Messages

31

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: Impact engraving plugin

« on: November 09, 2010, 10:50:53 AM »

Cool ! Why couldn't any spring loaded  solenoid modified to hold the stylus and be compabible with the voltage of a step motor driver work?

Dan Mauch
www.camtronics-cnc.com
low cost cases for Gecko products.
Kits and an assmebled systems

Hi

Thanks Art for the reply...

When you say  "There didnt seem to be much interest in such a thing" I think it is very difficult to drive a magnet with a signal so fast, but now it is possible with my system.

Now I will explain in detail how I did it, so that anyone can use your DLL.
And of course you can do the tests if necessary.
This is because I believe that now there will be much interest in your DLL.
I have used a "pinch solenoid valves" the pinching device is moved by a solenoid operator and cuts off the fluid by pinching or releasing a tubing in soft silicon (or other soft material).
I believe that any magnet can be used...
Take a magnet (photo Magnete_1) then disassembled into its parts (photo Magnete_2).
Please note that final assembly is mounted to the back (photo Magnete_3).
This is because is the spring that will give you the energy to beat and not the magnetic force.
Take the middle (the core) and you make a hole, in this hole is inserted a metal bar with a hard tip at the end, the metal bar is fastened with a screw (photo Magnete_4).
Attach the magnet to a stepper motor drive, connecting only one phase (photo Magnete_5).
The stepper motor drive are setting to full step.
Attach the magnet to the Z axis of your CNC (photo Magnete_6).
For convenience I have used the stepper motor drive of the fourth axis (A axis).
On photo "MotorOutput" there is a setting of the A axis, and on photo "OutputSignal" there is a setting of the Digit Trig.
Start Mach3 and run Impact/Laser Engraving.
I used the photo "Andrea", and this is the dialog window that appears (photo PhotoEngraving).
Please note that photo is negative because magnet is inverted (when not working is excited as a stepping motor).
Start job and wait until the end.
I hope I have done what is pleasing to many and that my experience might be useful.

On my Youtube channel you can see a video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcNRF0y6h_E

Sorry for my bad English.

Thanks,
Andrea

32

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tangential Knife Setup

« on: December 09, 2009, 11:52:59 AM »

Thank you. The information is very helpful. Could you email me your xml file?. I want to see how you did your outputs.  A sample G cvode file would be helpful also.
If a time delay is required for your system have you thought about inserting a G4 command for a dwell?
So if I understand correctly what you are doing with the pneumatic cylinder you are setting the 2.5D in the general config menu and you a re using tangential. Then in you G code file you are setting the Z up Z+200 and Z-200 for down. Then when a Z value is - how do you have your config file set to activate the relay?
I understand the indexer A axis  and was surprised to hear that the tangential only works on G1 commands . I thought they fixed that. Are you using the latest lockdown version?
dmauch@seanet.com

33

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tangential Knife Setup

« on: December 05, 2009, 12:12:41 PM »

Can you email me a copy of your XML for the tangential knife? I read over the mach3 manual and it really doesn't address how the tangential cutting is initiated.
Do you simply set up the A axis like a rotary table where the steps per unit is set for 1 degree? Also to implement tangential control on a tool path file do you simply click on the tangential button in Alt 6 setting screen  before pressing cycle start? Last is the g code for the A axis simply left blank and mach3 figures the values to orientate the knife in the direction the axes are moving? dmauch@seanet.com

34

Video P*r*o*b*i*n*g / It's not video probing but it is a good looking circumference scan

« on: November 07, 2009, 01:36:31 PM »

Here is a picture of our version 2 scanner program. It uses the USB port to send step and direction signals to a stepper motor. The video camera is synced to the motor and grabs frames as the turntable rotates. A firewire connection to a video camera controls the frames that are grabbed. The scan took about 2 minutes  and was NOT done at the finest resolution. I used 600 frames for this but could have gotten more detail at 1000 frames. If anyone want to see the whole thing as it ratates I can email you a copy if you have a viewer such as meshlab. Meshlab does show it as well but you get the idea.


Dan Mauch
www.camtronics-cnc.com
low cost cases for Gecko products
low cost 3d scanner[/img]

35

Video P*r*o*b*i*n*g / Re: New 3d Video Probe

« on: October 08, 2009, 12:21:59 PM »

 I too am sorry to hear about Tom. He was a real giant  in video probing.  I knew he had health problems but since I don't visit this page that often was surprised to hear the bad news. We had emailed each other many times. It explains why he did not repond to an off line email I sent him about 2 weeks ago about a new green laser that I wanted his opinion about.
 While Tom was working more specifically on video probing my associates have been working on  topographical scanner that at this time doesn't use mach3 .
A preview of what can be done can be seen at www.grasp3d.com   . The software is not quite ready and there is a patent that is being processed. So there are no need for questions at this time. We are hoping all is done by the end of this year. 
Dan Mauch
www.camtronics-cnc.com

36

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Brian's Emco Compact 5 Retro

« on: September 26, 2009, 02:26:35 PM »

Email the macro to dmauch@seanet.com
Thansk I appreciate this.

Dan,

Tell me to which email address you want me to send you the macro.

Daniel

37

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Brian's Emco Compact 5 Retro

« on: September 26, 2009, 01:11:36 PM »

 You are correct. I checked the toolchanger with a 9V battery and I see that it runs one way into a stop and the other way continuously. There are no other wires for sensors to determine what position the tool changer is in. So it looks like I would have to add the optos.
Thanks for the info. Would you please email me the macro you used for the tool changer and do you have a schematic of how you set up the two relays?
TIA
Dan

38

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Brian's Emco Compact 5 Retro

« on: September 25, 2009, 10:51:24 PM »

Thanks. Looking forward to seeing that schematic.

Do you know what the voltage and current requirements are for the dc motor?

Hi Dan,

I believe it is 24V. I should have a schematic for the toolchanger somewhere.

Cheers,

Peter.

39

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Brian's Emco Compact 5 Retro

« on: September 25, 2009, 06:53:51 PM »

Do you know what the voltage and current requirements are for the dc motor?

40

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Brian's Emco Compact 5 Retro

« on: September 25, 2009, 04:32:37 PM »

 I have a customer that has a EMCO compact 5. He want me to retrofit it for mach3. It has the tool changer that looks just like your. He wanted me to put a bigger  stepper motor on it but it doesn't look like a motor at all. Is that a solenoid that rotates the changer? If so what is the voltage, AC or DC and the amperage required.  If anyone else has an answer that would be fine.
Dan

Newfangled has just got there second CNC lathe  It is a Compact 5 made by Emco and will be used to test software. The cost of the lathe was $900.00 and is in running condition! When I say running I