Topics

11

General Mach Discussion / Grizzly lathe retrofit!!!

« on: February 15, 2015, 09:43:31 PM »

Guys,

I've been studying on purchasing a 10 x 22 grizzly lathe and retrofitting it. I've stumbled upon some small lathe work that would be a perfect fit for it. Also I think I need one

12

CS-Lab / MPG Wiring

« on: November 11, 2014, 08:32:31 PM »

Hey guys!!!!

Would someone please enlighten me on this diagram where it says COMMON CATHODE CONNECTION FOR DIGITAL INPUTS.  Pin 12 to 19.  Looks likes just a jumper to me but am not an electrical guy.  I finished my pendant tonight.  Didn't realize that the MPG(Free from Old equipment at work) was 12 volt instead of 5volt.  Since the rated voltage was higher than the input voltage I was pretty sure no damage would occur and wanted to give it a try in the chance that it might work.  All my selector switches worked and the MPG worked except when you spun it slow.  I'm assuming that is because of the voltage rating difference.  Was going to order me another MPG tonight but wanted to make sure that common cathode connection being just a jumper wasn't causing this problem.  This is a CS-Lap MPG module that it is hooked up to.  Thanks for all the help.

13

General Mach Discussion / Motor Tune Graph

« on: November 08, 2014, 10:00:28 PM »

Hey Guy!!!

I remember having a problem once before and only being able to see one side of my motor tune graph.  I remember finding the solution to get it back where I could see it on the forum, but I can't seem to find it anywhere.  I remember it was simple.  All I can see is the ramp up in the motor tune profile.  Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!!
Thanks!!!!

14

General Mach Discussion / CS-Labs Distributor

« on: October 19, 2014, 10:11:42 PM »

Any of you guys know if there is a US distributor for CS-labs products?  I looked on there website but didn't see any.  Didn't have much luck trying to place an order online either.

Thanks

15

General Mach Discussion / New Machine A Few Bugs!!!!!

« on: October 15, 2014, 10:32:55 PM »

Hey guys.  Its been awhile since Ive posted.  Built my first machine four years ago and with all your guys help it was great!!!!!  Things progressed and I quickly out grew my machine capabilities.(over a period of a few years)  Hence I debated building a much larger machine myself or purchasing one.  After much debate and time being a huge factor, I decided to order a Chinese machine.  I saw the machine in person before I ordered and felt very good about the mechanical soundness of it.  With mach3 being viable option it became a no brainer for me.  I knew there would be some issues to work through, but after setting one up from scratch(With the help of all of you I was ready for the challenge.  I got my machine last week.  It is a servo machine with an hsd spindle.  The usb control board is an XHC-MK3 and the spindle is driven by a Delta VFD. I built my own pc and set Mach3 up on it.  The manufacturer sent me an xml file, but it was in metric.  Spent a few hours on the web but finally found the plugin file that I needed for the external motion controller.(New machine usb not parallel port like the one I built)  I converted the xml file from mm to in, loaded all the plugins, and had manual motion much quick than I expected.  Had several issues with homing.  Finally went to single stage homing vs dual in the plugin in file and it quit blowing past the home switches.  Only axis I could run dual stage on was Z.  Still pondering over that one.  After calibration and soft limit setup I was finally ready to run a test program.  Slowed everything down and away I went.  Next set of problems!!!!  Spindle starts comes up to speed, program takes off,  and somewhere in the process the spindle just stops!!!!!  No input flickers on diagnostics screen.  Output to spindle is still showing on.  Tonight I done a couple of tests.  I turned the spindle on manually and just let it run.  After that I started jogging each axis manually to see if I could make the spindle stop.  The whole time I was watching the diagnostic screen for flickers.  I originally thought it could be interference, but never saw anything.  All servo cables are shielded and grounded as well as the spindle cable.  The spindle would stop after jogging awhile.  The output for the spindle remained on.  I did notice that when this happened I temporarily lost jog function of the wireless pendant as well.  I put a wireless pendant on the machine I built, but preferred the original shuttle setup I had much better.  It just didn't last long when being bounced on the concrete a few times.  I am going to attach my xml and the plugin file for the bob.  At this point I feel like I've missed something in the settings or there are some issues with the plugins.  I have realized that after four years I am not as familiar with all of this as I once was.  I haven't dug in to any of the vfd settings either.  I do know for a fact that there have been problems with the bobs on some of these machines.  I have no problem with upgrading to a better board, but don't want to start jumping to conclusions until I'm sure that I have not missed something simple.  Any help from you guys would be greatly appreciated.

16

General Mach Discussion / Z Axis Revisons and Shuttle PRO!!!

