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Messages - garyhlucas

571
I'll give you hint on how to clean up the top of the blocks in Cambam. Draw a single line slightly off the edge of the and longer by at least half the tool diameter on both ends. Apply a profile machining operation with width set greater than your block width. Cambam will produce a bunch of parallel tool paths that clean off the whole top.  You don't have to draw the part, just one line. You can be cutting faster than it took me to type this!

Cambam is 40 uses in demo not 30 days. You can do a whole lot of playing without being in a hurry. In any event it is good value for the money. Remember software is personal, you may not like it just because!

572
Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: BullDog CNC Router/Mill Build Project
« on: October 15, 2013, 06:34:15 PM »
I suggest an index wheel and pointer on the back shaft of the steppers.  If you simply write down the index position for each axis when you zero out the axis you can easily get back there after collision, power off, or the next day.

Not to discourage you, I calculate 118 lbs of HOLDING force, which is at zero speed. Look at the torque curve for you motors at 400 rpm (200 ipm) and at the supply voltage you have, and I think it will be 25 to 30% of that.  Skimming a plasma torch over the surface without touching is a lot different than pushing a cutter through aluminum.

573
How is a single S key safe?  What if you started typing without thinking and hit the S?  Now Ctrl S, Alt S would at least require two keys at the same time.  I think I'm going to do it that way.

574
I can't help you but I agree that using a key along with the mouse would be much safer. I interlocked the enclosure doors with the spindle because I want my 10 year old grandson to run the machine safely but would make it even safer, for the machine!

575
General Mach Discussion / Re: Huanyang VFD & Spindle Warranty Problems
« on: October 05, 2013, 09:06:35 PM »
So what did you change it to?  Great people to work with!  or You can get service from them if you put your knee in their back and twist their arm!  They were difficult, difficult vendors should get poor feedback every time, no exceptions. Otherwise the system intended to protect you doesn't work.

576
Hood,
Do you read anything other that XML code for fun?

577
General Mach Discussion / Re: My cuts are the wrong size...
« on: September 26, 2013, 04:32:33 PM »
Set up the dial indicator an push on the machine frame.  You may be surprised by what you find.  By moving the indicator and measuring at different places you often will find that one thing is a big contributor to a position problem and that there are also small contributors.  Fixing just the big one may be all you really need to do.

578
General Mach Discussion / Re: any advice welcome
« on: September 18, 2013, 01:43:52 PM »
Interesting project. I'm like Hood, I have a PLC in my CNC to handle the I/O. Take a look at AutomationDirect PLCs. DL05 or a Click would probably do it for you.

579
Finished Plugins for Download / Re: A new Huanyang VFD plugin
« on: September 12, 2013, 08:15:27 PM »
Many VFDs can show true power in KW also. Current is a really poor indicator of spindle load. So if you can get it to display power that would be very good for optimizing and operation and also testing tools, and determining if a tool is getting dull. Power is very linear, current is not at all.  So a power reading will easily show you a tool getting dull, the difference between different types of cutters etc.

580
General Mach Discussion / Re: My cuts are the wrong size...
« on: September 12, 2013, 08:08:04 PM »
What is your dial indicator telling you?  The dial indicator with a gauge block will tell if the step motion is accurate. It wil also identify backlash, and deflection in the machine under load.  Wonderful simple tool.  For my machine I found a 9" x 9" x 9" granite angle plate with 4" thick legs.  I put the dial indicator in the spindle and I can check all three axis in a matter of minutes.  Works great and gives me confidence that the last crash didn't actually do any damage other than the broken tool, my wallet, and my pride.