Topics

11

General Mach Discussion / zeroing dro's/machine cords and 3d probe routine

« on: October 24, 2007, 02:09:19 PM »

Ok guys what did I do wrong. I was trying to digitize a guitar yesterday and still can't get the 3d probe routine to work corectly.

I positioned my z axis over the body of the guitar like I wanted, zeroed the dro and started to set the 3d probe sequence up only to get a splash screen that says a previous sequence was not finished. I could not get the system cleared so I decided to home the machine. Knowing the z axis was too low, I hit the machine cord button and the z dro read what the correct position was. I then hit home.......machine moves home in all three axis only when arriving there the z axis suddendly lowers and proceeds to fold my digitizing probe tip to a nice neat 90 degree shape.

What did I do wrong?

I have two request. 1. Someone please post a screen shot of the 3d probe page set up correctly as it is obvious I can't seem to get it right. 2. Please tell me how to above zeroing of the dro and returning to the proper co ordinates so I don't fold another probe tip.


Mike

12

Promote and discuss your product / New software.......new name needed

« on: September 03, 2007, 01:07:49 PM »

Hey guys,

 I am now a US reseller for Madcam, the cam plugin for Rhino. I have decided to try to set up a website and at least attempt to sell other kinds of cad and cam software as well. I hope to be a Rhino reseller soon but am trying to fnd other packages that I could offer.

I have been in contact with a person affiliated with a new cad/cam package about to hit the market. The problem is they don't have a name that is very catchey, if that is the correct term to use.

I ask them for permission to post a request for submission for names. After thinking about it a bit I though I might be better off asking how one would go about naming a product like a cad/cam package.

Suggestions for the naming process or even submissions of actual names would be appreciated. Hopefully this package is going to be marketed world wide so keep that in mind when coming up with ideas.

Here are a couple of features the package will on introduction.

2d and 3d 3 axis full featured cam as well as intense modeling and cad capabilities. I have not been give a complete list of features but I have been told it will be a modular based system and that 4 and 5 axis modules are in the works now but no time frame for release. I was told that two more modules were planned but was asked not to reveal those yet since they are just in the beginning stages of development.

I know this is not a lot of info but currently it is all I have. Ideas!

Mike

13

General Mach Discussion / limit switch help

« on: July 17, 2007, 06:38:28 PM »

Limit switch

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have a limit switch that persistently trips during a program and requires me to stop the program, re-reference etc. I need some help in trouble shooting this thing. Following info might help:

Mach for the controller

Micro switches for the limits and home combined. A total of three dual purpose switches.

Mach does not indicate which switch is tripping.

Switch wires are shielded and grounded with the only bare area just before the screw terminals.

X and Y switchs are mounted upside down with the plunger hanging down.

Z switch is mounted with the plunger horziontal.

Wired for nc.

Due to Mach allowing it, Z and Y are using the same pins but when referencing the axis reference at different times.

Limit are set so any switch will Estop the machine.


Any help would be appreciated. I am at a loss and this is costing me precious time.

Mike

Switch is a Omron with a .016 pre-travel


General Purpose Snap Action Switch, Actuator Roller Plunger, Panel Mount, Maximum Operating Force 8.8 to 12.3 Ounces, Maximum Pre Travel 0.016 Inch
__________________
No greater love can a man have than this, that he give his life for a friend.

14

General Mach Discussion / motorcycle engines

« on: May 12, 2007, 01:19:52 PM »

Hey guys, I was looking for the website of the Mach user that has designed a new motorcycle engine and had posted his url somewhere here or on the yahoo site. Anyone have that link? I cannot find it.

Mike

15

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Competition rifle stock

« on: January 23, 2007, 02:33:50 AM »

This is one of my benchrest competition rifle stocks made from Quilted Cherry. Photo 1 is the stock on the 4th axis and the second is the finished stock. Hand rubbed oil finish by the customer who purchased the stock in the unfinished state.

16

General Mach Discussion / G54 offsets questions

« on: August 10, 2006, 04:22:02 PM »

Hi guys,

This is a copy and paste I did over on cnczone. I wanted to post it here as well since Mach users will understand the software better.

