Topics

31

General Mach Discussion / Turn wizard for cutting V-grooves/pulleys?

« on: September 27, 2013, 11:25:54 AM »

I need to make a couple v-belt pulleys and was wondering if there's a Turn wizard that does V-grooves?  Closest thing I've found is the OD Groove wizard which I suppose would work if a custom tool was ground to match the v groove angle.

32

General Mach Discussion / Does the "Angle Slot Cutter Rev. 2.4" work?

« on: August 18, 2013, 10:36:56 AM »

Haven't used Mill much so it's probably my ignorance but I can't get this wiz to work.  I just need a couple angled slots but the generated code just plunges the Z axis a few times with no X-Y moves at all.

Here's the code & I attached a shot of the wiz screen.

Thanks for lookin'
Milton

G20
G17 G40 G80
G00 Z0.2
G90 G54
S3000 M03
(insure IJ mode is incremental)
G91.1
G00 Z0.2
G00 X-1.8 Y-0.85
M9
G00 Z0.1
G01 Z0 F10
(plunge - center cut)
G20
G17 G40 G80
G00 Z0.2
G90 G54
S3000 M03
(insure IJ mode is incremental)
G91.1
G00 Z0.2
G00 X-1.8 Y-0.85
M9
G00 Z0.1
G01 Z0 F10
(plunge - center cut)

33

General Mach Discussion / Varying the chip load when threading?

« on: August 06, 2013, 10:53:00 AM »

Is there a way to "lighten the load" during the last 1/3 (approx) of threading  passes?  I'm using the simple threading wizard and find that if I choose a D.O.C. that works OK during the last portion of the run, the number of passes is excessive.  If I increase the D.O.C. the later passes get messy.

I have plans to add a spindle belt reduction system later to increase the available torque when threading but was curious if there's another G-code or other software solution to progressively reduce the D.O.C. as the depth increases.  If so, I'd like an egg in my beer as well please.

34

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Made a new center setting gauge for the lathe today

« on: July 21, 2013, 04:17:40 PM »

I’m sure I’m not the 1st guy to make one but I haven’t seen another one like it yet.  I found a small .150” travel D.I. dirt cheap on ebay.  It’s small enough that it won’t hit the ways and explode if the spindle is accidentally turned on with it still in the chuck.




It’s calibrated with a .250” dowel pin that slides in & out of a close fitting reamed hole in the center of the shaft.  The indicator dial is set & locked so that the needle sits on zero with the dial tip extended exactly .125” It works great and is very consistent.  The only variable is making sure it’s set at 90 degrees to the carriage but that’s pretty easy using an accurate square.  I thought about adding a level but I think the square is more accurate.



A bonus is that it’s very quick and will work in all 3 lathes without any fiddling with D.I. stands & knobs like I had to do previously.

35

General Mach Discussion / X DRO changes after running lathe drill wizard?

« on: July 19, 2013, 10:36:10 AM »

Peck drilled some holes last night in the lathe using the wizard downloaded from http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,16533.0.html  It worked well other than the X DRO would at some point display the X tool offset value of the tool in use & I noticed the change after it was finished.  I could re-type the tool number in the "Tool No." box and the X DRO would go back to +0.0000 as it should.

It freaked me out when I looked up & saw something other than +0.0000 in the DRO and I thought it had somehow re-positioned itself and could try to drill off center & crash.  Fortunately it hadn't physically changed position, just the DRO changed.  No biggie, just curious what's going on.

36

General Mach Discussion / How to install a wizard?

« on: July 17, 2013, 03:00:35 PM »

This week's Mach turn bucket list is down to one thing.  Got threading going fairly well and parting-off working great thanks to Hood's tutelage about G94/G95.  #3 on the list is peck drilling.

I ran across this post http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,16533.0.html and the wizard contained therein looks like it will work for me.  I downloaded & unzipped the files but danged if I know how to install them.  Anyone have any advice on how to make it work?

37

General Mach Discussion / Why would Mach ignore G01 & do G00 instead?

« on: July 13, 2013, 03:23:49 PM »

Had a great day with  mach threading & parting off until it jammed my parting tool straight into the work wide open.  G01's were interpreted as G00's until I restarted Mach.  Happened 4 times and I think it happens only after running a "Simple Threading" wizard.

v.057, PP

38

General Mach Discussion / Sorry, yet another noob threading question.

« on: July 08, 2013, 11:52:18 AM »

Got my spindle motor tach generator installed and working well which now gives me a very steady spindle speed.  Steady enough that I'm ready to try some threading

 I did some dry runs last night and when I grab the chuck in my hands to slow down the spindle a little, I can hear the Z stepper slow down & speed up when I release it; so far so good!

I'm sure there's going to be a lot of cut & try until I get more familiar with things.  When the threading cycle finishes & the spindle shuts off, does the Z stay indexed to the spindle?  In other words do I have to "pick up" the thread again if I find that it's a bit too large and I have to go back & shave off a bit more....or does Mach remember where it was and stay synced up so it runs right back down the thread exactly so all I have to do is dial up a bit deeper cut?

EDIT: Sorry, should have said I'm using the PP with an optical sensor with single slot on the spindle.

39

General Mach Discussion / Question about Dolphin PartMaster Lathe/Mach3 post

« on: May 04, 2013, 12:05:56 PM »

Does the problem mentioned here  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mach1mach2cnc/message/138590 apply to the latest Mach post (T_Mach3Rcss.ppr) I've downloaded from the Dolphin site?  I had a weird problem last weekend and am hoping it could be related to the arc polarity or G2/G3 reversal issue mentioned in this message.

40

General Mach Discussion / Editing M3 & M4 command to add delay?

« on: March 26, 2013, 02:10:34 PM »

I can manually add in a G4 pause to let my spindle get to full speed before the tool touches metal but would rather have it done automagically in case I forget to edit the code.

I can get m3 & m4.m1s open in the VB scripter window but my 'puter-foo ends there.  I tried to look through the manual but I don't have a clue about programming.  What do I need to add to DoSpinCW() to allow a 1 or 2 sec delay before the next line executes...or is that even the correct way to go about it?