Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / 3D Printer - OD vs ID Measurement

« on: September 19, 2015, 10:57:45 PM »

I built a 3D printer using MACH3 controller but have have a problem with the inside and outside dimensions.

I printed a 1" x 1" square with a .75" circle (opening)  in the middle of the square.  The square measures 1.003 x 1.004.
The circle however measures .73 - a fully .02" too small.

How can I adjust for this? 

Thanks.
Pete

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 resets zero when running

« on: October 21, 2013, 07:05:37 PM »

The offset that I describe is as you've suggested. Another way to say it is that I zero the x and y run the program. It jumps at some point.  When I run the next print, without changing the zero it, the next print starts 1/4 inch away.

I don't know what the surliness settings will do but I'll give it a shot  tonight.

Thanks for the help...

3

General Mach Discussion / Mach 3 resets zero when running

« on: October 20, 2013, 11:02:25 PM »

I am running Mach 3 as the controller for my home grown 3d printer. It works fairly well with a couple glitches.

I am running X,Y and Z (NEMA 23 Steppers) and an A axis (NEMA 17). There is no rotary encoder, or other feed back - strictly step counts.

I have a breakout board (active)  and 3.5 amp controller cards.  

I originally had the steppers configured for high torque, low speed operation and was using an old dell XP  box (circa 2002). I don't remember the clock speed, but it was less than 1.5 gig. 512k RAM. I was running Mach3 at 25k pulse.

With that configuration I would occasionally have a mishap where the machine would lose counts and essentially re zero making the print offset by 1/4 inch or so. The problem was only occasional and I lived with it.

I wanted to print faster so I reworded the stepper motors for speed.  In motor tuning I could easily triple the hight torque speed even with my old computer  in high torque the motors ran at about 600 mm per. High speed wiring  took the speed up to 2k mm per. However when I ran a program the motors would lock up and scream.  So I slowed the motors to about 1500 per but the zero would reset all of the time. Where before the rewrire I could use the computer while the program was running , after rewire in would only run as the controller.  That was ok but the offset shift continued with regularity.

So I bought anther computer which helped but did not solve the problem  the new ( tome) computer is  3.2 gig, dual core etc. I can run programs at 2400 mm per but occasionally the zero will shift. This happens 1 time over three or four prints. ( 1 time per two hours of printing)

I have tried different setting (25 k up to 100k) with no appreciable change.

Has anyone experienced this problem and found a fix?  Sorry about the length of this post but I wanted to get a complete description of the problem right off.

Sometimes when it happens I can hear a change in the motors, other time I hear nothing. I can force the offset by running another program while Mach is still running.

Thanks, pete

4

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Zero a display

« on: July 06, 2013, 12:06:40 PM »

Is there a code (G or M or ?) that will zero out an axis without traveling to zero?

I am using the 4th axis as an extruder (3D printer) and when the print is done I want to zero out the display, but I don't want the motor to move. 

I know I can do this manually which is great until I forget to zero and I unwind my filament when I start the next print.

Thanks,

Pete

5

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: July 06, 2013, 11:54:08 AM »

Another new guy here, a hobbiest.

I've spent the last year buying (the parts for) and building a 3D printer. The printer works, is relatively accurate, it wasn't 'that' expensive and best of all taught me a lot!

When I first heard about 3D printing (interview with the guy that started Makerbot) I was sold on the idea.  A few weeks later after combing the internet I found an 'Instructables' tutorial on how to build your own 3D printer/CNC router combo and I set off to buy parts. 

Here I am today with a working printer and lots of questions on how to make it better.  I still plan on making this a convertable tool (printer/router) but the router part will happen after the printer has been tweaked to my satisfaction.

I will be watching the 3D printer area for anyone with questions about building their own printer - I'm not an expert but I am glad to share what I know!

Pete

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: TB6560 single axis hookup

« on: July 06, 2013, 10:06:22 AM »

I am running my 3D printer using the same controller.  I have a 5 Axis Break out board hooked to the TB6560 driving NEMA 23 steppers.  My connections are
BOB    -     TB6560
(S)tep======CLK+
(N)eutral ====CLK-
(D)irection====CW+
(E)nable+ ====EN+
No connect====EN-
CLK- and CW- are tied together.

Hope this helps.