Messages

141

General Mach Discussion / Re: No jog control in turn cycle screen

« on: September 17, 2008, 06:27:28 AM »

That is a safety issue of the standard screen set.

There are other screens, in the screens download page, where you can jog.
But I realy do not know what option can trigger that.

142

General Mach Discussion / CSS in spindle without feedback

« on: September 17, 2008, 06:23:11 AM »

This is probably a question to lathe users.
Hello. I am finishing a lathe where I do not have spindle feedback, by my option. The spindle works fine at the desired speed, it is not so important.
I know the speed of the spindle based on the frequency that the inverter is outputing to the AC motor. Until this no problem. I probably have +-100 rpm but that is ok for my work.

The problem is that I need CSS. For what I have read, it is necessat to have the spindle feedback.

If I consider that the real speed is equal to the spindle speed set up by mach, CSS should work.
There is any way arround this one ?

Thank you

143

General Mach Discussion / Re: Open door as pause

« on: September 15, 2008, 03:20:32 AM »

For sure this is the best option. Also the user should be aware only to "pause" the system when it is not cutting, this is, when it is outside the cutting part.

There is a setting in Mach to lift the tool when stop is pressed, obviously Stop doesnt want to get pressed until a feedhold has been done so maybe its not a good idea either.
Best option may be to have a lockpin hold the door shut until a feedhold has been done and the spindle has stopped.
Hood

144

General Mach Discussion / Re: Open door as pause

« on: September 12, 2008, 01:43:44 PM »

And Hood, the ideia of always end with the same tool is a very good one.
I will implement that one, since I also made the software that generate the Gcode that the machine will use.
Nice one, and easy too.

145

General Mach Discussion / Re: Open door as pause

« on: September 12, 2008, 01:40:52 PM »

4 months of thinking. Complete lathe, no retrofit.
Almost done ... Only left is the door issue and to see the spindle accelerate and decelerate as I am going in direction of X-- and X++. And, of course, all other thinks that I left behind, I hope very few. Still coolant protection of ballscrew in my X axis is still killing me, but I will think in it after it runs.

146

General Mach Discussion / Re: Open door as pause

« on: September 12, 2008, 08:08:17 AM »

I am working on it (well I am making the door). I will try brains.
About the tool - it was very important to save tool offset, and yes it is for turn.
Thanks Hood.

147

General Mach Discussion / Re: Corner slow down for plasma, laseroxy fuel and waterjet cutting?

« on: September 12, 2008, 05:21:29 AM »

Lincoln electric PC100 (5-6 years old now)

Very good investment, one of the best in my workshop. Made in Italy (broken 3 times - I only had to replace diodes inside of it)
For 12mm I would use plasma for sure, better result and much less expensive, less dangerous, never have to replace bottles ...
For sure plasma.

148

General Mach Discussion / Re: Corner slow down for plasma, laseroxy fuel and waterjet cutting?

« on: September 12, 2008, 04:46:08 AM »

I see thinks in a different form than you.

For me a cut should be as close to have 90º in relation to the face of cut, this is: when you are cutting in a XY position in the upper plate, you should also have the bottom cut at that position at the same time (or with a very slow gap of time - only enough for the energy of the plasma or the flame reaches the bottom plate). If you have this, then you will have it on straight lines, corners, anywhere and you will want constant speed.

See below:

TOP PLATE
   ||||||        |||||||
 ///////         ||||||| (Desired 90º)
//////           |||||||
BOTTOM PLATE

You can have this with a slower feedrate. But it is how you said: "Therefore your parts throughput per hour will be much lower"
But that is easy to solve: Invest in a higher AMP plasma, if you are using plasma.
As an example, with my 100A plasma I cut fine 12mm (1/2") at 500mm/min. It is not fast, but the result is good.

Filipe

149

General Mach Discussion / Re: Open door as pause

« on: September 12, 2008, 04:37:37 AM »

Thanks Hood.

My main issue is to preserve the tool that was last used. The toolchanger will not move, so I will be sure to have the same toolnumber. I hope that DRO will also work as persistant for the toolnumbers.
I will look the macropump or brain (?!) as you sugest.

150

General Mach Discussion / Re: Open door as pause

« on: September 12, 2008, 02:26:46 AM »

Hood:
When I press start again, the spindle will not work, only the axis will move, as you were guessing.

fdos:
That is a nice ideia. But that needs to change my wiring, but probably is safer. I have no clue is how to trigger feedhold if the switch changes.

If I rely only in software, I could do a series of actions if some triger is put on, can't I ? In this case I would not need to change my wiring configuration.
something like:

Door was open -> send an input to mach
is spindle on? stop spindle
feedhold

Door was closed -> send an input to mach
is spindle off? start spindle
delay 3 seconds until spindle reachs speed
take off feedhold

I do not know is how to connect an input, to trigger an action, but it should be easy to do, I think.

About my other question, to save the position and tool number when exiting mach, any ideias ?

Thank you.