Messages

21

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Screwcutting issue under Mach4

« on: March 28, 2020, 09:55:10 PM »

Craig Thank you for your comments. Yes, the C11 board manual does say PWM - Voltage, but further down, describes how to setup as Step/Dir. I have never got PWM to work with this board's 0 - 10 volt output (Wish I could).
No speed control at all Direct on screen, MDI, or in program. Only Slow, Mid, Fast not speed control at all.

Just found a PWM to Voltage control board on Ebay - Simple, small, Cheap (AUD15.40). Will give this a try, cannot loose.

22

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Screwcutting issue under Mach4

« on: March 28, 2020, 09:24:13 PM »

Brian - thank you for your help.
My speed control board (Built in to C11 Bob) only allows for Step pulses. Having said that, I did try resetting to PWM. The result was as expected, I got 3 speeds (dead slow, Mid range and flat out), so no change from parallel port operation. I did try screwcutting, and got a stable mid range speed, but not very useful.
On the same unit tried Mach3/ESS. Worked perfectly. Good speed control, and perfect Screwcutting.

Unless this can be fixed (I hope so, as I like Mach4 / ESS) I do have a couple of options.
Bearing in mind there are 4 machines (2 on USS), and all using the same spindle control.
1) Use a separate Speed control board.
2) Stay with Mach3. (At least I can use up my Current USS boards). Buying ESS as Parallel ports fall over.

Option 1 could be attractive if I can find one that doesn't want to take over everything. (Just PMW in - Voltage out)

Still hoping for a fix however.

23

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Screwcutting issue under Mach4

« on: March 28, 2020, 12:22:58 AM »

Attachment 2 the Profile (Renamed)

24

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Screwcutting issue under Mach4

« on: March 28, 2020, 12:21:42 AM »

Attachment 1 the Diagnostics

25

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Screwcutting issue under Mach4

« on: March 28, 2020, 12:20:42 AM »

Will add attachments 1 by 1 in a minute as I get errors (.log not allowed, Filename already exists ETC)

I have attached the Profile + I've been playing with the diagnostics, ESS1.txt (formally .Log) makes interesting reading.

ESS Build 253 and Mach4 4.2.0.4300 (All the latest I think)

Spindle is Step/Dir control (Via C11 Bob built in 0 - 10 volt output).
this works very well in all circumstances other than screwcutting, and CSS works well.
Spindle doubles as Axis "C" but even before this addition, this problem existed.
Spindle pulse is 1 pulse per rev as per Mach3 (C3 optical sensor board). No other encoder.

Looking at the diagnostic file, it looks a bit like Warp9 might have an issue.

26

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Spindle Index Setup With Hall Sensor??

« on: March 27, 2020, 08:28:43 PM »

TTL levels are defined as Low = 0 to 0.8 Volts, High 2 to 5 volts (all with respect to ground). Clearly you are not getting to Low values.
Your hall sensor may not be sufficient by itself to pull the voltage down to low. you may need to add some additional components like a Schmitt trigger.
With the feedback pulses driven by the spindle itself, the pully ratio does not come into it. You should setup your spindle speeds under the control configuration/spindle tab. There you will find up to 20 available pulley ratios available. Simply set the Min/Max speeds etc required. Your controller should then supply a Voltage to your VSD in proportional to your commanded speed v's max speed.

Hope this helps.

27

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Screwcutting issue under Mach4

« on: March 27, 2020, 08:05:32 PM »

Feed per rev is G99 under Mach4 and is set.

This is a link to a YouTube video of the issue https://youtu.be/YqWxuqiohYk

The Gcode is correct to the manual, and also the built in screwcutting wizard as listed below.

N0 (Machine type - MachMotion Lathe Canned Cycles)
N5 (Filename: C:\Mach4Hobby\GcodeFiles\fffg.tap)
N10 (Generated on 03/27/20 at 13:38:32)
N15 G00 G40 G54 G64 G80 G90.1 G99 G18 G21 (Safe Start Block)
N20 %


N25 %
N30 (Starting Gcode for Threading Cycle: ThreadingCycle-0)
N40 G00 G40 G54 G64 G80 G90.1 G99 G18 G21 (Safe Start Block)
N45 %


N50 %
N55 T0101 (Tool Change)
N60 G99 (Feed per Revolution)
N65 G97 S400 (Constant Speed)
N70 M03 (Spindle Forward)
N75 M09
N80 G00 X14.00 Z5.00  (Rapid move to Clearance Height)
N85 G76 P020560 Q0.05 R0.3 K1
N90 G76 X9.72 Z-20.0 R0.0 P1.14 Q0.3 F1.5
N95 G80
N100 (End Gcode for Threading Cycle: ThreadingCycle-0)

N105 %
N110 M09
N115 M05
N120 M30
N125 %
N130 (End Gcode file)
N135 %

28

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Screwcutting issue under Mach4

« on: March 26, 2020, 11:33:07 PM »

Thank you for the response. All overrides are set to 100%.
Since the first post, I have setup a new (Very Standard Mach4 Lathe profile) with no effect.
Tried everything I can think of. Checked the config of both the ESS and Control.

Screwcutting works fine under Mach3 on this computer with the ESS, so something of a mystery to me.

29

Mach4 General Discussion / Screwcutting issue under Mach4

« on: March 26, 2020, 02:56:27 AM »

Gday all. I have an issue with mach4 when screwcutting, both G76 and G32 are effected.
The spindle speed constantly varies as each cut progresses. Starts out slow around 75 rpm, rises to 400 rpm at the end of each cut. the command speed being 400 rpm. The Z feed is increasing to compensate, but cuts an interesting Thread. The effect is very like CSS as the Diameter increases, except its the Z axis.

Only happens in screwcutting and the correct G97 is specified.

I am using an ESS, but I cannot find any issues in the Configuration.

Hoping someone can help. I took a video of this that I could include if it helps.

30

Others / Re: Ezilathe - Tools for the CNC lathe

« on: February 26, 2020, 07:08:49 PM »

Yes. Tools may be edited and created in the tool editor window.
Second Button from the Left when you are on the "G Code Simulator" page brings up the Tool editor.
When a tool is not disabled (Checkbox at bottom of screen) you can see the effect of your changes you make in the input boxes above, as soon as you move off an input. Changes made will become available in the main program when you move the editor to another tool.
Changes made can be made permanent by pressing the "Save/Exit" button.