Messages

41

General Mach Discussion / Re: Ideas for a jig to do Set Steps Per Axis?

« on: September 17, 2013, 11:51:13 AM »

Thanks alenz I'll give that a shot.

42

General Mach Discussion / Re: Ideas for a jig to do Set Steps Per Axis?

« on: September 17, 2013, 01:48:25 AM »

I have somewhat but have you ever searched this site for "missing steps"?

43

General Mach Discussion / Re: Ideas for a jig to do Set Steps Per Axis?

« on: September 17, 2013, 12:55:21 AM »

Sounds good but as a newbie what do I do to figure out what is causing the missing steps?

44

General Mach Discussion / Ideas for a jig to do Set Steps Per Axis?

« on: September 17, 2013, 12:36:30 AM »

I find my X axis gets off ever so slightly when doing large cuts and I try changing cutters so I want to do a long distance auto setup of the X axis using the "Set Steps Per Axis" button on the Settings screen but I'm having trouble figuring out a good way to do this. I did it when I first got my machine but with only 6" or so. My machine is 11' long so I have a lot of distance I can play with. Does anyone have pictures or even a good explanation of what they used for a jig etc to accomplish this?

45

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 vs NC-studio

« on: July 16, 2013, 12:26:12 AM »

I went from NCStudio to Mach3 using a CENTIPEDE breakout board. Between the board, controller for my computer and the cable it was about $600 but the one on one tech support Sergy at KSI Labs gave me getting everything up and working it was absolutely worth it since the Chinese seller was no help after I received it.  www.ksilabs.com he even looked up my VFD and helped me reprogram it to give me CW & CCW as well as speeds from around 600 rpm up to 24000. Best money I spent.

46

General Mach Discussion / Re: I could really use some help with motor tuning...I think

« on: May 28, 2013, 05:29:26 PM »

That's what I thought, thank you

47

General Mach Discussion / Re: I could really use some help with motor tuning...I think

« on: May 28, 2013, 05:24:19 PM »

Thanks Hood. Before I get too much further into pulling things apart, could being too slow on that axis cause it to hang up? THat's what the sales guy in China that didn't understand anything about Mach3 when I needed specs is saying now that I'm saying there is an issue with their setup.

48

General Mach Discussion / Re: I could really use some help with motor tuning...I think

« on: May 28, 2013, 01:06:49 AM »

Here are a couple pictures with the spindle removed. Even with the spindle out it still binds as it moves up and down.

49

General Mach Discussion / Re: I could really use some help with motor tuning...I think

« on: May 28, 2013, 01:01:46 AM »

Well I wish I had noticed that setup menu before, would have saved me a lot of time Now I have got the X & Y tunes really nicely but I found my real problem; the Z axis binds as it moves up and down. My computer is about 10' away from the spindle so I didn't notice it til I was manually jogging the spindle up after it buried itself in the project yet again. As I was watching I could see it stuttering as it moved up and when I ran it back down it stuttered again.

So Now I get to pull the whole danged Z assembly apart and try and figure it out.

What is the best way to measure the two round bars it moves up and down on to see what needs to be adjusted?

50

General Mach Discussion / Re: I could really use some help with motor tuning...I think

« on: May 27, 2013, 05:43:25 PM »

oK, Maybe this is a stupid question but if I have metric steps from the CNC sales person and I have mm selected under "Select Native Units" when I run the step calibration and it asks for the distance to travel is it asking for mm?