Messages

181

General Mach Discussion / Re: Question about Mach 3 Turn

« on: October 23, 2014, 10:42:19 AM »

I'm curious Rich about the stepper/servo spindle issue.  I understand the problem with stepper spindles/fixed tooling but he's using a router to make the cuts & just turning the work in the spindle.  Wouldn't it be about the same as routing the work using a round "table" instead of a flat X/Y table?

182

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: C.E. Johansson Roundness Tester Retrofitted

« on: October 13, 2014, 10:01:42 AM »

Amazing work Dan...on the machine conversion & the video.  Thanks for sharing!

183

General Mach Discussion / Re: ExpressCard Parallel Port

« on: October 10, 2014, 04:27:44 PM »

I think the "gurus" on the forum don't recommend laptops at all for use with the PP regardless of adapter or card.  They do seem to work OK with external motion controllers like the SmoothStepper and it's brethren.

184

General Mach Discussion / Re: Dolphin question for Hood please.

« on: October 07, 2014, 01:23:28 PM »

...gold plated toothpicks that those Jaguar car owners use

Great idea!  Maybe I should go into production.  Oh wait, I got it.  How about a little solid-gold leaper with a hole in 'is mouth to fit a toothpick.

185

General Mach Discussion / Re: Dolphin question for Hood please.

« on: October 07, 2014, 09:32:45 AM »

Just remember to check the toolpath in Mach before you run it just to make sure.

Absolutely!  Just to be sure,  I think I'll mount up a toothpick in a toolholder, zero it and run the code.  Much cheaper than breaking those cute little carbide boring bars!

186

General Mach Discussion / Re: Dolphin question for Hood please.

« on: October 06, 2014, 05:57:27 PM »

Many thanks kind sir.  I should've done a more thorough search and saved you some time.  I promise to do better next time.

187

General Mach Discussion / Dolphin question for Hood please.

« on: October 06, 2014, 12:02:19 PM »

I’m setting up a job on the lathe that requires internal profiling with very little room for maneuvering the tool.  The beginning hole size is 4.5mm and my smallest boring tool is 4mm.  I remember you saying that v10 Dolphin has a problem with internal turning being reversed? 

Do you recall what the problem is?  Is it the simulation that’s reversed or the front/rear toolpost backward or just plain reversal of the code?  How should I get around it and do you have any suggestions or tips as to how to prevent crashing my expensive Micro 100 carbide boring tool?

I apologize in advance for not digging into this a bit deeper before asking questions but the weekend flew by doing other things and here I am again, back at work on a Monday & worrying about how to figure out shop things.

188

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bug in G77 / M1077 macro

« on: October 02, 2014, 08:28:06 PM »

Just a quick note to say thanks for taking the time to document this.  I'm not far enough along in my CNC lathe odyssey to fully understand what you're talking about but enough so that I feel a little less responsible for some of the unexplained crashes I've had.  Keep up the good work!

189

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: A Wee Prober

« on: September 03, 2014, 09:00:11 AM »

Hi mc,

No scarcasim intended sir...

I knew you Brits were known for your cutting humour but I didn't know there was a word for it!;)

190

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: A Wee Prober

« on: September 02, 2014, 04:19:49 PM »

Well I'll be darned!  Didn't know about the glass scales/Mach3/KStep connection.  That's definitely something to file away for possible future use.  I just bought a 3 axis DRO set for my little X3 manual mill.  If I ever get the cash together to CNC it down the road, I'll have to seriously consider the KStep option.

Do other motion controllers have a similar function?