Messages

11

General Mach Discussion / Re: Real 4th axis software for tilting spindle? Not trunnion table way...

« on: November 30, 2017, 12:32:53 PM »

many thanks Tweakie, will check it out with interest.

Frank

12

General Mach Discussion / Real 4th axis software for tilting spindle? Not trunnion table way...

« on: November 28, 2017, 12:41:57 PM »

Hi,
I built a 3 axis milling machine 2 years ago with also has a rotary (A) axis, for milling polystyrene and polyurethane foam, it works fine. I use DESKPROTO to generate the g-codes, and of course Mach (3) to control my machine. Some of my work at www.franknorton.com.
Now I want to build a milling machine for marble and other stones. I´d like it to have a real fourth axis; that is, I´d like the spindle to actually tilt, and so get to under cuts on the material I´m milling.
A full 5 axis machine seems to be too complex mechanically....eventually I´d like to, but I want to be more realistic with my next build.
The spindle could tilt either parallel to the X or the Y axis, it doesn’t concern me at this stage.
DESKPROTO can´t generate g-codes for this kind of machine; it can for 5 axis index machine, where you tilt your work piece on a rotary trunnion table.
This is complicated while milling big pieces, a more straightforward approach seems to me to be for the spindle to do the tilting, so as to get to those hidden undercuts.
But I need a software package to generate my g-codes.
Any ideas? I don’t mind paying a reasonable amount of money.
Thanks!
Frank Norton.

13

General Mach Discussion / Re: MACH3 for combined hot-wire foam cutting and A axis milling?

« on: June 08, 2017, 09:34:40 AM »

Understood, thanks Pete! I will be recommending your machine here in Spain. Rgrds, Frank

14

General Mach Discussion / Re: MACH3 for combined hot-wire foam cutting and A axis milling?

« on: June 07, 2017, 03:53:34 AM »

thanks guys! I really like your machine!
I tried what you suggest in Deskproto, but it didn’t work ; -((
I ended up using a Contour Only routine, this worked fine, thanks to an idea from TP (BR549).
I have tried INKSCAPE for generating g codes for HotWire cutting, but have achieved poor results. The piece is usually cut in half, as Ink doesn’t allow me to choose where I want the cutting to start. It usually chooses a node on the vector far away from origin X0Y0, so cuts the piece in half just to get there before starting ; - ((. Of course, it doesnt "know" its cutting, cause it "thinks>" its a milling routine with a Z axis.  Any ideas??
Is there a preferred setting in Ink that works good for Hotwire cutting ? I use it for a plotter, and it works fine, but the plotter has a Z axis and it goes down to starting drawing anywhere on the line.
Thanks in advance and congrats with your machine!
Frank.

15

General Mach Discussion / Re: When I Hold Feed then Start Cycle, A axis abruptly turns;-(

« on: February 22, 2016, 09:04:29 AM »

Thanks guys for your input on this issue. Something has comne up, and I have to leave aside looking for a solution, but hope to soon get back to it.
Step 1 will be installing the older MACH  version, and then tests, and if that fails, I will contact SUCARMO.

Regards, and thanks,

Frank

16

General Mach Discussion / Re: When I Hold Feed then Start Cycle, A axis abruptly turns;-(

« on: February 18, 2016, 07:27:59 AM »

Thanks Overoladed,

My MACH is licenced, so that rules out the Rev Run anomaly?

I will try the earlier version to see if the Feed Hold then Cycle Start issue resolves itself.

F

17

General Mach Discussion / Re: When I Hold Feed then Start Cycle, A axis abruptly turns;-(

« on: February 18, 2016, 03:50:18 AM »

Sorry, busy day yesterday ;- (

My MACH 3 version is R3.043.066.

And the controller uses a USB Interface plugin by CNC Robotica, see http://www.machsupport.com/software/plugins/

BTW, Ive discovered another strange behaviour in MACH3, this time  when using the Reverse Run. Conditions are similar; if I click on Feed Hold, the on Reverse Run (thats the order, right?), so as to go back over the area just milled,  sometimes it works, but sometimes my Yaxis goes wandering off to an area not indicated in the g-codes, other times it happens with the Z axis. Very frustrating. Thankfully, Im milling foam, so no tools broken, no danger, but lots of frustration.

Any ideas?
Thanks,

Frank Norton.
www.franknorton.com
https://www.facebook.com/Cosas3D/

18

General Mach Discussion / Re: When I Hold Feed then Start Cycle, A axis abruptly turns;-(

« on: February 16, 2016, 01:28:00 PM »

Its a USB port Im using, so I suppose...Motion Controller?

As for the version of MACH3, I will chk tomorrow, Im not at the workshop now.

Thanks!!!

frank

19

General Mach Discussion / When I Hold Feed then Start Cycle, A axis abruptly turns;-(

« on: February 16, 2016, 08:25:25 AM »

Hi all!
I´m at present doing 4 axis machining of polystyrene foam, using DESKPROTO  to generate g-codes, and an A axis to spin the part.
I´ve just noticed something strange and problematic in MACH3 when I need to pause in the middle of a routine.

I touch the FEED HOLD button  on the MACH screen, and within a few seconds (probably MACH needs time to reference where it is to ready itself for starting again)…MACH  pauses, as if on Hold. Fine up to here.

But when I wish to re-commence, and I click on the Cycle Start button on the MACH screen, the A axis mysteriously and abruptly spins to Machine Zero, no matter what angle the routine has been working at, and milling commences.

Attached a Screen Shot: you can see the a axis is now at 1.9125º, bt it should be at 0º. (which it this case is actually 0º at Machine Coordinates)
And if it had been working at say 270º, as happened some days ago, it still spins abruptly to Machine Zero for that (A) axis.

Am I doing something wrong here??

Thanks!!

If its not obvious, I´m pretty much of a new-comer

20

General Mach Discussion / Re: MACH3 for combined hot-wire foam cutting and A axis milling?

« on: April 27, 2015, 01:43:23 PM »

sorrrry, for some reason I cant load the stl file...

Ive sent it to your email address ; )