Messages

41

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 update on Tormach Mill

« on: October 17, 2011, 09:20:43 PM »

Find the Mach1lic.dat file amd move/copy it into your new Mach3 folder.
Al

42

General Mach Discussion / Re: homed axis (XYZ) DRO does not read zero

« on: October 12, 2011, 08:58:25 PM »

Thanks

43

General Mach Discussion / Re: homed axis (XYZ) DRO does not read zero

« on: October 11, 2011, 11:45:04 PM »

If you look in the Mach3screen reference manual on page 23 it shows the options you can choose to use to setup the home positions. There are many(;-)
Just a thought,(;-) TP

TP, where do I find the Mach3screen manual? I have downloaded, printed and bound most of the Mach manuals, but I guess this one slipped by me.
Al

44

General Mach Discussion / Re: What TPI for new cnc machine?

« on: October 04, 2011, 12:46:14 AM »

Gerry, I interpreted Thys’s comment “accuracy, although important, is not critical to the 0.01 mm.“ as meaning that he did NOT need accuracy to the nearest hundredth of a millimeter. Those are watchmaking units.
Al

45

General Mach Discussion / Re: Homing Macro?

« on: September 11, 2011, 11:24:22 PM »

Not picking on ya but I bet MOST don't ever refhome the machine. I would say 50% don't even know what it means to refhome(;-)
 (;-) TP

TP, I bet your estimate is conservative. I for one am in the 50% category. On my little tabletop mill the home/limit is when the table hits a 10-32 screw and stalls the stepper (even tho I don’t use it for that, I would think it is fairly repeatable).
Al
PS Now and again I need to be reminded that Mach is also used on REAL machines that might use 100 lb rotary tables etc. <big grin>
al

46

General Mach Discussion / Re: Upgrading from Mach2 to Mach3 - basic help - slow Z- Jog, etc.

« on: September 10, 2011, 11:40:16 PM »

Terry didn’t mention it, but when jog is in step mode, you can press the shift key and then the page down and the Z will rapid. When the tool gets close to the work let off the page down to stop it, then tap it to move incrementally to touch off.  Works great.
HTH,
Al

47

General Mach Discussion / Re: Kernel speed set to high on z axis and will not save calibration.

« on: August 31, 2011, 03:55:40 PM »

Are you remembering to press the 'Enter' key after each entry?

48

General Mach Discussion / Re: Match 3 Information

« on: August 30, 2011, 05:19:05 AM »

Hi Whitey, it hasn’t been that long that I was in your exact same position, (other than I have a few years age on you ). If I may I would elaborate on Rich’s suggestions.
Do download a CAD program, ANY CAD program, better if it’s free and maybe an AutoCad clone.
Draw something simple, like a rectangle. Shouldn't take long, just read the help file on how to draw a line. Ignore the gazillion other features for now.
Save as a DXF file. That is a standard format that describes your drawing as a text file.
Any CAM program can read the DXF and will convert it into a set of step by step Gcode instructions that mach3 will use to cut the part.
Load the Gcode into mach3 and the toolpath window should show your rectangle.
Study the Gcode. The G00, G01, G02 and G03 will cut 99% of anything you can draw and are butt simple to understand.
If you get this far then you are well on your way, the rest will fall out a step at a time.
The above is perhaps an over simplification but It reallly is that simple; (of course the devil is in the details). This forum is the place to ask questions.
HTH,
 Al

49

General Mach Discussion / Re: cutting problems

« on: August 25, 2011, 01:43:17 AM »

I was thinking that a plunge and retract on the cut line will always result in a slight divot on the cut surface. On second reading I doubt that is what the OP is referring to.
However what he might be seeing is due to machine flex, especially if it is not an end cutting mill. On the final plunge cut the DRO may show the proper depth but the G03 move will begin before the bit is at full depth. It actually 'ramps' the last little bit of plunge thus resulting in an uncut blip such as he describes.
I used to run into this with my tabletop (Sherline) machine. The fix is to use approach/depart curves with overlap. The plunge is off the part and the approach allows the tool to ramp down (if needed). Should be standard procedure IMO.
Al

50

General Mach Discussion / Re: cutting problems

« on: August 24, 2011, 06:13:29 PM »

His Gcode doesn’t have any approach/depart curves. Might that account for what he is seeing?  I’m not familiar with cut2d so can’t offer help with that.
Al