Messages

51

General Mach Discussion / Re: Shopbot with Mach3 homing issues

« on: April 16, 2011, 05:59:20 AM »

For some reason I am unable to add an attachment i.e my xml file.  I tried adding it both with an .xml extension and also zipped it and even tried to change the name of the file.  The regular file size was approximately 150K and the zipped one was only 32K.  The upload instructions indicate that either file type is allowed.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

John

52

General Mach Discussion / Shopbot with Mach3 homing issues

« on: April 16, 2011, 05:51:48 AM »

Hi,

I have tried looking through the posts on Homing and haven't found anything so far that I believe relates to my problem.   I am new to Mach3 so it is probably something obvious to the expert user.

My first issue as it pertains to proximity switches and Emergency Stop button and getting them hooked up on my new to me shopbot PRT has been resolved.  I only have proximity switches hooked up on the X and Y Axis, none yet on the Z axis.  The proximity switches currently are the normally open type but will be converted to the normally closed in the near future.

I am able to run parts on the machine and also jog around the table and hit (the return to zero button) and the X Y & Z controls will home to that position i.e. G54 with ease and run smoothly without any growling.

My issue is when I push (the reference all home button) on the Program Run Screen the Y axis starts to move in the desired direction toward home but growls instead of moving smoothly.  When it gets to the Zero position and the X axis starts to move it throws the carriage off the X track.  I am slaving the A Axis to the X axis.  I have tried multiple configurations of the soft limits, reverse settings on the A axis etc. etc. but have not hit the right combination.  I have also checked the box in the general settings for home slaving with Master Axis in the general configurations dialog box.

Also, my router table has approximately 48" in the Y Axis, approximatley 96" in the X axis and approximately 6" in the Z axis.  As mentioned above I am slaving the A Axis to the X Axis.
Any help on sorting this issue out would be appreciated.  I have attached my current XML file.  Please look at my Motor Home/Soft Limits settings and let me know when I went wrong.  Try not to laugh to hard when you look at it.

53

General Mach Discussion / Re: Shopbot with Mach3 Proxmity switch hookup

« on: April 14, 2011, 04:47:24 PM »

Hi,

Just a little update on the proximity switch and emergency stop saga.

I spoke to Arturo at cnc4pc this morning and it turned out he was really helpful.  I thought I would share this information in case it would help someone else here on the forum.

The C10 - Bidirectional breakout board Rev. 10 has a jumper that will allow you to either pull up or pull down all the inputs on the board.  When I moved that jumper it allowed all the N/O inputs from my proximity switches to work correctly but then when I hooked up the E/Stop input to input 15 and also the 5 volt input for that input the E/Stop would not work.  Arthuro told me to remove the wire from the 5 volt input and attach it to one of the available ground terminals.  That fixed it.  Now I can operate all the N/O proxiimity switches and have my E/Stop work correctly too.

Thanks again to you guys for offering suggestions and thanks to Arthuro for supplying a solution for a product that he sells and supports.

Life is good.  Now on to getting the soft limits and homing working.

54

General Mach Discussion / Re: Shopbot with Mach3 Proxmity switch hookup

« on: April 14, 2011, 06:36:50 AM »

Hi Hood,

Funny thing,  I was reading some more posts here on the forum about homing, proximity switches, etc. and found an answer you submitted that was also verbatim of the information I received from Shopbot.

I guess I need to look into the availability and cost of some new N/C proximity switches.   Currently my configuration is that I have (1) each proximity switch on both the X and Y Axis and none on the Z axis.  From what I understand I should have (1) on the X, Y and Z axis.

Can anyone recommend a brand and associated reseller here in the USA that can provide these N/C Proximity switches and associated cabling.  I believe I read that the cables should be shielded to give proper noise rejection.

I will also contact Shopbot and see what they get for the new style N/C Proximity switches that are currently supplied with their new machines.

John

55

General Mach Discussion / Re: Shopbot with Mach3 Proxmity switch hookup

« on: April 13, 2011, 09:30:48 PM »

Hi,

Thank you guys for your valued input.  My weak suite is electronics.  I have a friend of mine stopping by on Friday to take a look at the situation.  Actually, the Emergency Stop button has 4 wires and I tried different configurations but probably not the one I needed for success.

In talking with the guy from Shopbot he says that all their new proximity switches are normally closed.  The reason is that if there is a failure in any of the switches or wiring the the router will stop.  With a normally open proximity switch if you have a broken wire or other simiilar failure the router will just cruise right by the proximity switch and crash!!!!!!

