Messages

41

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Correct Mach settings for Smooth Stepper ??

« on: February 03, 2015, 09:01:32 AM »

I just noticed you have outputsm1&2 assigned to the same port &pin. I don't think that will ever work as the two logical outputs will be fighting over the state of the physical output. What you should do is disable output 2, then go to the spindle tab and tell Mach to use output 1 for both CW and CCW spindle on. You also have to tell the ESS configuration screen what sort of spindle control you have.

42

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Correct Mach settings for Smooth Stepper ??

« on: February 02, 2015, 08:34:36 PM »

I would have thought the company that made the router would have provided you with a working Mach 3 profile. Though, with much of the stuff from China I have seen people buy your lucky to get something that works properly.

First take a look at: http://www.soigeneris.com/Document/Warp9/Installing_and_Configuring_the_Ethernet_SmoothStepper.pdf

43

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Mach3/USB SmoothStepper will not control spindle speed

« on: January 31, 2015, 09:23:15 AM »

If you can post a copy of your Mach3 profile I'll have a look.

44

General Mach Discussion / Re: Moving to Smooth Stepper

« on: January 27, 2015, 03:14:53 PM »

A plug-in is a small file that adds new functionality to Mach 3. The plug-in for the SmoothStepper tells Mach 3 how to talk to the SmoothStepper. You download the plug-in file, unzip it, and double click on it and Mach will install it for you. You will want to use a newer version of Mach 3. I recommend 3.043.062 which you can find a link for on my website. The PDF I linked to before also walks you though changing some power savings settings in Windows so that your laptop does not try to slow things down to save power and wind up messing Mach 3 up.

One other thing, if you want to send me a copy of your Mach 3 profile (XML file) I'll convert it over to work with the SmoothStepper for you. birt_j@soigeneris.com

45

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Mach3/USB SmoothStepper will not control spindle speed

« on: January 27, 2015, 12:24:30 PM »

take a look at the last couple of pages here, it is about spindle set up with the SmoothStepper: http://www.soigeneris.com/Document/Warp9/Installing_and_Configuring_the_SmoothStepper.pdf

46

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Smoothstepper firmware updates

« on: January 27, 2015, 12:23:17 PM »

You do not need to connect the PC to the internet. You just download the new SmoothStepper plug-in when it is released. Delete the old plug-in from the C:\mach3\plugins folder and install the new plug-in. The firmware is part of the plug-in so the next time Mach connects to the SmoothStepper the new firmware is used there is nothing you have to do to update it.

47

General Mach Discussion / Re: Moving to Smooth Stepper

« on: January 27, 2015, 12:20:48 PM »

The basic changeover from parallel port to SmoothStepper involves loading the SmoothStepper plugin for Mach 3. Telling Mach to use the SmoothStepper and doing a bit of configuration that is unique to the SmoothStepper. As far wiring/connections your parallel cable from your PC will plug into the SmoothStepper via a LPH26toDB25 cable. You will also need a 5V power supply for your SmoothStepper. I recommend folks use the Ethernet version for new installations as the Ethernet communication is much more robust than USB, the cost difference between the two boards is low as well.

You can get an idea of the set up procedure by looking at this PDF I wrote: http://www.soigeneris.com/Document/Warp9/Installing_and_Configuring_the_Ethernet_SmoothStepper.pdf . You might also be interested in a 'plug-and-play' SmoothStepper solution if you don't want to have to do any wiring, etc.: http://www.soigeneris.com/ssenc_2_ethernet_smoothstepper_system-details.aspx (my website.)

48

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 steps per mm ...some decimal places don't work

« on: January 26, 2015, 04:48:21 PM »

Reality check: you are talking about a difference of 0.02mm over 5mm for folks that still use inches that is 0.000197". I would suspect that you can't really measure down to the hundredths of a mm range accurately and your chasing faulty measurements. To get an accurate believable measurement you must be able to measure at 10x that resolution. So to be quoting measurements of 0.01mm you need to be able to accurately measure 0.001mm. When you get to that scale you have issues with the measurement tool construction, springiness of the tool needle, dust under the needle, etc. etc.

If you know your steps/unit is 640 based on your lead screw pitch, drive reduction etc. then type in 640. You are NOT going to make it more accurate overall by trying to measure distance traveled to one point and altering the steps/unit. As you move an axis along inaccuracies from the lead screw pitch, drive reduction pitch errors, the table shifting slightly in the gibs all come into play. Let's stay you have a table with 200mm of travel so you tell your machine to move 100mm and measure the distance travels with an uber accurate measurement device. Now if you only move from your starting location to that same position that you calibrated to you will be very accurate as long as the temperature never changes, and nothing ever wears, etc. Your calibration did not make your machine more accurate overall.

What I'm trying to say is don't chase your tail trying to achieve accuracy you can't even measure. When you are actually machining you will have far more inaccuracy dies to tool flex, your machining strategy, tool wear, etc.

49

General Mach Discussion / Re: Estop w/ 2 Ports

« on: January 08, 2015, 11:53:14 AM »

I think we are talking about different things. Your EStop should cut the AC feeding the power supply, this does not mean you run 120V to your EStop unless it is a small machine and you can mount the EStop in the same cabinet as the rest of your electronics. If your EStop is mounted remotely then your EStop circuit should trigger a contactor/safety relay that energized the power supply.

it is not a good idea to try and cut the DC power between the power supply and Stepper drive, this can lead to a blown up stepper drive.

50

General Mach Discussion / Re: Estop w/ 2 Ports

« on: January 08, 2015, 10:57:13 AM »

I have decided to use the Neg 48v PS thru my estop.

Very bad idea!!! You want to cut off the AC input to the power supply NOT the DC form power supply to the stepper drive.

Should limit switches be tied in w/ a power supply ?

Well, it depends If you have a small machine and running it into a hard stop at the end of the axis travel won't break things then using a limit that is just SW controlled is OK. On large machines the limits are often tied to a system that will trip an EStop, and brake the axis. On an industrial machine there are often regulations that specify how this must be handled.