Messages

1061

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: October 01, 2016, 11:41:53 AM »

Re the script compile errors, there are a good few posts on the 'net about it, no solid answers though

Various versions of Mach affected, the only common response is to delete the macros folder and let Mach create a new one then copy back your custom macros, tools and offsets.

Not great and no answer as to what causes it.

1062

General Mach Discussion / Re: speed setting with setup string

« on: October 01, 2016, 11:36:56 AM »

It might but i don't know if the S word is recognised in the init string.

Another way....

Create a Macro in your profile/macros folder, lets call it M1901.m1s

In it put SetSpinSpeed(1000) and a return (enter)

then in the init string add a space and then M1901

Try that, might do it.

1063

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: October 01, 2016, 09:54:14 AM »

Todays lesson...
When CAM'ing a part, don't program the spot-drill to go from stock top to -2mm from stock bottom when you really wanted -2mm from stock top ouch!

Todays question...

I had the Scripter compile error in M3.m1s again, so the machine starts up and as it had a drill bit mounted and i was already over the hole location it happily pile-drived the stationary bit into the work:(

There seems no trigger for this error, its random, there is no error in M3, it was half way through a 6 tool job, it's always bad news and the only fix is to restart Mach3, re-home and carry on. Sometimes you can hit the E-stop in time but if its close to the part location then it usually just piles in.

Is there a setting or a way to get Mach3 to abort motion if there is a script error or indeed ANY error? It seems stupid putting the message on screen and just continuing???

1064

General Mach Discussion / Re: Backlash...

« on: September 30, 2016, 01:49:06 PM »

Yep, all noted, thanks.

I'm not chasing sub-microns here, at the end of the day she's an old Bridgeport with the stability of a wet lettuce leaf;)

I did not spend the most on mega-quality ball-screws - it just did not seem worth it as the ones i got were pretty costy and better C rating ones just went astronomic!

The thrust bearings are most definitely crap, I fully admit that and they will be pulled as soon as I have the cash for the ground and matched angular contact ones - the ones in it are just regular radial groove ones, I was pretty surprised how good it actually works and was expecting a lot worse TBH.

The belts could maybe be tighter as that would be another source of lost motion, not sure how tight is too tight on a 20mm HTD belt ?

Overall I'm very impressed with it, but need to get the 3mm holes to a better size as these are a part i make regularly on the mini-mill which i hope to sell-on soon.

I will add 0.1mm BC and try another test this weekend just to see what happens

1065

General Mach Discussion / Re: Backlash...

« on: September 29, 2016, 05:07:55 PM »

They were cleaned and repacked when i assembled it all, the original bearings are face to face and extra torque on the nut makes no difference, the new crappy ones i got with the new end plate were just bog standard bearings so i made some shims to enable me to tighten the nut solid. they were quite firm but not tight.

I would not want to pull them apart unless i had the new ones to go in really.

I will put the dial indicator on the screw-ends and measure end float - that can only be attributed to bearings. i have a feeling it will be probably 90% of my backlash figure.

1066

General Mach Discussion / Re: Backlash...

« on: September 29, 2016, 04:40:05 PM »

Thanks,

no , i only used micro-jog to check the readings, i did check at 3 points on each axis though.

I'm not sure how much can be got rid of but i do know the thrust bearings need replacing, however the cost id holding that off for now.

On larger work, 0.1mm won't matter but on a 3mm milled hole its a big difference.

I'll read the linked thread.

1067

General Mach Discussion / Re: Backlash...

« on: September 29, 2016, 01:56:42 PM »

Ok, seems there is a reasonably stable backlash of 0.1mm in Y and 0.13mm in X

Not so bad i think but can we improve with the compensation?

Are those the figures that are entered into it?

Backlash speed set at default?

1068

General Mach Discussion / Re: Run a macro from a button press??

« on: September 29, 2016, 01:52:59 PM »

All sorted, and it works

Must have been an error last time, i've turned off the macropump as there was nothing else in the macro, trigger works nicely.

Thanks all for the assistance.

1069

General Mach Discussion / Re: Run a macro from a button press??

« on: September 29, 2016, 10:39:44 AM »

Thanks Gerry, Stirling,

Yes that was what i tried before but after adding the macro to the INIT line, mach would not start again, I had to revert to a backup to get going again then aborted trying to get this working that way, I will try again tonight.

Another oddity, after messing with editing the macropump macro, Mach seems to get a bit pissed and does odd things like starting up code with no M3 so no spindle, MDI and M3 and you get the script compiler error message, restart Mach and its happy again. Done this a few times now - is it a bad idea to edit the macro pump file while Mach is running?

1070

General Mach Discussion / Re: Run a macro from a button press??

« on: September 29, 2016, 09:39:32 AM »

Is the thing with adding a macro to the INIT line, the macro has SetTriggerMacro(*********x) in it etc?

I did try that once before but it hung Mach so i thought it best not to pursue it