My goal is to get all the limit and homing setup on the machine working properly prior to moving on to get the tool setter working.

John

56

General Mach Discussion / Re: Shopbot with Mach3 Proxmity switch hookup

« on: April 12, 2011, 07:59:10 PM »

Hi Tweakie,

First, thanks for your valued input.

I spoke to Shopbot yesterday and they informed my that my proximity switches are the normally open type.

I did a little experimenting today.  I changed the jumper on the CNC4PC.com C10 breakout board as it pertains to Pull Up or Pull down selection.  It was set for Pull Down and I switched it to Pull Up.  Now my proximity switches work GREAT on both the X and Y axis.  That's all for the good news. 

When I changed to that configuration then my Emergency Stop button will not work.  I tried changing the active low settings etc. but it was of no help.  Would I need to put some type of resistor on that circuit to get it to work as expected?

Any ideas?

57

General Mach Discussion / Shopbot with Mach3 Proxmity switch hookup

« on: April 10, 2011, 01:29:22 PM »

Hi,

I have just purchased a Shopbot CNC router that was setup to run on Mach3 in lieu of the Shopbot operating software.  The previous owner disconnected all the homing and limit switches on the machine when he converted it to Mach3.

I have watched the videos on the Mach3 support on limit switches, homing etc.

If I hook up couple of wires to one of the inputs of the CNC4PC C-10 Breakout board it works as one would expect (i.e. normally open or normally closed) getting the desired lights on the Mach3 diagnostics screen.  However, if I hook up the Proxmity switches that came with the Shopbot router the LED on the Proxmity switch lights up when the switch comes with the designated gap of the proxmity plate but does not send a signal to the control to disable the axis movement.  My assumption??? is that being the LED light on the Proxmity switch comes on they are working correctly.  Maybe, they need a different activation voltage etc.?

Any of you guys out their with converted Shopbots that may have already encountered this issue and found the solution.

Also, my pulse frequency on the diagnostics page is reading around 45K instead of 25K.  Any ideas on how to correct this?  I ran the Driver test and got an excellent report but got a message saying that the pluse rate was too fast.

The machine is running but just wanted to fix this issue.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

John

58

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie

« on: March 28, 2011, 05:26:41 PM »

Hi Jackal,

First, thanks for the welcome.

Yes, I will take all the help I can get.  One thing I want to do is install one of those PID Electronic Speed Controllers on the 7518 Porter Cable router that is included with the Shopbot.  Currently it is set up with 5 speeds. 10k, 13k, 16k, 19k, and 21k.  The PID speed controller bypasses that circuit and allows you to infinitely vary the speed from 5k to the max 21K (without loss of rpm under load).  I want to cut some plastics with the router and slowing down the spindle speed will be a BIG help.  They also say you can control the router speed directly via Mach3 software in conjunction with their PID Speed Controller.  It is only about $165.00 and if it works like is planned it will be a good deal.  They have a few You Tube Videos on their website that show the unit in operation.

The Shopbot PRT 48 X 96 that I am getting is setup for use with 2 spindles.  One in front of the other. The gantry is extra wide to accommodate them.  The second router he has for the router is a Makita RF1100 which is supposed to be one of the quietest routers on the market.  He says the speed controller is burnt up on that one so it will also be a good candidate for the PID speed controller as that circuit gets bypassed during the installation process.

John

59

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie

« on: March 28, 2011, 08:50:50 AM »

Hi Tweakie,

Good advice.  I don't want to become the Mach3 Guru, but just want to be able to run the router.  I like the KISS method.

Thanks for letting me know where all the settings are.  I will be sure to make a backup of his current settings and print them like you suggest.

In using the trial software I made a profile for my shopbot. I looked in my directory and found the XML file for my profile.  I have attached a copy to make sure that we are on the same page.

John

60

General Mach Discussion / Any Mach3 users near Tampa, Florida

« on: March 28, 2011, 08:09:34 AM »

Hi,

Hope I am posting this in the right place.  I live in Seffner, Florida and hope to pick up a ShopBot router this weekend that is currently running Mach3 software.  If anyone is located near Tampa, Florida and would be willing to share infomation on Mach3 I would appreciate it.  This is my first experience with Mach 3 so I am sure I will need some help along the way.

Thanks in advance for anyone that may be able to lend a hand.

John