Messages

11

General Mach Discussion / Re: rotational A axis with grinder

« on: October 17, 2018, 01:53:42 PM »

It would help a lot if you described more what you are trying to do. Sounds like something you can do in G-code bu maybe not.

12

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 Cut and travel seeds question

« on: October 17, 2018, 01:48:26 PM »

Yes LazyCam is very poor. Software is PC personal, I happen to like CamBam but there are plenty of choices like Fusion 360, Vectrix etc.

13

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 Cut and travel seeds question

« on: October 16, 2018, 07:41:50 PM »

Your previous program essentially dumbed your machine down to avoid using G-code, the universal CNC language. However once Mach 3 is setup you get way more capability using the wizards that come with it or by using a Cam program like CamBam to write the code. Like everything there is no gain without at least a little pain.

14

General Mach Discussion / A bad case of stupid

« on: October 15, 2018, 07:59:19 AM »

I’ve been building control panels since I was a kid because I would help my dad build them for his company in our garage. Then I did industrial electric installations for another fifteen years. Ever since I have designed and built control panels for all kinds of machinery. So I know just how important an accurate wiring schematic is.  So what do I do when I build my own CNC machine? I start building and wiring saying to myself I don’t really need a wiring diagram!

Now four years later and I want to add some new capabilites and I am totally confused about how all this stuff works!  I now have almost 5 days of effort cutting wire ties, poking, ringing out wires, and making a wiring diagram.  What a HUGE waste of time this is.  The changes I wanted to make are really simple if you have the correct wiring diagrams.

Broke the rules and I am really getting spanked!

15

General Mach Discussion / Re: Rapid Feed Rates vs Cutting Feeds

« on: October 14, 2018, 11:13:11 AM »

Your machine may be able to cut at the maximum speed it is mechanically and electrically capable of. In that case a G0 wouldn’t be faster  than G1 unless the selected feed rate is less than maximum.

16

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 Doesnt allow me to Reset After hitting any of my hard limit switches? GRRR

« on: October 11, 2018, 01:16:00 PM »

My hard limits are not directly handled by Mach 3, I don’t trust software to do the right thing when stuff goes haywire. So I have a reset button that you have to hold in while backing away. Could work for your limits if you can simply open the circuit or jump them out.

17

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Can I Lockout Mach 4 unless correct post processor is used?

« on: October 10, 2018, 07:57:32 PM »

Add a comment to your post “ HEY STUPID THIS IS FOR XYZ NOT ZYX OR YZX!!!”

18

General Mach Discussion / Re: I just want to start machining, darn-it!

« on: October 04, 2018, 02:07:37 PM »

You don’t say what interface it uses. If it is parallel you’ll be limited to a PC with a parallel port and an older version of Windows. If it has USB it should have come with a driver on a CD, and should work with newer versions of Windows.

19

General Mach Discussion / Re: Denford Lathe

« on: September 28, 2018, 05:41:36 PM »

The 9 pin is serial and 25 pin is parallel. So Denford had a motion control board that is likely completely incompatible with Mach 3. You’ll need a Mach 3 or 4 compatible breakout board or motion controller. If you going to rewire use a motion control board with USB or Ethernet like a smoothstepper or other.

20

General Mach Discussion / Re: G Code Question

« on: September 18, 2018, 01:06:34 PM »

G-code is a tool path for the centerline of the tool not the size of part or hole. The G-code must be written with an offset for the tool. For a 1” square hole with a 1/4” diameter tool the path will be 3/4” x 3/4”.