put the plate down and let the bit touch the probe plate. As soon as the bit comes in contact with plate and the light come on things stop working. The probe wires are not close at all to the 5v that comes from pin 1 to the relay that turns on the 12v to the spindle cooling pump.
Hope this helps,
Gene