Messages

21

General Mach Discussion / Switches behave strangely

« on: August 02, 2011, 03:57:24 AM »

Hello folks

Need you help again please.

We hooked all up, fired up the PC and HobbyCNC proboard - managed to jog all 3
axes smoothly. Motors are locked and humming, not much heating at all - seems
prefect.

My troubles start with the switches. I know it may be a SW issue but I suspect
some HW issues as well.


Homing switches all work on the diagnostic tab in Mach3 Can see them pop up when
pushing.

When trying to share the home switch of Y axis with the Y--, it pops up a
"limit switch triggered error". I can reset, all looks good but after a second
or so, the limit error message pop up again - without any button being pressed.

When trying to reference Y axis - it behaves as if the switch is not there at
all (jumping from Z to X axis) Further more - when trying to ref Y axis
separately via the diagnostic page - the motor moves slightly and stops.

Then tried to do the limit switches - I get the limit switch triggered error no
matter what I do - high or low active - without any if them pressed.

We checked all the switches wiring - all looks good.

Home switches are hooked to pins 10 (x) 12(y) 13 (z), and the E stop is hooked
on it's NC side to the main power line going to TB6 and the NO side goes into
pin 15. (seems to work OK)

My limit switches are hooked in series to pin 11. All switches grounded to the
same ground.


Any idea where to look ?


Many thanks


Isaac

22

General Mach Discussion / Re: New to CNC, seeking sources

« on: July 31, 2011, 03:57:58 AM »

Hi Katoh

I think I will go for Cut2D since it has the simulating function to let me see how things are going to be cut. This will prevent some mishaps I reckon. I will need of course to learn the G-codes - so I will be able to correct any mistakes.

My router is a home built hobbyCNC one - with a regular Dremel tool to do the cutting - I guess this will be a good start to learn - once I will get the basics - I think I will go forward to a better/bigger machine.

Mistakes don't bother me - I learn a lot from them. (usually these are burnt into my long term memory :-) 

Thanks again for your wisdom.

Isaac

23

General Mach Discussion / Re: New to CNC, seeking sources

« on: July 31, 2011, 02:19:41 AM »

Hi Katoh

Thank you for your reply and kind assistance.

I am still building my CNC router (final stages though) then I will hook Mach3 to it - went through all the videos and manuals - I guess I have the very basic idea how to start jogging around.

I have seen sheetcam  and also looking at cut2D (very easy and does exactly what I need at this stage - to help with the programming. Saying that - I wish to learn to work with G-codes andunderstand more. This is very interesting new area for me.

Thanks again and if I will stumble on a hard nut to crack - I know you guys will get me through it.. :-)


Cheers

Isaac

24

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z axis help

« on: July 30, 2011, 12:10:43 AM »

Hi BR

Thank you for your comments.

I guess the MACHINE zero was meant to be set at the top of the Z axis movement as a safety issue - so if something goes wrong - the machine will go to the home position hence clearing any obstacles.

The work zero will be either on top of the material or it's bottom as you suggest. Some programs I have seen are already taking care of the height issue by offsetting for zero, safe zero and depth of cut (Cut2D for example)

I will probably use the top of material as work zero since most of my jobs are full material cut and engraving.

Cheers

Isaac

25

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z axis help

« on: July 29, 2011, 03:43:23 AM »

Hi again guys

Sorry for the late response.


I thought maybe we CAN have it both ways.

Since I have no motors hooked to my PC - I emulated 3 keys to serve as homing switches.

I have set the soft limit on the home/limit tab to min -40.00 and max 0.00 so the machine's coordinates will have only negative value. Then I zeroed the work limits at some point - and I can jog it to a positive position (only the work DRO's)

Will be interesting to see if this works with the G-code for absolute co-ords though

In any case - thanks again for your support

Isaac

26

General Mach Discussion / Re: New to CNC, seeking sources

« on: July 26, 2011, 08:57:39 PM »

Hi Jim

Thanks. I will certainly give it a go.

Cheers

Isaac

27

General Mach Discussion / Re: New to CNC, seeking sources

« on: July 26, 2011, 08:07:18 AM »

Thank heaps Rich

I know there are no shortcuts - I am ready and keen to learn - just needed some kind of "jump-start" ideas to make it easier. :-)

Cheers


Isaac

28

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z axis help

« on: July 26, 2011, 08:04:15 AM »

thanks a lot Tweakie - now it looks better :-)

Seems more logical then to use only negative ones.

Another lesson learned today :-)


Cheers

Isaac

29

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z axis help

« on: July 26, 2011, 05:30:45 AM »

Hi Tweakie

Ok - Now I am confused again :-)

With Z 0.000 being the top surface of the work (individually set for each job) then the Safe Z setting within Mach is a positive number as is all the Z Clearance figures calculated by the software I use. It just seems tidy that way.

Are you talking about the Machine coordinates (soft limits) or about the job zeroing ? (work coordinates)

30

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z axis help

« on: July 26, 2011, 04:35:53 AM »

Thanks Tweakie

I guess you have a good logic for having the Machine cord's at half travel - is there any advantage or good reason for this or this is just your pick ?

Cheers


Isaac