"Hey guys,

There was a thread a few days back that asked about G92 and immediately the thread went to why it shouldn't be used and the G54 up codes should be used instead. I have used the G92 for three years now but see an immediate need to move on. I'm gonna need some help on this.

Let me set the stage. I do not have an industrial strength machine, but it is all I have presently. I use Mach2/3 for my controller and it basically supports all the offset codes. I have a 4th axis that runs parallel to my x axis and I have to be dead centered over the a axis center or my parts are trash. Here's the problem. I use limit switches to set my home positions and for the most part they are within about .005" which is close enough. You will notice I said " for the most part"! My y axis seems to move from time to time and this is the axis that has to be centered over the a axis centerline. I have a known distance from the faceplate of the a axis in the x, which the tolerence really doesn't matter as long as the machine returns to 0 each time after the initial reference move. So far that is the case. Z is set using a tool set switch with is within the .005" range too. To get around the y problem I have written a small program that cuts a slot 1" long from either side of a piece held in the a axis and rotated 180 for cuts to be made from either side. I then measure the difference of the cuts, divide by 2 and move the y axis to the correct dro reading.

Now for sake of time let's assume my known correct position is:
x27.200y108.4724z-2.125a0.000 BTW this is my know position today.

The tool length set switch uses a G92 to set the tool tip at a know distance from the centerline of the a axis. This macro also sets the z axis dro to 0.000 G92 is modal so it is in effect till it is canceled, but presently only in the z axis.

All my programs are written from x0.00y0.00 with whatever z I need, and there is a G92X0.00Y0.00Z0.00A0.00 used about 5 lines into my programs to set all dro's to zero.

With this info, can anyone take the time to explain in very plain English how to do this with the offsets other than G92. It is possible to have a new tool set macro that does not use G92, so please take that into consideration.

I know this is more like a book, but I only want to have to learn this stuff one more time! Thanks in advance to anyone willing to help.

Mike
__________________
No greater love can a man have than this, that he give his life for a friend. "

Any help would sure be appreciated.

Mike

17

General Mach Discussion / Non persistance when doing config setup

« on: July 26, 2006, 09:10:35 AM »

Hi all,

I worked all day yesterday trying to config the latest version of Mach3 v.65 and have a problem I need to throw out to see if anyone else has experienced. Brian was most helpful and his last email last night suggested a solution.....but it didn't work either.

Here goes. I can get everything set up with a custom xml except the jogging is reversed. I go to homing/limits and reverse directions and jogging is correct. I then had to change my a axis rotation and when I started to test the reference all, the directions on xyz were reversed again. This went on for a while until  I realised that the settings I was putting in the config page was not staying persistant. I then tried making the changes and rebooting before moving anything.....when I opened Mach3 back up the settings had reverted back to their original settings.

Is this something anyone else has seen? Could it hae been a corrupted download?

Mike

18

General Mach Discussion / Wizard editing......Possible?

« on: June 14, 2006, 05:34:38 PM »

Hi Art or Brian, or anyone else who might know the answer.

Is it possible to edit the output of a wizard in V2 before the wizard code is run? If so how? If not, how hard would it be to edit the wizard to leave a line or two out?

Mike

19

General Mach Discussion / Comparison of v2 and v3 digitizing wizards???

« on: June 09, 2006, 01:48:00 PM »

Is there anyone that can give a comparison between 2 and 3 digitizing
wizards? I have discovered a major bug in v2 and I know that Art and
Brian would much rather spend their time on finishing v3. So with that
in mind, I may have to change to v3 now if the wizard is better.

I set up a part, opened the wizard input all the info which was a .125"
step in the x and a .06 step in the y. When doing the first line the x
would somtimes jog 1 step, or 2 or 3 or 10. It was never consistant and
sure not good enough to get a usable file from.

Any ideas?

Mike

ps when doing multiple steps in the x axis the dro was reading the correct movement.

20

Tangent Corner / Yahoo or Yo-Yo?

« on: June 01, 2006, 01:22:28 PM »

I realize I'm gonna start it again but I wish we could have all the Mach postings here. I read on line and have not been able to get to the Yo-Yo site for more than a couple of minutes a day for three days. What is going on? I can get on other Yo-Yo sites, and yes I wish they were here too!

Can someone give some inside info as to what is happening with the Mach forum on Yahoo?

Mike