Messages

111

General Mach Discussion / Re: PCI EPP Parallel Port Card

« on: May 10, 2007, 04:25:05 PM »

I'm more concerned about the timing and throughput. Good to know about the voltage issue as well.
I am running into watchdog timer issues once in a while (switched them off now without visible problems) and wondered if a add on card would behave better.
Mach is a funny little animal... But now it starts to work REAL WELL on my DeskTop PC. Anyone interested in a great IBM Lap I bought  but can't use for Mach?
Lemo

112

General Mach Discussion / PCI EPP Parallel Port Card

« on: May 10, 2007, 11:44:20 AM »

Would it be beneficial to use a dedicated EPP Port card versus the on board Parallel port?
Lemo

113

General Mach Discussion / Re: Jogging A axis at .0001 problem

« on: May 09, 2007, 11:19:48 AM »

Strangely a third PC solved the issue. MAch3 seems to need the 'right' PC with the 'right' chipset.
I start to believe that Mach3 will grow fur and long claws once full moon arrives...
Lemo

114

General Mach Discussion / Re: Rotational milling speed?

« on: May 09, 2007, 11:17:32 AM »

I tried another PC and oh wonder.... All problems vanished. All of a sudden the angular stepper behaves using the .0001 technique.
Only two minor issues remain. One is that the port finder utility does not work. The port however, is functioning just fine.
And I frequently (every 10-20 minutes) the system tends to run into a watchdog error. I disabled the watchdog and cannot see a problem visually.
When it hits the watchdog, the system freezes for a second, then continues as if there was nothing. For now I'm happy that all works. But I must say that Mach3 is working COMPLETELY different on three differen PC's. All P4's with 2GHz and better.
Thanks for all the comments!
Lemo

115

General Mach Discussion / Re: Rotational milling speed?

« on: May 07, 2007, 11:17:59 PM »

I have the same problem and the same setup except I need 320 as 1 degree factor. The check box only converts almost one step per second into a revolution per hour. Which is MUCH faster then a step per second, but still completely unacceptable. When I jog with G0 commands the A-Axis is very responsive with my 320 steps and 600Inch per second motor tuning. But the moment I use G1 the speed is gone and all goes downhill. The funny thing is that after I execute a single G1 A********* command subsequent G0 A********* commands are not fast any more. As if there is a flag which is set and not reset... or something.

Any ideas how that can be sped up? My new machine is all set up for action... only the @$%@$#@ A-Axis is ruining the fun.

Lemo

116

General Mach Discussion / Re: Jogging A axis at .0001 problem

« on: May 07, 2007, 11:02:57 PM »

I'm having the same trouble. I found that 320 is my magic number and with 600 inch per minute and 8 as velocity the table turns nicely with G0 positioning. But even with diameter control enabled no diameter can be small enough to come up with any useful rotary a-axis feed rate. It would take about an hour to turn the table once while all other axis move correctly. I'd LOVE to know how to fix that. I fear I have to give my machine back if there is no solution to the a-axis challenge.
Lemo

117

General Mach Discussion / Re: newbe having trouble with limit switches

« on: May 07, 2007, 12:36:51 PM »

Regarding limit switches.... also take a close look at the over all obstructions of your machine. I have a Sherline rotary table mounted on the table... with that, there are areas where I better do not drive all the way down. I am thinking about limit switches which I can move with magnets. So I can adjust the configuration to the crazy accessories.
Lemo

118

General Mach Discussion / Re: LazyCam possible bug.

« on: May 06, 2007, 04:24:21 PM »

Another noob here as well. Eating my NoobCakes here. I did not load your data. But did the same thing in Rhino. Circle with 1 diameter, into LazyCam, into Mach3, into foam. No problems.
My file however, showed plasma mode... Probably because I simply 'ran' through the conversion not looking left or right.
Cheers
Lemo

119

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 crashing

« on: May 06, 2007, 04:21:34 PM »

I could not find the gun to shoot the watchdog... Where is that option?

I did try out the code for the Road Runner and that carves like there is no tomorrow.
So there must be something with my G-Code. Dang... More reading!

However..... the Roadrunner showed me a setup problem I had... The Z-Axis was inverted.
Thank god for foam.... Looked kinda empty after lunch. Except for the parts where it should have traveled above the tool.
But that's history now.

Thanks for your comments!
Lemo

120

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 crashing

« on: May 06, 2007, 12:17:14 PM »

I took a closer look during the loading of the g-code and a message pops up in the status line which says 'Driver Watchdog Triggered' and from there on the system slows downnnnnnnnnn and if I start the code it is only a matter of time till the entire system freezes.

I go and try out the samples which came with Mach3 and see what happens there.

Lemo