Messages

91

Tangent Corner / Re: Tool change puzzle...

« on: June 19, 2007, 02:48:51 PM »

I broke down and bought this one:
http://www.hightechsystemsllc.com/index_files/Page2045.htm
I am not using more than two tools right now and this kit has a third holder as well.
When I received it I'll let you know how life is with the quick changer.
Lemo

92

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: My first two 'parts'

« on: June 06, 2007, 05:25:53 PM »

Thanks for the kind words. I do a lot of 3D Computer Graphics work.
But never did anything with the goal to actually machine it.
Now I am getting totally addicted to that.
Would it be of use/interest to post the g-code for something like the weave?
I doubt that someone is interested in my name plate 

The flats on top of the weave is the result of a Z offset just before milling....
We learn: Do not mess with the part after everything is zeroed out...

Next project is a nice box with carving all around it. The design is done.
All I have to figure out is how to change the tool in a way that the tool tip is back at z zero after the change.
The pro will laugh about a challenge like that, but for me it's simply something I have not done...
I wonder if I should set a block onto the bed somewhere and rest the tool there to fasten it completely.
The corner in the weave I used for 0,0,0 was the first thing to go.
So that's of no help any more if a change would have to happen.
Dang details lol.

Cheers
Lemo

93

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Managing Projects

« on: June 06, 2007, 02:01:37 PM »

Thanks Dan!
Very informative, and nice to add the resources as well.
Cheers
Lemo

94

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / My first two 'parts'

« on: June 06, 2007, 12:51:04 PM »

Here are my very first parts I made after engraving the road runner into pink cunstruction foam to learn how to control the beast.


What a blast to make those!
Cheers
Rainer

PS:Top one is not brass.... just brass powder on brushed on wax. Still had no gut's to cut metal with it...

95

Tangent Corner / Tool change puzzle...

« on: June 05, 2007, 06:41:15 PM »

I am puzzled.... ha!

Now, with the help of the friendly pro's here I am milling my heart out.
Never thought it's so much fun to make stuff.

It's time to leave the comfort zone and actually make something which requires more than one tool to finish.
Right now I am V-Carving, flat milling, ball end mill milling. Now I generated a new tool path and that requires a couple of tool changes to make things look real good.

I am having a small TAIG mill where the only automatic tool changer is that monkey sitting hypnotized in front of it.

How do I go about that? I know... it's a rather basic question, but how do I change the tool in between the jobs so that Z zero remains correct?
As it is in real life... my reference Z corner is one of the first victims of my activities. So I can't go back there and try and set it up again.
Are you using a reference block somewhere else on the table? A little jig? HELP!

Any hints for the mechanically challenged?

Cheers
Lemo

96

General Mach Discussion / Re: no step pulse

« on: May 25, 2007, 07:28:26 AM »

Try a different PC or a different Interface card. I went through three PC's till I found one with the right parallel interface.
Lemo

97

General Mach Discussion / Re: home and limits question

« on: May 25, 2007, 07:06:23 AM »

Right now I am the biggest danger for my machine. And the fact that I have a fourth axis on the little system congests everything a tad. Limit switches during the setup have prevented a few times that the dimwit at the controls ran the tool into the turntable... Sometimes I also try out G-Code deliverd by someone else, and that's not always 100% cool.
Lemo

98

General Mach Discussion / Re: joystick

« on: May 24, 2007, 09:19:37 PM »

I don't know either how you can assign other buttons etc. But I read that there is another plugin in the plugin section, I have not tried that one out. Maybe that enables you to define more functions.
I'll try it on the weekend and post my findings.
Lemo

99

General Mach Discussion / Re: home and limits question

« on: May 24, 2007, 08:26:59 PM »

Sharing and discussing concepts always reveals thoughts and points of view one might have overlooked before. I like discussions like this as I always learn from them. Always cool!

Considering the car example, I think about the limit switches as if they are a transparent concrete wall. Not like a child, which you cann see and react upon.

I have not tried it but, are the limit switches active when soft limits are activated? In case, the limit switches could be what they should be, emergency switches, and the soft limits, defined to trigger before the limits are hit...

Maybe I just understood how Mach should be configured hahaha

Happy weekend all!
Lemo

100

General Mach Discussion / Re: homing switches

« on: May 24, 2007, 07:34:05 PM »

I just ran into limit switch problems. One of the challenges I had was that the limit switch must be fastened ROCK SOLID. If it wiggles a tiny bit (<64th) and then triggers again the system stop the backing up and even starts to throw a limit switch exception into the mix to confuse one totally. All within the same micro second. Right now I only use Home switches and SoftLimits. I found a lot of noise from the stepper on the limit switch line, and that causes nuisance triggers for limits. Bad thing.... you come back from Lunch just to find out the machine stopped 2 minutes after you left, and went to lunch on it's own....
Lemo