Messages

341

General Mach Discussion / Re: lathe threading pitch error

« on: January 21, 2013, 01:04:16 PM »

I'm using version R3.043.022.

Not the latest version, eh?  Seems like I read there were threading problems in some versions that were corrected...somewhat.

342

General Mach Discussion / Re: W2000 & Mach?

« on: January 21, 2013, 11:55:04 AM »

Just curious:  What problems do the spikes in the driver test cause?  I wasted 3 or 4 hours of my life yesterday (I'm old, stubborn  and a tight bastid) trying to get an old Ati video card to work just to see if it would help smooth things out.

Never got it to work due to frustrating driver issues.  I took it back out & played around with the mill a bit using the integrated video and it seemed to work normally.  I assumed the spikes would show up as audible glitches as the steppers move around?  Haven't cut anything yet to see if sumthin' shows up there.

Couple guys at work have some old video cards they're gonna donate to to try out later this week.

343

General Mach Discussion / Re: W2000 & Mach?

« on: January 20, 2013, 02:05:09 PM »

You are GOOD Robin!  That's exactly what was ailing it.  Changed to EPP mode in the BIOS and she's happy now.  (...and me as well!) 

As we say down heah in the Tennessee: "Anybody don't like Hood's a sumbitch!"

344

General Mach Discussion / Re: W2000 & Mach?

« on: January 20, 2013, 01:26:51 PM »

That's strange, if I hook up W2000 box to the ORAC, the spindle control works fine by clicking on the icon or by MDI input so that tells me the PP is working OK I guess?  The spindle speed DRO even works.

Still no stepper motor action by jogging or MDI though.  The DRO moves from either input but motors don't say nuttin'.

Gotta be sumthin' stoopid I'm overlooking.

345

General Mach Discussion / Re: W2000 & Mach?

« on: January 20, 2013, 12:56:39 PM »

Thanks Hood, I'm looking at that sort of stuff right now.  I thought it was an E-stop config thing but it wasn't.

346

General Mach Discussion / Re: W2000 & Mach?

« on: January 20, 2013, 12:44:05 PM »

Well cr@p!  I copied over my license file and the 2 .xml's from the PC that works well with the ORAC and the MicroMill but for some reason the W2000 box won't work with either of them.  Anything else come to mind I should have done?

347

General Mach Discussion / Re: W2000 & Mach?

« on: January 19, 2013, 09:53:41 PM »

Hmmm, took a while but finally got the ol' gal up & running after supper with a fresh W2000 install.  Installed Mach fine but the driver test shows some spikes every so often with max variation in the low 20's with the occasional spike up to 29 uS.  Waste of time going any further with it?

I didn't find a separate video card yet...d'ya think one would help or is it probably just a Dell m/board issue?

348

General Mach Discussion / Re: W2000 & Mach?

« on: January 19, 2013, 05:17:07 PM »

Awesome!  Thanks gentlemen, I'll do the driver test and see how it goes.

I forgot that it has integrated video so I'll need to look around in the graveyard for a video card that'll fit.  At least I don't have to worry about a parallel port on the old girl.

349

General Mach Discussion / W2000 & Mach?

« on: January 19, 2013, 12:12:04 PM »

I noticed the splash screen when Mach starts loading says "CNC Controller for Windows XP & 2000."  I just took an old Dell small case P4 900 with W2000 Pro out of service and was wondering if it'd run Mach well enough to control an old, slow MicroMill I have.  It has 80 in/oz steppers and goes maybe 12-15 IPM on a good day so speed isn't a big factor.

The small form factor Dell box is just right to fit nicely in the available area.  Reckon 2000 would work OK or should I wipe it clean and throw XP on it?

350

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 Lathe setting up tools and offsets. hair already gone...teeth next...

« on: December 24, 2012, 02:45:15 PM »

Awesome Robin, thanks, that helps a lot!

Gotta get after it the 1st weekend after New Year's Day.  I'm sure I'll have more questions to ask but hopefully they'll be a lot more intelligent.