Messages

241

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: converted Sieg SX3 to cnc

« on: June 13, 2012, 10:55:39 PM »

Hello ninoz:
As I understand the problem, you would like to have the rotary table flat, with the machine Z axis perpinducular to the rotary table face. One way to generate a program to use only the X axis, and the rotary axis would be as follows.

Put a dowel pin, same size as the cutter you will use in the spindle collet.
Clamp the machined star wheel in the rotary table, and set the X0.00 on the rotary table center.

Start the measurement at the center of the shape. You only have to digitize one half of the shape cut-out.
Jog the X axis until it just touches the wheel cut-out at center. The rotary table is 0.00, and the X is some positive value.
Write down this X,A dimension. The A dim at center will be 0.00
Jog the X slightly + away from the star wheel.
Advance the rotary table 1 degree. Be sure the wheel does not touch the pin before the rotary table gets to the next degree position.
Jog the X axis in the minus direction again, until it just touches the wheel again.
Write down this X,A dim

Repeat this process until you reach the outer corner.
By the looks from the picture, one half of the wheel cut-out is about 20 degrees.
As the dowel pin get near the end of the pocket, the X will be rising faster, so you might want to make the A advance 1/2 degree per step.
Now you can copy the data points in reverse order, and join the two columns.
You should have a list of  X*.***,A*.*** coordinates that would drive the machine to cut one Star-wheel pocket.
You can increment the A dimension with G91 by 60 degrees, and repeat all the way around.

Have fun.

242

Sieg Machines / Re: Sieg Motor Issues

« on: June 01, 2012, 12:04:31 PM »

Hi Preso:
Littlemachineshop.com is a dealer of the Sieg machine line. They have a large inventory of replacement parts. They could probably tell you what the problem is over the phone. Very fine company, located in Southern California; phone, (800) 981-9663

243

General Mach Discussion / Re: 20 yr old cnc control needs replacement, and i need help.

« on: May 31, 2012, 10:06:52 PM »

Hello again Metlcutr55:

As said, there are lots of little connections to corrode. Good advice on connections.

The feedback to the control is not 100%. The motor feedback is the tack signal, which goes to the amplifier, and the encoder feedback goes to the control, and it is only a 5v signal. The older encoders used an LED, or a tiny light bulb, interacting with a glass scale. There is a lot of old electronic hardware, which must work 100%, or the machine positioning is toast. I would also check the 5v supply, and test the 5v at the encoder itself, for each axis, when you jog, and the axis is moving. This is best done with two people.
I recently had a 5v power supply, that would put out a clean 5v, and then 10 minutes later nothing! Nearly drove me nuts trying to find the problem.

244

General Mach Discussion / Re: Kasuga NC mill to CNC ?'s

« on: May 19, 2012, 10:11:50 PM »

Take a look at MachMotion equipment; www.machmotion.com. They build CNC machines and sell retrofit kits. The mill you have is a fairly solid mill as I recall. If the motors and amps are OK, you can install a controller and control panel. You will need newer differential encoders, but the limit switches and ref switches are probably good to go. Machmotion can advise you on a VFD, as they sell several different sizes.
The Bandit control is from the early 1980's, and was a low end control then. Also, you need to spec out the amps, to know if they will work with a newer controller. To end up with a reliable machine, I would go with an external controller, and bypass the parallel port type of installation.

245

General Mach Discussion / Re: New machine arrives tomorrow, first project advice sought

« on: May 14, 2012, 08:37:25 PM »

Thanks for keeping us posted. It's always nice to have positive feedback.

246

Modbus / Re: Does MACH have Modbus monitoring . . i.e. a way to see if Modus is running OK?

« on: May 14, 2012, 01:23:53 PM »

Simpson:
Thanks for the explanation. Agreed, the info regarding Modbus on the Mach forum is sparse.
My entry into Modbus was by way of the Cubloc PLC. I suggest downloading the Cubloc user manual as it has a chapter on Modbus, with over ten pages of detailed data about how Modbus works, and what the different functions can do. plus some example code. They have code examples in ASCII, and Binary. 

247

General Mach Discussion / Re: Pokeys to Modbus to PLC?

« on: May 13, 2012, 09:09:31 PM »

Hello Mike:
I remember you posted about the "Click" a loooong time ago, and I did look it up after reading that post . A nice little unit as I recall, but after looking at all the Cubloc stuff, I choose that particular brand.

Just too much cool stuff out there.

248

Modbus / Re: Does MACH have Modbus monitoring . . i.e. a way to see if Modus is running OK?

« on: May 13, 2012, 07:51:48 PM »

Hello Simpson:
I did watch your video, and you have an interesting setup. What exactly is it that you need Modbus to watch for, and E-stop the system in Lathe mode?
Just curious.

 

249

Modbus / Re: Arduino Modbus, Complete, Documented and free

« on: May 13, 2012, 11:06:17 AM »

This Modbus program does NOT function above the regular Arduino pin numbers. The Mega has 54 I/O pins available, and only the pins 2>12 work in it's present state. I did not test all of the 16 analog pins on the Mega, only the first 6, which work like the standard 328p cpu Arduino. Also, unlike the standard Arduino, that can use the Analog pins for digital I/O, this program will not allow it.

It seems the author, Shilling, does not monitor this forum.
     
If you want to add some potentiometers for Feed rate, etc., and up to 10 digital I/O panel buttons or LED's it will do that. I would not go out and purchase an Arduino for running Modbus on your machine with this program.

Cubloc's smallest CPU, www.cubloc.com, will do far more than this for under 40.00, has a free download program "Cubloc Studio" for programming the various functions, on screen debugging your programs, including ladder logic and Basic, which can run simultaneously, with full Modbus implementation.

250

Modbus / Re: Does MACH have Modbus monitoring . . i.e. a way to see if Modus is running OK?

« on: May 12, 2012, 08:59:38 PM »

On re-reading your post, you want a way to query Mach to see if ModBus is working. It is easy to read past some things

True, when your Mach screen comes on and everything is just sitting there, there is NO indication ModBus is working. However, the nature of ModBus is the Main program, and the ModBus cpu do communicate, but it is a "I am waiting for you to send me a task...."

Until the Master sends a command, the Slave just waits. The Slave does not initiate communication. However, they are always in touch!

The Mach3 program has the ModBus set-up addresses in it's memory (the actual block of code is in the Macros folder simply named Modbus), and the PLC cpu has a program in it's memory, which includes all the ladder logic you have decided on. The functions peculiar to Mach3 have to go through a "Brain" to cause an action, but the PLC can also be doing functions in concert like turning on the appropriate relays, led's etc.

The protocol for the communication is what makes ModBus what it is; a standard set of rules which govern all types of I/O communication; analog to digital, digital on/off, a timing loop, or what ever you need to be done in a given circumstance.

I twiddle the feedrate potentiometer back and forth at start-up, to verify everything is working. If the slider on the screen goes up and down, I am happy

Sometimes, nothing happens for a particular I/O; then you just look for what you may have changed; re-written a brain, and did not activate, etc.