Messages

41

General Mach Discussion / Auto Tool Zero Help

« on: April 21, 2011, 06:54:54 AM »

Hi,

I have done several searches and read the associated topics on setting up Auto Tool Zero.

I purchased a used Shopbot router recently.  The proximity switches on the X & Y axis and the E Stop button were disconnected.  Thanks to the help received here on the forum I now have those issues behind me.  The I can now home the machine as advertised and the E Stop button is working correctly.

What I am working on now is the Auto Tool Zero.  The Auto Tool Zero plate was also disconnected.  I talked with Art at CNC4PC and he pointed out in the C10 Breakout board where the schematic for the Auto Tool Zero was in the manual.  I have wired the Auto Tool Zero Plate per his instructions and made the associated test of touching the Auto Tool Zero Plate to the tool that has the alligator clip attached.  When I do this the DITIGIZE button lights up on the Diagnostics page as it should.

I THINK?? I am ready to place a script in the Program Run screen (Tool Information/Auto Tool Zero Button).  I understand the process is to go to the Operator/Edit Button Script menu option and select the Blinking Auto Tool Zero button and clear any information that may be currently located in the script dialog box and replace it with a suitable script for the Auto Tool Zero Function.  I would like to put a script in there that does the (2) step touch off process, one first at regular speed and then the secondary touchoff and a slower speed at a minimum retract in height.

1:     Does anyone have a script that would perform that operation that they would share we me?

2:     Is there anything that I am missing that I should do prior to pasting the required script into the Auto Tool Zero Button and try this out?

3:     Do I need to first set up a tool in the library i.e. Tool #1 and give it a diameter?  It is my understanding that the Macro Script would fill in the Tool Height in the tool table after the Auto Tool Zero is performed?

4:     Pror to running the Auto Tool Zero Macro Do I have to select the tool number i.e. Tool #1 that I want to Tool Zero prior to runining the Macro Script?

Just trying to understand the process.

Note:  While I have all the proximity switch and home switches hooked up and operational on the X & Y Axis, I don't currently have an (upward i.e. positive limit/home switch) on the Z Axis.  Can the script for Auto Tool Zero run without having the Z Axis limit/home siwtch installed and operational?

Thanks in advance for any help/input you guys can offer.

John

42

General Mach Discussion / Re: Growling Y AXIS Motor

« on: April 19, 2011, 02:29:04 PM »

Hi Guys,

Problem Fixed.   I removed the Y Axis Gekco 202 from the Shopbot cabinet and found that the 2 screws that hold the cover on the driver were missing and allowing the cover to touch some of the contacts on the circuit board.  I didn't see any burnt marks where electrical contract may be been.  I put some cover attachment screws in of the appropriate length and reinstalled the Y Axis Gekco 202 and now all is fine.  The growling is gone and the temperature on all the Axis motors is now COOL.

Thanks for looking at my post and offering suggestions.

John

43

General Mach Discussion / Re: Growling Y AXIS Motor

« on: April 17, 2011, 08:13:35 PM »

Hi,

I have no idea how to check the current draw on the motors.  I believe the previous owner updated the power supply in the Shopbot control box.  I have enclosed a picture so you get an idea of the size.  I think he mentioned the number 70, don't know if that was amps, watts etc.

I think my acceleration was a lot higher than 30.  I will give that a try and see how it works.

Thanks,

John

44

General Mach Discussion / Growling Y AXIS Motor

« on: April 17, 2011, 06:48:37 PM »

Hi,

I am in the process of setting up MACH3 on a Shopbot PRT 48 X 96 Router.

Got all my proximity, E-Stop, homing working thanks to the help I received here.

I have also tuned the motors and set the steps per inch on all the motors.  I have the motion control set to constant velocity.  The A Axis is Slaved to the X Axis.

I am running Gekco 202 drivers.  The motor on the X,Z & A Drives run about 85 degrees F and the motor on the Y Axis runs abou 105 degrees F.

The motors on the X,Y & A Axis are Vexta A6497-9412KTG     0.5/Step
The motor on the Z Axis is a Vexta PK296A@A-SQ7-2            0.25/Step

When I try and run some GCODE the router growls LOUDLY when it is trying to make a move that requires a combination of X & Y like an ARC.
I had a spare Vexta A6497-9412KTG so I replaced the motor on the Y Axis and the growl is still there.

