Messages

7571

General Mach Discussion / Re: max axis speed

« on: October 23, 2013, 05:37:03 AM »

Set pulser to 45k (didnt realise I had to restart Mach3 to achieve it!) and sure enough the max configurable axis speeds increase. As it turns out I was close to max at 1500mm/min, still works at 2000 but stalls ocasionally at 2200. Could try tweaking pulse durations but am happy that I have established a speed limit. My machine only has 200x200x200 travels in any event and rapids of the order of 2000 seem more than adequate. Suffice it to say I am delighted with the extra go the new drivers offer. Must now look for a third one for Z axis...and pay for it...ho-hum.

Motor heating issue is more of a concern. With driver set to deliver rated current time to excessive motor heat at 500mm/min is shorter than at 1000mm/min. It seems that motror heating is worst in the region 400-700mm/min. Why this should be so I dont know.

I will bring my scope and current probe home from work this weekend and try to make some useful measurements.

7572

General Mach Discussion / Re: max axis speed

« on: October 23, 2013, 03:51:35 AM »

Thanks for your reply. I have tried upping the pulse rate when doing pulse engine tests. My computer starts going cranky around 65k.
I think the demo version is limited to 25k under use conditions but will try tweaking!
Academic excerise in any event, motor overheating is going to defeat me long before I reach limiting speed.

Early days testing these new drivers but it apears that they heat up more around 800mm/min than 1500mm/min. Seems strange to me.
Have not yet developed a decent test scheme to track results of each variable but suspect I will back off from rated current to stay kool
and set rapids to suit.

Is there some sweet spot that I should be aiming for?

7573

General Mach Discussion / max axis speed

« on: October 23, 2013, 03:23:03 AM »

I am starting to test my homebuilt machine (demo only as yet) and have two new (to me) Vexta 5 phase drivers to match 23 size 5 phase steppers and 10:1 planetaries.
The new drivers are 230v ac input and capable of rated 1.4 amp per phase, so MUCH better than the baby 24v dc driver I had been using.
With the old driver I could achieve 300mm/min with great stability with slippage ocurring around 400mm/min.
The new drivers are stable at 1500mm/min, the maximum speed I can configure in the version of Mach3 I am using. I would like to try faster if only to find the 'ceiling'.

My question 'is Mach3 limited to 1500mm/min or is it the demo version I am using?'

7574

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

« on: May 11, 2013, 12:27:42 AM »

Hi there,
new to the forum and cnc. In construction phase of first cnc mill, a baby one, 220x220x150 (mm) with quality second hand linear ways, zerobacklash
ground ballscrews, 5 phase steppers fitted with <3 arc min backlash planetaires. Resolution 1um ( < 0.5um backlash) at full step. Finer resolution
dubious given the backlash of the planetaires, budget did not extend to harmonic drives.
My initial application is PCB manufacture using EAGLE, it generates gcode, machined with MACH3.
Testing to date MACH (latest stable release, demo only) running one parallel port to MB02 BOB thru drivers to steppers. Bit of a learning curve to setup
but no major probs. Had some difficulty getting stable output pulses from my old PC. Was necessary to modify PC setups to allow pulser to run properly.
Using second hand KR-5M drivers, a bit wimpy and underdone but cheap. Mountains of torque at 300mm/min but crappy @ 500mm/min. Having opted
for 5 phase steppers the choice of drivers is limited with good second hand units costing as much and more for say Gecko's are new. Will have to make
do until mill operational. First PCB's likely to be own design driver boards! Published specs suggest 1000mm/min should be achievable with decent drivers
@100V.
My reading in the forum mainly centred around a dedicated computer to run MACH3. Interested in industrial types running WINDOWS EMBEDDED/ XPlite
or optimised install of XP.
I'm an electrical/electronics tech involved with repairing industrial welders/plasmas and the like. Other interests are competitive sailing, model aircraft
and glider flying (budget constrained), food and sex...lol, and not in that order!

7575

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't deal with XP and old computers any more. Help!

« on: May 10, 2013, 03:17:28 AM »

I like this thread,
I'm interested in 'industrial' computer and/or 'embedded' OS.
Can anyone tell me where I might find info to start some research?

Microsft say find a partner which I take to mean 'have someone else build your OS' and probably pay thru the nose for it!
Rather defeats the purpose of do-it-yourself CNC building.

Is there some list or similar which outlines those OS components that Mach3 requires and would it be feasible for me to construct my own
embedded OS, I'm reasonably geeky and as patient as a rock when it suits me.

7576

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: Advice request - Break out boards etc

« on: May 07, 2013, 05:25:18 AM »

I just bought a MB02 breakout board from Homman Designs in Australia and it works great.
Must recommend the leds on the outputs like the C11G, they make diagnosing setups a breeze.
My board doesn't have relays on the board and no optically isolated outputs. All inputs/outputs are
buffered however. This means if I use a separate 5V supply it must 'float' or risk damaging computer and or board.
It does  have jumpers to configure pullups/pulldowns and Vcom, handy. It has charge pump, hi and
lo enable signals all jumperable. Can configure (jumpers again) pins 2-9 as inputs if using as second LPT port.

7577

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: Needing help to get set up

« on: May 07, 2013, 04:39:24 AM »

Hi there, don't know what breakout board you are using but I just bought one from Austarlia and it has LEDs on each
cahnnel and you can see them blinking on and off as you offer instuctions from Mach3. Certainly made it easy to hook
up drives and confirm port/pin assignments.

7578

Third party software and hardware support forums. / purpose built computer

« on: May 07, 2013, 04:32:12 AM »

Hi there,
I am in the final stages of building my first CNC mill and am considering building a dedicated computer to run it.
My existing old (2004) XP home machine is getting so cranky I don't trust it to run a machine safely. To be fair
it has run all the testing problems I have presented it so far....

Can anyone make some suggestions or comments:
1) Is there a better OS than XP (like Windows Embedded) for Mach3?
2) Are there services/components that can or should be disabled to allow Mach3 best chance to run well?
3) Is there any advantage in multi core processors and similar high power gismos when running a dedicated macine?
4) My existing 1.5GHz machine runs well at 45kHz Mach3 kernel but gets dodgy above 60 kHz. Should I be concerned?

My mill is petty basic and requires one only LPT port but in the future would look to 2 or 3 ports or alternately a USB/motion
controller setup. Currently running 5 phase Vexta steppers with near zero backlash planetaries. With very modest drives
the rapids are fairly slow but plenty of torque.