Messages

491

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Strange Warning Message

« on: November 17, 2010, 10:16:41 AM »

If you attach your XML we'll have a look.

492

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Was hosed until I found a magic "Minimum processor state" setting!

« on: November 17, 2010, 10:14:19 AM »

You can't use a USB to parallel adapter, it will not work (they are only for printers.) There are a few different choices if you want to go USB. My favorite is the SmoothStepper: http://www.soigeneris.com/SmoothStepper-details.aspx (my website), there is also the DSPMC, and KFlop boards.

493

Mach3 under Vista / Re: laptop to parallel

« on: November 06, 2010, 10:32:09 AM »

It is not a SW issue, it is a HW issue. Laptops are built to save power so they adjust the processor speeds among other things to do that. When you need precise timings, as Mach does, then that will not work. If you want to use a laptop then you need to use an external motion controller.

494

Mach3 under Vista / Re: laptop to parallel

« on: November 04, 2010, 01:59:18 PM »

If you want to use a laptop then a SmoothStepper, DSPMC, kFlop motion control boards are your best bet. I carry the SmoothStepper: http://www.soigeneris.com/SmoothStepper-details.aspx and have used them in many controls.

495

SmoothStepper USB / Re: If you have noise issues this might be worth a try

« on: November 03, 2010, 08:55:26 AM »

I put together a quick PDF a few days ago that details this modification. You can download it here: http://www.soigeneris.com/document/smoothstepper_board_modification.pdf .

496

General Mach Discussion / Re: PC has lost all my settings in Mach3

« on: November 01, 2010, 05:22:34 PM »

Every Time you start mach it backs up your profile XML and puts it in the 'backups' file. Just look in there and pick out one from a few days prior and change the file type extension back to XML and copy it back to the main Mach folder. The real question is why is this happening? If you loose power or shutdown the PC before Mach can close the profile XML file it might get corrupted.

497

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach & windows7

« on: October 24, 2010, 11:40:37 AM »

Right. The SS does not do THC at this time.

498

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach & windows7

« on: October 24, 2010, 11:18:23 AM »

If you want to use the parallel port driver stick with the 32bit version of Win7. The parallel port driver will not run on a 64bit OS. If you want to use a SmoothStepper or other external motion control board than the 64bit version is fine. (I know the SS works fine on Win7-64.)

499

SmoothStepper USB / Re: How to use closed loop spindle rpm with SS

« on: October 22, 2010, 09:05:34 AM »

In your case you have the tach sensor mounted on the spindle, so there is a 1:1 correspondence between the tach signal and the spindle speed. If you have a machine where you mount the tach sensor to the motor instead then Mach needs to know the reduction ratio between the motor pulley and spindle pulley. Let's say you had a 2" pulley on the motor and a 4" pulley on the spindle; that gives you a 1:0.5 ratio. So, for every one turn of the motor the spindle rotates 1/2 turn. You would then put in 0.5 in the ratio box for that pulley set.

Make sense?

500

SmoothStepper USB / Re: How to use closed loop spindle rpm with SS

« on: October 21, 2010, 10:51:06 PM »

If you have the sensor on the spindle make sure you do not have anything but a '1' in for any of the pulley ratio boxes.