Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / STEP / COPY A PATTERN

« on: December 06, 2016, 05:26:51 PM »

Hi All,

Tried to search for this solution, but nothing seemed to quite do what I wanted.

I have a 3 axis router table.

I regularly nest my parts into half a sheet and cut.
But sometimes Ill cut 2 sets on the one sheet, by moving to X1200, Zero X, and Run again.

Is there a way to program a "step" so my machine 0,0,0 is unchanged?

Another simple example would be to cut a small square part, then others next to it to make a pattern of, say, 10 X 10 squares on a sheet

Thanks in advance

Regards

Drew

2

General Mach Discussion / Motors Ocassionaly going wrong way when Jogging - Help ! (Part 2)

« on: May 13, 2015, 05:28:01 AM »

Hi All,

Part 2 - the continuing Saga

Problem.
When Jogging using the keys, just tapping back & forward on any axis, the motors 50% of the time, go the wrong way.
Which is particularly nasty when you have a slave on the X Axis

Brief History
I have a 3 Axis Router, with Slave on X (B Axis)
Running a ESS with breakout board
Licenced version of Mach 3
Been running mostly fine for about 2 years...... and then......
On the weekend I was doing a bit of 2D cutting, and by the end of the day, my X-Slave kept stopping to the extent that the machine is unusable

What Ive done so far
- New install of Mach 3 + ESS Driver
- Running just a basic machine ATM, no limit switches or spindle control
- Tried another computer (PC)
- Original computer will not acknowladge ESS any more (with new or older driver - Laptop)
- Tested with Parrallel Port BOB (on PC)
- Swapped Gecko's (Running 4x G203V)
- Tried new motors
- Slowed down Speed & Acceleration
- Sped up the Speed & Acceleration

When the motor start rotating, it growles like its doing allot of small steps while accelerating until it reaches speed

Am totally confused

HELP !!!


Thanks
Drew

3

General Mach Discussion / Slave Motor Ocassionaly going wrong way - Help !

« on: May 10, 2015, 08:05:01 AM »

Hey Guys,

Sorry about the length, but best you know what going on in full

I have a 3 Axis Router, with Slave on X (B Axis)
Running a ESS and breakout board
Licenced version of Mach 3
Mostly cutting 3mm thick plastic shapes (only cut, dont cut on the Z (Z-3 to Z15))
Been running fine for about 2 years...... and then......

History
Every now and then, when I first start the machine, and jog around to make sure everything is working.
If, before homing, if I put cordinates into the MDI window, the Salve would run the wrong way
But manual Jog no problem.
So home the system, and everything would be fine

Today
While cutting, the B Axis would stop.
Jog no problem, but sometimes I would have to turn off / on that axis Power Supply
Re Home, and progress with the cut (and recut the error later)
By the end of the day, it would bearly get 10 cuts, and stop
Thinking that there might be dust in the Linear Bearings, I cleaned, oiled and reinstalled.
Problem remained

The problem is progressively getting worse, and the motor makes a growling/grinding noise.
Now, just even going back & forth with the arrows, the motor does not allway rotate the right direction
Thinking it could be the controller, Ive swapped to use the Z axis controller on the Slave, but same problem
I changed out the motor, nope.

However, If in Mach3, I change the motor to Z (for example), back & forth no problem

Change the setting back to it being the Slave - problem.

I am totally confused
Help !

Thanks in advance

Drew

4

VB and the development of wizards / Auto Square Gantry

« on: January 02, 2015, 02:36:47 AM »

Hey Guys,

Been reading ALLOT of posts about Auto Squareing the Gantry, but have been unable to find a solution
(some of the older links don't work any more)

My X has a Slave (B)
At present, when you Ref All Home, it does what it should
Homes Z
Homes Y
Homes X & B till 1 hits switch (B in my case)
Homes X

Is there a way that after homing, M3 moves X or B the appropriate offset?

(To "move" the switches for accurate home/square is almost impossible on my set-up)

At present, I switch-off the axis (each axis on own power supply), and moved the pre-determined distance, and then try to remember to switch the power back on
But means, I have to do this manual process each time I home

Help !


