Messages

121

Modbus / Re: losing position

« on: October 13, 2008, 09:11:02 AM »

will mach3 work with this card so can be sure i wont lose posiition?  Can anyone tell me a way or something i can buy so i know i wont lose postion?  i already tried to increase the frequency width,  (doesnt work).
Thanks

Tracking how much position you lose wont fix the problem.  Something is wrong with the way the machine works... closed loop is just reporting it back to you.

122

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Using VB script to wait for an external event and then execute G code

« on: October 10, 2008, 07:51:56 AM »

Oh yeah, if you do run it from breakout board, dont miss the 'Automated setting of inputs' (or whatever that button is called, but thats close) in the 'ports and pins'.  It automaticly finds what port/pin you're hooked up to.  Another fantastic Mach feature.  However, do it a few times, sometimes it gets a false reading (sounds like you know how to conduct an experiment anyway  )

123

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Using VB script to wait for an external event and then execute G code

« on: October 10, 2008, 07:46:48 AM »

I'd run it from the breakout board if possible.  Also, those opto relays are WEIRD.  I seem to remember that the ones I have did not totally cut off the voltage, even when 'off'. 

124

General Mach Discussion / Re: speeding up my 4th axis rotary table?

« on: October 09, 2008, 06:27:49 PM »

Try this: mach>[pull down] config>toolpath>tick use diameter for feedrate

and then like the other poster said: set your 'rotational diameter ' on the settings page.

125

General Mach Discussion / Re: Forth axis

« on: October 08, 2008, 09:08:19 AM »

MeshCAM can do 4th axis inexpensively. www.meshcam.com

If I remember right, meshcam doesnt really do 4th axis.  It does multi-sided code.... X Y Z on a portion, then rotates A, then does XYZ again.  Correct me if I'm wrong, its been 6 months or so since I looked at it.... Also, dont get me wrong, Meshcam is one of the best values in hobbyist toolpathing.

126

General Mach Discussion / Re: Forth axis

« on: October 08, 2008, 09:01:57 AM »

See this: http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,5281.msg35922.html#msg35922

127

General Mach Discussion / Re: Forth axis

« on: October 07, 2008, 05:32:14 PM »

It's just like X, Y, or Z, but it's A (assuming you set it to A, anyway).  You can set Mach to degrees or distance for A, so if you go "g0 X1 a360", it'll do 1 rev over that 1 unit travelled on X.

Sorry for the short & rudimentary post.  Give an example of what you'd like to do.

128

General Mach Discussion / Re: I'm Losing Position HELP!!!!

« on: October 06, 2008, 01:09:46 AM »

For any future readers of this post, contaminants (dust) on the hub disk can also give strange results and drive you crazy.  haha, hehe!

129

General Mach Discussion / Re: Stepper rough and intermitant operation

« on: September 25, 2008, 12:46:10 PM »

I'm sure this is of no help, but you jogged my memory.  My 4th axis was acting goofy one day after a restart.  I have no idea what happened, but the 'step pulse' or 'dir pulse' got set to something wrong (both normally set to 0)... and I swear I didnt change it.  Anyway, its an easy check for you.

-Nick

130

General Mach Discussion / Re: Stepper motors loosing postion.

« on: September 23, 2008, 05:50:42 PM »

I know it is said that this is not possible, but the steppers could be worn out.

Oh, I can hear it now, "YOU CANT WEAR OUT STEPPERS".

I beg to differ,  I wore out a set of Keling steppers that were 18 months old when replaced.  Slowly, it kept losing position, little by little, until it was tripping the closed loop constantly.  The CNC builder tried everything with no results.  Finally he got fed up and put new steppers on it.  Viola!... machine was like new again.

-Nick