Topics

21

General Mach Discussion / Mach3 OD Taper wizard

« on: June 10, 2014, 09:18:07 AM »

The OD taper wizard seems to assume that the taper is always on the end - e.g. it overshoots on the center.

I am trying to make this shape (see pic) any ideas?

22

General Mach Discussion / Ignoring feed bug or me got it wrong?

« on: June 02, 2014, 04:23:26 PM »

Using latest version 3.043.066.

I am in Metric mode and feed is set to mm/min, CSS.

When I start a program the feed g-code command is ignored, and if I go to the manual screen the feed commands commands are ignored.

e.g. if the feed is set to 6.0 (default on startup) on the manual screen and I type F75.0, nothing changes. It's not the keyboard because if I type S800 then the screen setting changes to 800. Everything else works.

So after a bit of messing around I found that if I set the feed to anything below 1 then it suddenly springs to life and then I can set the feed to 75.

So:
F0.50
F75.0

works!

The same in g-code programs - if at the top I put F0.50 then the code then reads the feed commands, if i don't it ignores them.

A I doing something wrong or is it a known bug?

thanks

  
 

23

General Mach Discussion / EMI Filter wiring recommendations please (for VFD)

« on: May 30, 2014, 07:29:19 AM »

Hi just got a couple of EMI filters from www.soigeneris.com - nice quality.

However looking at them they have 3 inputs (Live, Neutral and Earth) but only a Live and Neutral output.

Any ideas what is the best way to wire the Earth? I have googled and it is suggested that the output should be looped from the input and then others where you should do this but put ferrite rings in the Earth.

e.g.
http://vk3kid.org/?page_id=1725

Any help appreciated.

thanks

24

General Mach Discussion / Softlimits warning... read other posts still stuck.

« on: May 28, 2014, 06:40:48 AM »

Hi, I have a soft limits warning on every single program I run. The program does run fine though.

Background: The lathe Z axis homes to the right of the machine and the X axis homes to the front of the machine on limit/homing switches.

X travel from front (home) to back is 185mm.
Z travel from right (home) to left (spindle) is 444mm.

I have included a screenshot of the homing limits and also the warning screen I get. I have read other Soft limits warning threads but can't see the problem.

Simple G-code:
G18 G21 G64 G80 G90 G40 G49 G94
M6 T0404
M0 ( TOOL 04 )
S750
F25
M3
G4 P0.1
M8
G4 P5
( Start Spring cut 01 )
G0 Z-23.14
G0 X10.5
G1 X5.8
G0 X10.5
( End Spring cut 01 )
( Start Spring cut 02 )
G0 Z-25.64
G1 X5.7
G1 Z-23.14
G1 Z-23.4 X6.0
G0 X10.5
( End Spring cut 02 )
( Part Off )
G0 Z-28.14
G1 X0.0
G0 Z50
G0 X50
M5
M9
M30

Any help appreciated

25

SmoothStepper USB / ESS starting spindle kills my USB mouse and keyboard

« on: May 20, 2014, 12:42:59 PM »

Right a bit of background - got a perfectly well working lathe with a Uniport V3 and v3 spindle card. I have been using it with a UC100 and all is well except a bit of back lash on the x axis. The Mach3 backlash does not seem to work once I have homed the machine   I also had the machine running directly from the parallel port with no problems - just a lower speed.

So looking at it all i had to do was swap over the UC100 and connect up the ESS (obviously adding the ethernet and a 5v supply) -

All went well and the z axis is - great, x axis - great, suds pump - great, then spindle - NOTHING. so went into the config and set the spindle t0 step/dir mode in 5 us mode (same as mach3). Then tried the spindle again - YAY it works, however when the spindle starts the mouse and keyboard lock up. This sort of makes using it in my mach 3 a bit useless. I have to hit an estop then wait 15 - 30 seconds to get the mouse and keyboard back.

WinXP sp3 dual core 2gig ram. Latest version of mach3 from the main site and version ESS_v10h2d1a of the ess plugin.

I have tried all sorts of settings.

Help please...........  

thanks
Rim

PS just double checked and it physically knocks out the USB - e.g the lights go out on the mouse and keyboard.
  

26

General Mach Discussion / Another lathe tooltable thread - boring and drilling tools

« on: May 19, 2014, 02:39:22 PM »

OK guys/gals, found Hood's great video and can set the tool table up with external facing, threading tools - GREAT  

However struggling to set up boring and drilling tools.

Anyone got any solid tips?

thanks
Rim

27

General Mach Discussion / Mach3 steppers stop on G76 - but not all the time

« on: April 08, 2014, 12:03:26 PM »

Got a part I'm making that is basically a large grub/set screw with a m0.75 thread  - it is a 3 part process:

1) Shape part and put thread on (program 1)

2) Manually broach internal hex

3) Part off (program 2)

This process works fine, but randomly the steppers stop at the G76 line. However the Z index still shows the axis moving in Mach3.

Anyone got any ideas?

28

General Mach Discussion / MAP DRO button to keyboard?

« on: March 24, 2014, 11:57:55 AM »

Hi Guys, trying to map a DRO button (lathe) to a keyboard key.

Is this possible?

thanks
Rim

29

General Mach Discussion / Mach3 turn diagnostics problem

« on: March 12, 2014, 08:17:40 AM »

Hi guys I can't seem to get it to run. I enabled it in config plugins and restarted mach3. The I go to Plugin Control->turn diagnostics and... nothing.

Any ideas what I am doing wrong?

thanks
Rim

30

General Mach Discussion / Mach3 running multiple tap files?

« on: March 11, 2014, 03:36:13 PM »

I have a part and I need to start one program (tap) then do a manual broach and then finish the part with another program (tap).

At present to change the tap file I close the auto screen and then go back to it. How can i load another tap without going off the auto screen?

thanks
Rim