« on: December 15, 2013, 10:48:48 PM »

Hello

Its been a busy week but I just wrapped up some much needed revisions to my router.  I built this machine about three years ago.  Of course there were a few things that have been eating at me but I never had really addressed them.  I changed my motor tuning on my z axis and slowed my rapids down and everything was good short of being a little slow.  I had originally used and acme lead screw with an acetal anti backlash nut for z.  A couple of weeks ago we had an IAI motor burn up, so I salvaged the lead screw and off I went.  Originally I was running a 425 oz in motor.  I opted to go with a 906 oz in for the new lead screw and a digital driver both of which I purchased from Keling INC.  I had purchased other items from them so I decided to use them again.  I had a higher voltage power supply that I had never used, so that saved me some extra cash.  I got all my retrofit plates made last week and started installing at the first of this week.  Last night I had everything wrapped up and wired and decided to call it a night.  This afternoon I got the new motor calibrated and tuned.  Wow what an upgrade.  I am enclosing some before and after to picks to show the changes.  The only issue I had was when I was increasing my speeds on the z axis in the motor tuning I started having problems with my shuttle pro.  I restarted Mach and it displayed no shuttle found.  After I rebooted the computer it started working again.  Once again when I went into motor tuning it had another fit.  Now this shuttle pro has had a rough life.  Its been dropped numerous times.  It just seems odd that it was fine until now.  I cloned my configurations and made the changes so I would still have my original settings.  Would any of this cause this problem?  I rebooted and got it back working but when I went to jog after the program ended it was dead again.  Manual control of the machine via the keyboard is still functional. I swapped usb ports once and got an error on the device manager.  This made me think it was a shuttle pro problem.  Rebooted the computer and plugged it back in and it recognized at that time.  I was just debating on getting a better pendant or is this a problem I have created. Three years into to this stuff and I learn something new everyday. One step forward and two steps back!!!! As always thanks for the help.

17

General Mach Discussion / 4th Axis Addition!!!

« on: November 26, 2012, 10:25:32 PM »

Mach Community,

I am hoping that once again you guys can provide some input and advice for me!!!!  The winter time is upon us and I am finally starting to get some time to get back out in the shop and get back after it.  Some of you have probably read or even commented on some of my previous posts.  Although I had no intentions of ever cutting gunstocks, that's how things just ended up!!!  Now to add some personalized touches on the guns we are doing my gunsmithing buddy has approached me about doing some engraving on the barrels.  Although I am somewhat skeptical about chucking up a barrel that has hours of work in it, I have decided to give it a whirl.  At this point in time the software I have is fully capable of 4th axis engraving although I am not sure how capable I am!!!!  The main problem I have is the machine.  When I built router I wasn't certain if it would ever be functional.  I felt very good about the mechanical aspect, but wasn't to certain on the electrical.  I bought a 4 axis kit from Keling and rough wired to the computer to make sure it would work before I ever started the build.  Once I had movement, I then proceeded with the rest of the build. By the time I slaved the y axis for dual drive on the gantry, added home switches for each axis, and added the estop circuit and limit switches, I had consumed my C10 Bob.  My question is,  is there a usb bob that I could get for driving the 4th axis only?  My machine runs great now without any issues.  I am a little weary of completely upgrading to a new bob for the 4th axis when it will only be used occasionally.  My plan is to add the fourth axis and tailstock to a plate that I will bolt on when I need it.  Any input or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Jamie

18

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Gunstocks!!!!!

« on: May 16, 2012, 11:26:32 PM »

Hey Guys!!!  I just wanted to follow up and show a couple of pictures of some completed guns that I done the wood work on.  All of these are custom rimfire guns!!!!  A good friend of mine is doing the smithing on these and I am doing the wood work.  I had posted some pictures on various parts of the forum and I think that I am finally at the right place.  Just wanted to say thanks to tweakie cnc and hood whos information has been top notch in working out a few bugs for me.  Once again this forum rocks and everyone is great!! Never thought I would be cutting gunstocks!!!  Let me know your thoughts!!!!

19

General Mach Discussion / Latest Gunstock!!!!

« on: April 15, 2012, 10:42:19 PM »

Hey Guys!!!

As I promised in an earlier post, this is a new rev gunstock that I just finished.  Bare with me this gun is assembled, but waiting for the linseed oil to cure before we  urethane.  I just had to see what it was going to look like.  I have got pictures of another completed gun that I've already posted the pictures of the stock that will be coming soon.  The picture I am going to post will not have the aluminum engraved butt plate installed.  Once again thanks to everyone on this forum who has helped make all of this possible for me .

20

General Mach Discussion / Thanks for Everyone's Help!!!

« on: March 11, 2012, 04:45:42 PM »

Guys,

Just wanted to thank everyone for all of there help with my router build.  This has been a work in process for some time now.  I wanted to take this opportunity to post a couple of pictures of a gunstock that I have been working on for a bench rest gun.  This one still needs to be block sanded and a few more coats of poly applied.  I hope everyone enjoys the pictures.