Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 Blue screen probing

« on: December 30, 2012, 03:13:36 PM »

Gerry,
Your a star, works now just fine, the dumb ass this end was looking at the code for the wrong button, thanks again. Once more this forum has got me out the poo.
Many thanks to all who replied, and a happy new year to you all
Regards, Paul.

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 Blue screen probing

« on: December 30, 2012, 09:21:48 AM »

In the button code there is only "F" in red text the probing code has the feed rate in it but for some reason the value my machine is using is 4, this would be fine if I use ipm but 4mm pm is to slow I have looked in the code for both buttons and they look fine it seems to use the feed rate that is in DRO 818, even if I change this it still grabs a 4 from somewhere, it changes the feed rate back in the setting screen back to 4 ever time I run the script,
Any other ideas why this is happening?

3

General Mach Discussion / Mach 3 Blue screen probing

« on: December 29, 2012, 03:40:22 PM »

Posted problem in probing did not get a anything back.
I have loaded the Mach blue screen probing, the feed rate defaults to 4 units per min this is too slow, I have looked at the VB script but this is not driven from the script, it is looking at feed rate DRO (818) when I change it on the settings screen it does not retain the value of the DRO the script is coded to retrieve from.
 Where should I enter the feed rate to lock it down. Everwhere I have tried to enter it then run the macro it still goes back to 4.
Any help would be good or any tips to fix it and get it working, it is beating me up.
Thanks.

4

Video P*r*o*b*i*n*g / Mach 3 Probing

« on: December 28, 2012, 09:24:52 AM »

Hello all and a merry Christmas to you, during the holidays I had decided to install the Mach 3 Blue screen probing to help me ref the machine more accurately, this has all gone well. my question is how do I change the speed the axis moves while it is searching for the contact plate, it defaults on my machine to 4, which with my gearing is past the time allowed to find the contact, just need a steer on where this speed is driven from.
thanks in advance.
Paul.

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: 4th axis advice (Idiot proof please)

« on: July 31, 2012, 12:04:43 PM »

Thanks Tweakie,
I am of a mechanical persuasion and know not of the dark arts of electrickery, Ill have a good read and see if I can remain conscious.
Regards, Paul

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: 4th axis advice (Idiot proof please)

« on: July 31, 2012, 10:55:08 AM »

No make on it, the only distinguishing feature is the chip Toshiba TB6560AHQ E Bay special probably from the East.
your not alone with decay mode.

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: 4th axis advice (Idiot proof please)

« on: July 31, 2012, 10:42:59 AM »

The board has 4 settings via dip switches
100%, Decay Mode Fast, micro stepping 1
75%, Decay Mode 25%, micro stepping 1/2
50%, Decay Mode 50%, micro stepping 1/8
25%, Decay Mode Slow, micro stepping 1/16
the drive will not move on 25%

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: 4th axis advice (Idiot proof please)

« on: July 31, 2012, 02:38:00 AM »

I have the breakout board dips set at 25%, this gives me 75% power and seems to be the smoothest setting, this drives the micro step to 1/2. I must admit I did not consider the gearing as a factor for accuracy, Thanks for that.
 I will cut some new gears to harmonise the gear ratios to my 200 step motors and try again.
Regards Paul.

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: 4th axis advice (Idiot proof please)

« on: July 30, 2012, 03:44:01 PM »

Got it going and set up with a little help from reading the manual, cocked the gearing up completely so it has been rebuilt geared down by factor of three, I have drawn a compass with .5 degree increments and I am using the set steps wizard on the settings screen, the Axis is still not moving consistently, I have run the wiz about 10 times and told it to move 90 degrees, each time it returns a different amount.
what am I doing wrong?

any help out there?

10

General Mach Discussion / 4th axis advice (Idiot proof please)

« on: July 23, 2012, 07:06:39 AM »

Dear all,
Just completed the construction of my 4Th axis. I am looking for best practices for set up in Mach 3, I have built this because I saw a candle stick that was hollow and twisted and wanted to try and make one but I do not have any idea how to set it up. I could do with the infant version on how to set up the steps for a rotative axis and what tick boxes I need to fill in, I am aware that the radius of the work will determine how the axis moves but I do not know what drives this. I use solidworks to create all of the dwg data that I import into a hobby version of Bobcad to post out to the machine, had allot of fun making my own gears and chassis for the axis but now I am stuck and need to lean on your greater knowledge, I have read some posts on 4Th axis and it seems to be a problem for everyone.
any guidance or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks, Paul