Messages

491

General Mach Discussion / Re: 3D printing with Mach 3

« on: April 14, 2014, 01:47:34 PM »

I finally figured out my confusion when i got some g-code from someone else.  Apparently the g-code i generated myself left out all the extruder E commands. So now i see what i need to do.

Thanks,

492

General Mach Discussion / Re: 3D printing with Mach 3

« on: April 13, 2014, 10:11:10 AM »

Tweakie,
I've been asking there, but no one is using Mach 3. In 3d printing they only look at G-code when they have a problem they can't solve with slicer settings. So the level G-Code understanding is no where near what is found here.

If an axis is defined as rotary in Mach 3 how does the G-code for that look? Would +-1 define direction and a feed rate define the speed in some units?

493

General Mach Discussion / Re: 3D printing with Mach 3

« on: April 12, 2014, 09:24:12 PM »

Ok, now I am really confused.  I've been looking at the G-code produced by Simplify3D slicer. I sliced a simple part.  At the beginning of each layer to print it positions the nozzle and then there is a line G1 E1 F1800.  At the end of the layer there is a line G1 E-1 F1800.  What does this code do?  Is it the E (extruder) axis that moves 1 mm at F1800, then back 1mm at the end?  Or is it a rotary axis that starts by E1 and rotates continuously at F1800, then stops when the E-1 is reached? Any help would be appreciated.

494

General Mach Discussion / Re: G-Code streaming VIA USB

« on: April 10, 2014, 09:00:05 AM »

Someone on the CamBam forum is using a board with GRBL firmware and discovered that it is woefully uner powered if the G-code contained arcs.

495

General Mach Discussion / Re: 3D printing with Mach 3

« on: April 09, 2014, 11:31:43 PM »

Fast,
So you know that smooth stepper will drive a stepper spindle at a constant velocity while using feed rate control for the other 3 axis?

496

General Mach Discussion / Re: 3D printing with Mach 3

« on: April 07, 2014, 04:59:19 PM »

I didn't mean to imply that it ran at just one speed. What I meant was it was handled as a continuous running rotary axis not a linear axis.  The E command is a rate not a distance. Also it needs to run at a rate different than the other axis.  It looks to me like using Mach 3 with the parallel port you were able to have a stepper spindle running continuous and the other three or more axis as well. However going back to a parallel port would be a step backwards.

497

General Mach Discussion / 3D printing with Mach 3

« on: April 06, 2014, 09:48:36 PM »

Okay,
I think I am in trouble here.  I installed a 4th axis stepper motor to drive the extruder.  However in looking at how 3D printers work with the G-code output from a slicer, the extruder is run at fixed speed like a spindle. I got the extruder to work as the C axis and can manually jog it just fine.  I can also enter a feed and distance and it runs fine.  So I thought, okay I need to set up the spindle to be a step and direction type output.  However here is the gotcha.  I have a Xulifeng USB motion card with a Mach 3 plugin doing the motion control. I don't see any way to get step and direction spindle operation with this card.

If Mach 3 could use the A axis as a spindle it would work.  If the motion card could use the 4th axis as the spindle it would work. I don't see any setting to make this happen. Anyne know if this is possible?  This also suggests I am screwed when it comes to using my stepper driven lathe as a lathe. It looks like it can be used for positioning, but not for continuous motion.

I have a smooth stepper card and breakout board, but didn't want to go to the effort of installing them at this time. So the question is can the smoothstepper card use a stepper motor as a spindle drive?  I thought I was ready to try 3D printing, and now I am really stuck.

498

General Mach Discussion / Re: Accuracy and adjustment

« on: April 05, 2014, 07:29:04 PM »

I'd cut the part again with tool compensation set to 0. Under that condition using a 5mm tool should yield a part exactly 5 mm smaller.  I'd also cut it twice, to remove as much tool deflection as possible from the measurement. If this works as expected then something is going on in the way tool compensation works. If it doesn't work then you've got something else going on.

499

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need help with spindle relay

« on: April 01, 2014, 12:09:41 AM »

It is not the voltage that is the problem it's that the current draw from your relay is too high and pulls the voltage down too much.  Not sure what kind of relay you are using but you need one with a lower input current.

500

General Mach Discussion / Re: Circular boring problem

« on: March 28, 2014, 09:10:29 PM »

Drill bits can't cut sideways, they have wide lands and no relief. You need an end mill for mill boring a hole. If you are only doing circuit boards look for a stub length mill, with the depth of cut only slightly greater than the board thickness. Doubling the length of a tool reduces the stiffness by a factor of 4!