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Messages - joeaverage

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2831
General Mach Discussion / Re: router bits
« on: March 23, 2019, 06:31:58 PM »
Hi,
one of the main uses I have for CNC is PCB isolation routing. While most people use engraving bits for the
purpose I prefer small diameter endmills. I have found an excellent supplier of quality tools (Kyocera Tycom
among others) of small diameter drills and endmills at very fair prices.

https://www.ebay.com/str/carbideplus

Craig

2832
Video P*r*o*b*i*n*g / Re: 3d Probing on Granite slabs
« on: March 23, 2019, 06:24:58 PM »
Hi,
that's a kool idea. To my knowledge that is not possible with either of the other two solutions.

Craig

2833
Hi,

Quote
I don't know how to copy code into a thread,

What you have done works but there is an even easier way.  You may have noted  a series of buttons
along the top of the text input panel, the one with the 'hash' icon will insert a code panel within your text.

There are many others, the quote and hyperlink insert buttons being commonly used ones.

They insert a matched pair of editing marks and all text within the marks is treated specially by your browser.

Craig

2834
Video P*r*o*b*i*n*g / Re: 3d Probing on Granite slabs
« on: March 23, 2019, 03:03:22 AM »
Hi Peter,

Quote
What I am saying is that I haven't tried autolleveler or g-code ripper yet. And I am not sure if there is a way on both of them to make a tool change without having to re-scan, the surface.

I haven't used Gcode Ripper so cannot comment on that but I have used Autoleveller a lot. I have only experimented
with Surface Map only sufficiently to get a feel for how it works.

If you use AutolevellerAE per my recommendation then it will create a Gcode routine to probe the surface prior to any
engraving. The data that results from that probing sequence is stored in a file and if you like gives what amounts to
a topographic map of the surface. It also generates a colour map of the surface to give you a feel for the flatness
or otherwise of the surface.

When you apply the  Autoleveller correction routine to the Gcode of your engraving file is re-writes the Gcode with subtle
changes in the Z axis to reflect the underlying surface. If you need to run two engraving files to complete the job
then both would be processed similarly without probing in between.

Some of my PCB routing files require multiple tools (wear and breakage). This can be accommodated by Autoleveller as there
is one reference location that you can jog to and touch off a new tool before restarting the job to carry on from where the
previous tool failed.

Surface Map is only slightly different. The surface is probed and stored in Mach. All subsequent moves are made with the Z
axis datum going up and down automatically. If you need to run two files that's fine, the sbtle variations in the Z datum
are the same for both files, no need to probe in between.

I would recommend mounting the probe in the spindle chuck. Otherwise your probe point will be displaced from the position the
tool will be in when the job runs. Its a pain taking the tool out, fitting the probe, running the probe file and then refitting
the tool, but that's the way it has to be.

Craig

2835
Hi,

Quote
Its seems there bob is made to match the ethernet smoothstepper and I am looking at simplicity and functional.

Yes indeed, they have made it specifically for the ESS and is a worthy choice.

My thing is electronics so I would rather have something simple and flexible ( and cheap)like a pair (or trio) of C10's and
make whatever specialist circuits I want.  I can understand that you might prefer the ready to go option.

I am surprised they don't have a distributor in the US...that might reduce the wait. In the meantime any cheap parallel port BoB
would probably be enough to get you going.

Craig

2836
Hi,
any of the devices I listed would work well.

A C10 is a simple bidirectional breakout board. It does not have any opto isolators nor does it have a dedicated
PWM to analogue converter. You might well find you have to make a couple of simple electronic circuits to meet a
specific requirement. Are you OK with that? The advantage, if indeed you accept that proviso, is that they are cheap.
There are more sophisticated breakout boards but cost more and because the manufacturer has built in some of the additional
circuits I mentioned you must now abide that manufacturers design methodology.

One C10 BoB (breakout board) accommodates one 'ports worth' of IO. Your first port defined in the ESS plugin will
have pins 2-9, 1, 14, 16, 17 as outputs with pins  10, 11, 12, 13, 15 as inputs. That is just enough for a simple machine.
You can use pins 2-9 as step/dir for up to four axes, one input for an Estop which leaves four inputs for homes/limits
and a probe. Having to combine homes and limits because of the limited number of spare inputs is a PITA. It has caused
so much grief to so many people over the years.

Given that you have bought an ESS you don't have to do that rubbish! You have all those spare inputs and outputs so
take advantage of them. If you buy a second C10 you can change a jumper on the C10 board that turns pins 2-9
into inputs. Thus you could define the second port of the ESS in the ESS plugin as pins 1, 14, 16, 17 as outputs and
pins 2-9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15 as inputs. Thus with two (of the three) ports of the ESS populated with two C10 BoBs
you have a total of 16 outputs and 18 inputs, swags and swags!

My recommendation is therefore to buy two C10's. You could get away with one but two allows you to take advantage
of what the ESS has to offer.

I use MB02 from Homann Designs in Australia (not to be confused with the MB2 of CNCRoom) and they are almost indentical
to the C10. Australia is near enough to local to me and Peter Homann designs and builds good stuff.

There is another alternative and that is the MB2 (confusing I know!) board by CNCRoom (Malaysia). That has ALL three ESS
ports developed in one high quality board. It has all those extra circuits I mentioned so you lose a little flexibility but still
you will have plenty of inputs and outputs optimized for certain functions. If you want to avoid any making any electronic circuits
its a good choice. Costs about $200.

Craig

2837
Video P*r*o*b*i*n*g / Re: 3d Probing on Granite slabs
« on: March 22, 2019, 09:47:57 PM »
Hi,
I bought a Harvey Tools (high quality if pricey brand, superb selection) 0.5mm PCD endmill.

