Messages

131

General Mach Discussion / Re: CNC study guide tutorial

« on: January 20, 2013, 06:53:30 PM »

And don't forget this one for the Lathe folks.

http://www.egr.unlv.edu/~kevinn/CNCworkbooks/LatheProgrammingBook.pdf

132

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 Gecko G540 Drive Spindle RPM won't display please help!

« on: January 19, 2013, 08:35:40 PM »

OK saw the answer to another post from Peter on spindle calibration and set it up as he suggested

Just so I get it correct, could you post the link?

133

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 Gecko G540 Drive Spindle RPM won't display please help!

« on: January 04, 2013, 11:36:35 AM »

I'm also having issues getting the signal to show up through the Gecko G540.

I'm using a reflective opti-switch.

I'm using a 5V PS with a 150 Ohm resistor to power the IR LED (1.6V Forward, hence the 150R to keep from annihilating the LED). I can see the IR is working by looking at it through a digital camera lens.

If I connect the multimeter to the collector and emitter wires and rotate the spindle by hand I detect changes in resistance when the spindle is at the reflective part. (I have black electricians tape wrapped around the spindle with a portion cutout.) I have the sensor sitting 0.005" from the edge of the spindle. Used a feeler gauge and push the sensor up to it, tightened down the screws, removed the feeler gauge.

I put the wire which I determined to be positive (collector?) in Pin #3 inlet on the 12-Terminal strip and the other wire (emitter?) in the #12 inlet. I then set the Ports & Pins to Index > Port 1, Pin 12. However, I'm not see anything on the Index LED from the Diagnostics page when I rotate the spindle. I've changed to Active Low, but still nothing is detected.

The debounce was set to 0, so I tried 2, 10, 50, still nothing.

Am I supposed to use some sort of Pull-Up or Pull-Down resistor at Pin #3? if so, what resistance?

134

General Mach Discussion / Re: 4 axis Job Display problem

« on: November 21, 2012, 08:37:53 AM »

Another thing is the "R" is backwards.  Most likely explanation is that you have the rotary axis not turning in the conventional direction.  Otherwise Mach would display it correctly.  (Mach follows conventional axis direction)

I can confirm the "R" is backwards on my machine as well.

135

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: F ENGRAVE will work for me....But Need further assistance Please

« on: October 29, 2012, 12:27:06 PM »

F-Engrave Home Page

Also listed in Post #3 in the link above.

136

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: F ENGRAVE will work for me....But Need further assistance Please

« on: October 28, 2012, 07:31:23 PM »

Might want to read this thread too.

137

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: F ENGRAVE will work for me....But Need further assistance Please

« on: October 28, 2012, 06:46:10 PM »

F-Engrave utilizes a routine (potrace) that takes images/logos which have beed converted to black and white and does the outline for you.

I just used it on a simple image (B&W of course) and it came out rather nicely.

Not sure which version you're using but 0.9 just hit the street a few days ago.

1. Convert your image to B&W (or you may need to use other software* if there are multiple colors, that take each color and outlines according to the color)
2. Set F-Engrave to image mode
3. Go to File dropdown and open your new image.
4. Go to Settings, Bitmap Import Setting and make changes until you get what you are looking for in terms of smoothness of curves, detail, etc.

* There are mulititudes of raster to vector softwares available for multi-colored logos, some which let you save your file in a vector format. F-Engrave at the present will allow multi-colored logos but doesn't differentiate between them. However, I suspect that's a function/restriction of potrace and not F-Engrave fault.

F-Engrave does work very well with B&W!


Also, do a search for raster to vector conversion software on the internet and you'll see what I mean.

Regards,
Vogavt

138

General Mach Discussion / Re: Has anyone actually got a C11 to control a KB speed control via Mach?

« on: August 05, 2012, 03:25:15 PM »

Sounds good! Thanks for posting your resolution. That should help others like you've said.

I have to agree with you on the ridicously poor documentation. Vague and confusing at best. I wonder how many other boards have been toasted. I suppose that's why he sells a set of chips ready to go. Scratching my head going "hmmm" on that one. 

139

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle Motor is the cause of all my problems

« on: August 04, 2012, 09:37:22 AM »

Nothing's wireless on mine other than my internet connection and I only use it (have it plugged in to the usb) when I'm not milling.

140

General Mach Discussion / Re: CNC4PC C11 question

« on: August 03, 2012, 08:45:24 PM »

I've been wanting to do that as well. I've got Pin1 set for turning on my flood coolant pump via the c11's on-board relay. I have c11 Rev 7.2 and it has the terminal screws that I can run 110v through. Once I activate the relay, I've got 110v turned on that enable the flood coolant pump to run.

What I don't get is the other one (Pin16) and how it's used. Since it doesn't appear to have a terminal like Pin1, is there voltage available that could be used for an external relay that would allow me to operate some other device, like a spindle fan-coolant system?

I'm electronics illiterate in 27 Languages!