Messages

11

General Mach Discussion / Re: New person and CNC 3020 machine needs help!

« on: May 29, 2014, 08:15:21 PM »

I would start by downloading the manual from the Artsoft website and looking in there.  And watch the tutorials.  Well worth the time.

That being said, you use the Page Up and Page Down keys on your computer keyboard to jog the tool down to the surface.  Put a thin piece of paper on the wood. Slowly jog the tool down (while sliding the paper back and forth) until the paper stops moving.  Then click on the Zero Z button on the Mach main screen.  The cutting depth is set by the G-code. 

I set that Z Zero every time I start a new job regardless of what size stock I'm cutting.  It's a good habit to get in to.

Mach3 has so many features you will still be discovering them a couple years after you start using it.



B3030

12

General Mach Discussion / Re: Encoder Input configuration...what am I missing?

« on: May 15, 2014, 07:26:33 AM »

I haven't gotten to the parallel port cable check yet but I will.  All other functions work but it still could have a  break.

I was finally able to get the VEX encoder working by slaving it into the BOB.  I verified the pulses on the DIAGNOSTICS screen, and saw the Encoder Position DROs respond accordingly on the SETTINGS screen.  So Mach3 seems to work correct. The problem must lie in the BOB, wiring or Sherline encoders. 

I appreciate all of the replies and comments.  It's always good to have those outside opinions to challange your own assumtions when you're knee-deep in troubleshooting a problem.

B3030

13

General Mach Discussion / Re: Encoder Input configuration...what am I missing?

« on: May 14, 2014, 06:28:13 PM »

Hood,

See attached .xml

I will check the parallel port cable continuity.

B3030

14

General Mach Discussion / Re: Encoder Input configuration...what am I missing?

« on: May 14, 2014, 11:21:19 AM »

If you attach your xml I will have a look at that and see if there are problems with it.
Hood

I will do that.
In the meantime, can you verify that, with the encoders enabled and correct ports and pins set on the Ports and Pins/Encoder/MPG's page and valid signals to and through the PP, I should see the Encoder Position DROs on the SETTINGS page reflect the changes? And that no other set up is required?  I saw a thread about OEMDRO codes for encoders but am not sure if it was relevent.

B3030

15

General Mach Discussion / Re: Encoder Input configuration...what am I missing?

« on: May 14, 2014, 11:16:19 AM »

Using the printer port ?
Check the signal continuity through the cable to the PC for both channels.
One might not be making the trip.
Russ

 

Yes.  I will check that when I get home and report back.  I appreciate the suggestion.

B3030

16

General Mach Discussion / Re: Encoder Input configuration...what am I missing?

« on: May 14, 2014, 07:17:04 AM »

I thought about that too so I disconnected the Sherline encoder and connected a simple VEX quadrature encoder directly to the BOB and got the same results.  The two BOB Input channel LEDs do show the classic quadrature pattern I expected to see. 

B3030

17

General Mach Discussion / Re: Encoder Input configuration...what am I missing?

« on: May 13, 2014, 08:46:09 PM »

Overloaded,

Thanks for the reply.

I saw that in the manual but I believe that, unless I'm off a huge amount, would affect only the overall accuracy of the encoder readout.  Even if I have it wrong, it should still count up (or down) either too fast or too slow.  As it it now, the Encoder Position readout just flicks back and forth from .0001 to .0000.

Am I right in my understanding that the only settings that affect the encoder readout are on that Ports and Pins/Encoder/MPG's page?

B3030

18

General Mach Discussion / Encoder Input configuration...what am I missing?

« on: May 13, 2014, 07:01:19 PM »

I have a Sherline mill that I have converted to CNC using a CNC4PC C11 BOB and Mach3.  I sometimes use the mill manually so I've been able to mount the Sherline encoders between the steppers and the handwheels.  I provided +5V power as required, and connected the two quadrature encoder outputs to two of the C11 input pins.  I configured those two pins with pull-up resistors on the board.  I enabled the three encoders on the Ports and Pins/Encoder/MPG's page, and set the correct port and pins.  I have the counts/Unit set to 32 for now but will verify the correct setting.

When I turn the handwheels I see only .0001 movement back and forth on the Settings screen's Encoder Postion DROs.  The C11 BOB has LEDs on each input to indicate the condition.  The LEDs flicker on and off as I turn the encoder...as the should to indicate the pulse trains from the toothed wheel inside the encoder.

I then slaved in a set of cheap VEX robot encoders (to replace the Sherline encoders) and I get the same result on the Encoder Position DRO's.

Is there anything else to configure in Mach3 to get the Encoders working? 

I appreciate any advise.

B3030

19

General Mach Discussion / Re: mach 3 spindle rpm display

« on: February 08, 2014, 11:06:32 AM »

Terryset,

Did you ever get this worked out?
I also have the Digispeed DC-04 on a Sherline with the DRO and am having trouble getting RPM to display in Mach 3.

Homann support verified that only one pulse per rev is required for the Index input, and that the Index pulses are passed through the DC-04 even if the switch is set to manually control the spindle with the pot.  I covered all but one black segment on the standard Sherline disc with white tape.  Now I wonder if it should be all (non-reflective, flat) black with only one narrow (reflective) white segment. 

Your thoughts?

B3030

20

General Mach Discussion / Re: Cannot control 3040 spindle with M3/M5. Are my settings correct?

« on: January 16, 2014, 05:52:18 PM »

Tom,
I still haven't worked out how to get spindle speed control of this YOOCNC controller with Mach3.

I resorted to adding a Solid State Relay (SSR) inline between the power supply and spindle jack.  I control it with one of the un-used Output pins on a header below the Parallel port jack.  Let me know if you want more details about how I connected it.

B3030