If memory serves it cost about $78US but by the time it was shipped to New Zealand it cost me $250NZD.
You can be sure that when I use it I KEEP IT COOL. Of course being so small its very tender anyway.

The point is that you can turn a $300US PCD tool into a few dollars worth of scrap by letting the tool overheat.
On the other hand that same tool will last hundreds of hours if you do keep it cool.

OP has obviously been using these tools for a while and presumably making money doing so. For the sake of
a $20 home made probe and some time to experiment with Autoleveller, Gcode Ripper or Surface Map (Mach4 only)
he can improve what he is doing WITHOUT spending big bucks.

Craig

2838
Hi,
I personally use an Ethernet SmoothStepper and it works well. There are six seven US and European manufacturers
that ALL make quality devices and they ALL have great customer support.

https://warp9td.com/
The Ethernet SmoothStepper is the model of choice. It has both Mach3 and Mach4 plugins and a company supported forum.
Warp9 is days away from adding realtime THC support to its Mach4 plugin meaning that all the commonly required realtime
functions are now available in both Mach3 and Mach4 plugins, things like backlash comp, lathe threading and THC. Costs
about $190US. Needs to be partnered with one (or more) parallel BoBs, for which there is a wide choice. C10's are $23 each
whereas the MB2 from CNCRoom with all three ports developed is about $200. The ESS has a total of 51 inputs and outputs
up to 4Mhz pulse output rate.

https://www.poscope.com/products/pokeys-devices/
PoKeys do two devices that may interest you. The 57CNCdb25 is a USB connected device that converts the USB data
form Mach into pulse streams in parallel and presents them to the real world in the form of a db25 (aka the parallel port)
plug. It has 12 outputs and 5 inputs. Costs about $120. Good for a simple (one ports worth of IO) machines.
The other device is the 57CNC. This device is optionally Ethernet connected and has a total of 57 inputs and outputs.
Some of the inputs can be analogue, a nice feature. Has both Mach3 and Mach4 plugins. Max output pulse rate is 125kHz,
so not fast but usable and quicker than any parallel port! Cost about $150. Note that the 57CNC is based on the same core
as the 57E and 57U which could be used for CNC and it an attractive proposition because they are under $100 BUT they
are not really fully developed for CNC use and you have to add other circuitry to take advantage of all its features. In short
I would recommend spending the extra and get the 57CNC from the outset.

https://www.cncdrive.com/
CNCDrive do three models of interest to Mach users. The venerable UC100 is still very popular at about $120. It is USB connected
and has one db25 plug output much like the 57CNCdb25 I described above. It has one ports worth of IO, that is 12 outputs
and 5 inputs. If you like the idea of such a device don't buy a Chinese ripoff from Amazon or Ebay, buy direct from CNCDrive
or their nominated distributor. Other models are the UC400 which has two ports, about 34 inputs and outputs or the UC300
which has five ports for 85 inputs and outputs. Both are Ethernet connected and about $150. Note than CNCDrive make
their own software called UCCNC and it is apparently pretty good too. The UC100, UC300 and UC400 all have Mach3 and Mach4
plugins. Max output pulse rate is 125kHz, not blazing fast but useful. CNCDrive has just (fortnight ago) released a new model
AXBB but at this stage is for their own UCCNC software only. It may well at some time in the future has Mach plugins as well
but not yet.

http://www.vitalsystem.com/portal/index.php
The Hicon Integra is the model of choice, costs about $600 without extras. It is a high quality Ethernet connected device which
supports all the common realtime functions. It has both Mach3 and Mach4 plugins. The are extra modules that allow the use of
analogue servos, a Machh4 ready THC feature, an onboard API feature....all extra to the base price. No breakout board required
as all IO is 24V tolerant. Pulse output rates of up to 12MHz, so blazing fast.

https://www.pmdx.com/
PMDX has two models of external controller, the PMDX-411, a USB connected db25 plug output device at about $120 and
the PMDX-424, a two port (34 input and outputs) device with onboard power supply and no breakout board required, at $250.
PMDX has a great reputation for quality and, especially, backup. These are Mach4 devices only.

https://en.cs-lab.eu/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwj9LkBRDnARIsAGQ-hUceuDpuI7xnofziZ6ULmGY2Y02GyukLySQ3L1RWU7b-kNQpQ6AxhngaAsQnEALw_wcB
CsLabs have a couple of models, a step/direction model and an analogue model, both about 600 Euro, so not cheap.
They are good quality and have a loyal support base especially in UK and Europe. They also enjoyed a good reputation
for support. That reputation has tarnished somewhat of late....may be some change within the company. They have both
Mach3 and Mach4 plugins but the Mach4 plugin is buggy and they have done nothing about it for months. Given the price
of the device I hesitate to recommend it despite the high quality and innovative design. Without top notch support I wont
be parting with my money.

http://www.galilmc.com/
Galil is the last word in professional quality motion control. Has a Mach3 plugin and just recently a Mach4 plugin. The Mach4
plugin is written and supported by one of the Mach4 developers so it will be just like Galil.....rock solid. Downside is that
a moderate entry level three axis controller is about $2000. You get what you pay for. Just as a matter of interest the top
model, the 40 series, accepts encoder inputs up to 22MHz and step outputs up to 6MHz.....you want Ethercat....we got Ethercat,
and the list goes on and on and on.

Craig

2839
Hi,
I downloaded and installed 4095 and haven't encountered any problems so far.

I would be tempted to start a ticket with NFS, at least then they know that there is an issue which they
can incorporate into their work schedule.

Craig

2840
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: input signals
« on: March 22, 2019, 07:01:17 PM »
Hi,
is the switch doing double duty, ie a home switch and also a limit switch?

Craig

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