Thanks

Drew

5

General Mach Discussion / RUN FROM HERE PROBLEMS (Router Table)

« on: June 16, 2014, 10:20:43 PM »

Hi Guy's

I have a 3 Axis CNC router table, and at the moment, I'm mostly doing 2D cutting of timber or plastic sheet.

If I've had to hit ESC / Emergency Stop, I continually have problems re-starting using "Run From Here"
After Homeing/Zeroing, change tool (height usually Z100) etc.

I select the line I wish to restart
Press "Run From Here"
Get the message-box "Preparing to move to X? Y??? Z20 (I always start on a line where the head is above the workpiece)
Hit OK

Then the machine drops down to last cutting depth (say Z-6), and then tries to Rapid across the table, usually breaking another tool in the process !
All this without starting the Spinle, despite selecting the "Start Spindle" check box.

What I'd like/expect it to do is
Start Spindle
Rapid to where is said it was going to go (X? Y??? Z20)
And continue cutting

Help / Advice Please !


Drew

6

General Mach Discussion / Homann DigiSpeed DC-03 Setup Problem

« on: December 07, 2013, 01:09:43 AM »

Hi All,

I am running Mach3 via an Ethernet Smooth Stepper, and am still dong improvements on my 3 Axis router table.

I recently purchased a 2.2kW spindle & inverter.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/261203446783?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

And then got a DigiSpeed DC-03 from Homann Designs
http://www.homanndesigns.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=21
but who's manual seems to have been written by a Chinese gentleman who has not quite got the hang of Ingrish with many contridictions etc
http://www.homanndesigns.com/pdfs/DigiSpeed_GX_User030.pdf

The system as been connected as per one Homann helpful guides
http://www.homanndesigns.com/pdfs/EN012_V1.pdf
Except that I am running off Port 2 of the ESS

Now, I have gotten the forward / reverse working fine after searching here (thanks guys !)
(The Inverter only required Forward or Revese selected - no enable)

However, I can not get Mach3 to set the speed
When the direction is selected (M3 or M4), it ramps up to maximum Frequency
But, I can use the "trimpot" on the DC-03 to control the maximum speed

Ports & Pins for the Spindle are set to "Tick / 17 / 1 / Tick / Cross / 2 / 2

Spindle Setup / Motor Control is set to:-
Use Spindle Motor Output
PWM Control
PWMBase Ferq. 50

Help !!

Thanks in advance
Drew

7

General Mach Discussion / Auto Squaring Gantry

« on: November 12, 2013, 10:13:31 PM »

Hi All,

I'm a bit confused....

I have a 3 Axis Router table, with a Slave on the X Axis (2 drives on ball-screws), controlled through an Ethernet Smooth Stepper & BOB
At present, I only have 1 home switch on the X Axis, but am trying to upgrade to 2, so I can auto-square the gantry.

I have found several threads here, but have not worked out how to "start" getting Mach3 to home & correct the slave axis.

I’ve obviously missed a step somewhere

Thanks in advance

Drew

8

General Mach Discussion / Motor Stall

« on: August 02, 2013, 10:19:31 PM »

Hey Guy's
Ive had my Router table running for a while, no problems.
Today, I went to start a project for a friend, and the motors start stalling.
This is really noticable on Rapid, but also on general cutting runs.

This is new....It was working nicely.

Tried swapping Gecko drive, checking grounding, checking wires, still does it.
At present, both Y & Z have had there belt drives removed (X Direct drive, and more difficult to work with), and they Stall still

Help !!!


Drew

9

General Mach Discussion / Ref All Home does not work

« on: July 20, 2013, 06:57:05 AM »

Hi All,

I have recently got my DIY Router working, and have been gradually adding extra features to the machine.
The machine has already done a few jobs, and seems to be working well.

Currenltly running a trial version of Mach3 R3.043.066, but have hit a snag.

I have set up X, Y, Z home switch (in series, NC, set on Port 1, Pin 10).
On the Diag page, the M1, M2 & M3 Home "LEDs" light up when you press any limit switch (used the Auto Setup feature)
My X axis has a slave "B" axis, so I have also checked the "Home Slave with Master Axis" under General Config (only 1 limit switch on the X).

However, then I click the "Ref All Home" button, nothing happens, except that the DRO's reset.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance

Drew