Messages

1

VB and the development of wizards / Re: New Multiple and Complex thread Turning Wizard!!!

« on: May 30, 2008, 11:13:00 PM »

I want to write a wizard to do rope and barley twists on my indexer.  the profile is cut with custom router bits.  I need to be able to enter pitch, depth and unlike threading I need to be able to enter of starts.  It has been 10 years since I have written any code and I was wondering if I can get source code for you simple threading as a guide?

2

VB and the development of wizards / Mentor needed

« on: May 06, 2008, 10:56:10 AM »

I haven't written any code in 10 years and when I was I wasn't that good.  I need to write a wizard for my indexer.  Here are the first two features needed.  With a piece of wood of X number of sides ( usually 4 or mill to round.  With a round piece of material mill a barley twist X long, Y # of starts and using Z width of router bit.  Rope/barley twists will be based on Magnate router bits that will cut the proper profile.  I think that it will a threading operation.  I have copy of VB4 starter kit. 
  Logic of rounding?  With corner of stock at A0 mill -Zvar  from Xvar to Xvar.  Move tool -Yvar -Zvar and return to starting X position.  Move Y and mill to Xvar end, repeat till all wood removed from this depth.  This requires that the app knows width of material to be removed.  Width of material has to be calculated based on number of sides and depth of cut.  Continue till reach the material has been cut to finish diameter.  Rotate to next corner and repeat till all corners are milled.  Now the number of sides has doubled.  Now I suspect the fastest way is move Z to var rotate A to start of material of next corner and mill a pass, rotate A var degrees and mill back to X start.  Finish cutting rest of material of corner and then do the rest of corners continuing till material is round.  Wish I could afford to have someone write it for me so I could spend the time in the shop but that is not the case.  Anyone willing to help me?

3

Works in progress / Re: An unfinished screen set - "Mach Blue"

« on: May 06, 2008, 09:09:45 AM »

Comment from a relative newbie.  I  had problems getting the axis centering upgrade installed.  Turned out to be loose nut on the keyboard.  Here are my suggestions.  1.  Setup an installer for full axis zero feature install.  2. Add a button that will do X, Y and Z. Include documentation so script can be modified for the diameter of the hole in probe plate.  Really an fantastic job!  This has opened a lot of possibilities for me now that I can do accurate tool change during a run.  I am working with a AutoCAD and intro CNC instructor at the local high school on a lawn chair he wants to build.  He has no idea about the real world.  So far he has 12 unique parts with 6 that need to be milled on both sides and 4 require a tool change. So far about 15 hours of machine time required.  I think it would be almost impossible without your tool change feature.  I figure that he will have to sell them for about $1500 USD to make a decent wage!  I am writing off this project from hell as a great learning experience.  Thanks for all your work on this project.

4

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Router plans

« on: April 16, 2007, 10:59:27 AM »

I did a lot of research before I started building my 4 axis machine.  I need to be able to turn 24" by 10' wood columns.  Unfortunitly I did not discover www.mechmate.com .  Design is it is the best I have found and I am now rebuilding my gantry to their plans.  Some of the highlights, free plans, active discussion group, laser cut parts avaliable from several different sources world wide, free CAD files avaliable if you want to cut your own pieces, source for V rollers at about 1/2 other sources( $186.00 USD for 12 V roller and 4 excentric bushings plus worldwide shipping),.  When you go to this be prepared to spend abou 6 hours to read all the documentation and discussion on all phayese of construction.  The addation of a 4th axis is fairly easy and is initial documentation is  on my site, www.turningaround.org,

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: homing slaved motors

« on: February 07, 2007, 06:58:11 AM »

Also I tried to set X,Y,Z and A lower case as hotkeys to home their respective axis.   

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: homing slaved motors

« on: February 06, 2007, 02:20:10 PM »

here it is

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: homing slaved motors

« on: February 06, 2007, 01:17:19 PM »

Here is file with Y and B set equal.  Confirmed that Bis running slaved in normal operations.  If I read it correctly motor 2 is primary with 1 slave but mo motor is listed as slave.  No web access available at this time.

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: homing slaved motors

« on: February 06, 2007, 11:21:12 AM »

here is the file

9

General Mach Discussion / homing slaved motors

« on: February 05, 2007, 10:45:58 PM »

X.Z and A all move to home position with X and Z backing off .25" as they are supposed to.  A is staying at home as it is supposed to.  Y and B are slaved together Y moves toward home switch but B doesn't move.   Slaved motors work fine during normal operations.  Y and B should move to home position until Y reaches switch and then both stop.

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: MachX threading

« on: March 19, 2006, 01:34:28 PM »

Defiantly would be interesting in being able to write wizards to do the steps/job.  Most of my work is fairly standard with variables being diameter, pitch and length.