I have a spare Gekco 202 and wonder if the Y Axis driver might be the problem.

There might be a problem in the configuration so I have attached my XML file for your review.

Any help that you guys might be able to offer would be appreciated.

Thanks,

John

45

General Mach Discussion / Re: Shopbot with Mach3 homing issues

« on: April 16, 2011, 01:16:15 PM »

Hi Gerry,

I saw the Super PID in one of your videos.  Good to hear that it works well.

My goal is to put optical sensors on both of my Routers and have external plugs on them so I can just plug in which ever router I am using at the time into the Super PID control box.  I am told that the Makita RF1100 is one of the (quietest routers on the market) and may work well for engraving plexiglas as there would not be any heavy load requirements.  I need to contact the guys at Super PID and see if they can send me an additional optical sensor for mounting in the second Router.  My Shopbot Router has a second Z axis should I ever want to run both routers at the same time.  I realize that if I chose to do that it would require a second Super PID Control module.  Does that seem like a workable plan?

I think those guys have a GREAT product and am sure they will sell plenty.

John

46

General Mach Discussion / Re: Shopbot with Mach3 homing issues

« on: April 16, 2011, 11:45:34 AM »

Hi Guys,

You are the BEST!

Gerry,

I changed the homing direction on the Slaved A Drive to match the X Drive.  I also increased the homing speed on all the drives.

The Shopbot now homes perfectly with no growling or jumping off the X guideways.  Basically life is good thanks to you guys.  Arturo Duncan of CNC4PC  has also been very helpful in properly setting up my C10 breakout board connections.

My next quest is getting the Tool Touch off plate hooked back up and working properly.  The wiring was disconnected and I need to know how it works in Mach3.

Also, I am going to purchase one of those Super PID's for controlling the speed of my routers as I would like to engrave Plexiglas on this router and need to lower the speed to around 5K.  I have both a Porter Cable 7518 and a Makita RF1100 that I intend to retrofit with this speed controller.  The speed range is 5K to the router's rated top speed.  It is my understanding that the Super PID can be intergrated with the Mach3 software which would be GREAT!

When I get this all sorted out I will try and make a few videos about my Mach3 setup process and of course give you guys credit for the help and guidance.

John

47

General Mach Discussion / Re: Shopbot with Mach3 homing issues

« on: April 16, 2011, 09:51:04 AM »

Hi,

First, thanks for the reply.

I am currently using Gekco 202 drives.

I talked to another friend of mine and he is using Gekco G203v's on his plasma cutter.  Here is what he had to say, of course that is his opinion:

The Gecko 202 is a very old drive and you can't tune the mid range like the G203v drives that I use on my plasma. So what this means is a stepper with 10 micro step drive like the 202 will have a noisy range. The G203v morphs from 10 micro steps at slow speeds to single steps at high speed. The change point can be adjusted to suit your steppers.

Soft Limits:

I have made so many changes in the homing limits page trying to get it to work that I can't be sure that both the A and X weren't going the same direction originally when the X axis jumped off the track but will change that and give it a try, but intend to do a complete re-install of the Mach3 software on a spare Windows XP Professional computer running 32bit software.  Originally, the soft max was set at 100.00 and the soft min was set at -100.00 for the X and Y axis.  I realize the Z axis is reversed and of course it only has 6" of travel.  Did those settings look O.K. for a 48" X 96" router?

48

General Mach Discussion / Re: Shopbot with Mach3 homing issues

« on: April 16, 2011, 08:59:40 AM »

Hi Tweakie,

Thanks for the reply.  I am completely new to Mach3 and have been trying to read as much as I can and absorb.

I was trying to relate to other CNC machines that can home when they startup and thought that was how it was done in Mach3.

John

49

General Mach Discussion / Re: Shopbot with Mach3 homing issues

« on: April 16, 2011, 08:04:59 AM »

I have just reticified the license issue.  Ordered from CNC4PC.  Will send you a correct XML file once the license is received and installed.

Thanks,

John

50

General Mach Discussion / Re: Shopbot with Mach3 homing issues

« on: April 16, 2011, 06:22:09 AM »

Hi,

Well, it let me modify the thread add a jpeg picture.  Then I went to try and add the original XML file and the MODIFY dialog box disappeared.  Can you only modfy a post 1 time?

I have added the zipped attachment again.  Lets see what happens.

Hurray,  it finally worked.

Thanks,

John