Messages

281

General Mach Discussion / Re: Thanks Chip!

« on: September 21, 2008, 10:34:13 PM »

Ben,

You don't need a special cable, just a normal serial cable with the DB9 connector of proper gender on the Pixie side and whatever connector you need on the computer side.

Keith

282

General Mach Discussion / Re: Thanks Chip!

« on: September 21, 2008, 10:33:00 PM »

Ben,

The serial port is connected from the Pixie card to the serial port of your computer.  This is only used to set up the board and change the parameters as well as tune the motor using the PC.  You must download the Pixie tuning program and run it from Windows with the serial port connected and the Pixie in tuning mode.  Turn on tuning mode by pressing the switch on the Pixie board.  Once the parameters and entered as you desire and the tuning parameters are set, you can save the settings from the turning software and then you don't need the serial cable anymore.  Everytime you need to change a parameter or tuning, you have to reconnect the serial cable and run the tuning program.  Does this answer your question?

Keith

283

General Mach Discussion / Re: Thanks Chip!

« on: September 21, 2008, 10:26:16 PM »

Ben,

What is the question?  I am not understanding what the problem is.

Keith

284

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 shutting down

« on: November 07, 2007, 05:49:43 AM »

I must tell you what I have discovered so others may benefit.  I was using an indestructible keyboard.  This is one of those that is like a rubber coated mat with keys imbedded in it. It sounded great for a dirty environment like a machine or woodworking shop.  It was apparently generating key strokes when I touched it causing the spurious entries in the text editor and causing the exit from Mach.  With another keyboard installed I have worked for hours with no problem.  The degragmenting  of the drive was not the fix because the problem returned after the degrag and before the keyboard swap. Sure feels good to get the gremlins out!!

285

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 shutting down

« on: November 06, 2007, 11:03:28 AM »

Interestingly, I disconnected the limit switches to no avail.  Then I defragmented the hard drive which did need to be done according to the utility program.  So far the problem has stopped.  I reconnected the limit switches and no problem.  I still hear some noises on the  large servo but so far so good.  I will have to spend some more time to see if it was a temporary lull or a permanent improvement.

I don't have a wireless connection.  The network settings are as they would be by default for a new computer.

Thanks

286

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 shutting down

« on: November 06, 2007, 06:21:11 AM »

It looks like a noise issue.   I hear some buzzing in the servos with spurious characters appearing in the editor program during editing and sometimes Mach shuts down.  It seems like things have gotten worse since I installed the limit switches and I realize that I forgot to ground the shields.  Also, the Mach pulsing engine completely disappeared and I had to reinstall the software.

This computer is not in the internet and never has been so I do not have antivirus or spyware.

I will try your suggestions.  I appreciate your help!

Thanks!

287

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 shutting down

« on: November 05, 2007, 08:01:59 PM »

I tried the special and the original driver and the same problems happens.  I do have a charge pump in operation.

288

General Mach Discussion / Mach3 shutting down

« on: November 05, 2007, 07:47:04 AM »

Help!  Mach3 is shutting down for no apparent reason.   When I try to restart Mach3, it says there is a Mach3 DLL initialization error and I end up having to reboot.  This computer is relatively new and is running XP.  It seems to happen during periods when nothing is being done.  Any ideas? 

Thanks,
Keith Clark

289

General Mach Discussion / Re: mach3 mill screens for lathe - by Chip - question...

« on: May 08, 2007, 07:31:45 PM »

Chip,

OK, thanks.  I am going to try the Rutex drive again with the low K settings and see if it might work for the heck of it....

Keith

290

General Mach Discussion / Re: mach3 mill screens for lathe - by Chip - question...

« on: May 08, 2007, 06:40:55 AM »

Thanks Chip, I was not sure, since I have not tried to modify a lathe screen, if there was something special to do for a lathe screen as opposed to a mill screen.

Keith