Messages

1521

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: July 16, 2016, 11:01:33 AM »

Z axis coming along nicely - finally got the parts machined on the mini-mill

Last step will be the link from the Z-nut to the quill.

My first thought was to machine up a lump of steel that will fit round the nut, then weld it to the original BP part - this would make building it simpler as i can fit it up on the mill clamp the tow together and then remove to make the weld.

Maybe plasma-cut the part from 10 or 12mm plate.

Sound like a plan ?

1522

General Mach Discussion / Re: Y axis movement opposite.

« on: July 16, 2016, 03:31:17 AM »

Yes,

if you think about it, the movement result is identical - the TOOL moves to the same position on the bed mill and the gantry mill, it's our brain that messes things up - with both mills at X0 & Y0, an instruction to go Y100 will send the bed mill table towards you and the gantry will move away from you but both tools will be at Y100



The only way i find to use both machines is to always look at the tool and think where i want it to go, ignore the bed or gantry as one will go the opposite way

1523

General Mach Discussion / Re: Y axis movement opposite.

« on: July 15, 2016, 02:32:55 PM »

Hi Ger21,

Thanks for the fast reply.

X is move from left to right +
Y is ( moveable plate ) down to up +  but the keyboard arrow down key pressed, the plate movement is up.

I using Aspire 4.5, origin i use center. i only assign the space bar as E-stop.

This sounds like the same trap i recent;y fell into

On a moveable bed mill, pressing down arrow, bed should move away from you, press left and bed should move right.

I thought it was backwards too as i was used to a moving gantry mill not moving bed.

You have to think only of the cutting tool - to move ++ or right, the bed has to move to the left etc.

Think only of the tool not the bed

1524

General Mach Discussion / Re: PWM Settings for Router (Router Starts after Exiting Mach3)

« on: July 14, 2016, 02:34:00 PM »

Definitely it’s not safe after I stop the router with an M5 command and exit Mach (now I’m on the Windows desktop) to have the router starting on its own

That sounds like it is using the wrong contacts on the control relay - normally closed and using Mach to pull them open instead of normally open and using the system to pull them closed. This would cause the router to start up if mach is not running to hold the relay open.

It's wired backwards

1525

General Mach Discussion / Re: PWM Settings for Router (Router Starts after Exiting Mach3)

« on: July 14, 2016, 10:40:21 AM »

Yes my Estop also stopped the router but this is not right. Mach3 controls the cnc and when Mach3 is not loaded nothing should run on the cnc.

I think you are wrong here personally - if mach is not loaded it should not be possible to engage the safety system so that the tool rotates - very unsafe.

Also, on a pc, if Mach is not loaded and controlling the LPT port, anything can happen at any time, its a dangerous situation having machines hanging off an uncontrolled port on a pc - the safe setup would be to boot pc, load Mach3, power up the BOB, power up the controlled machine, take Mach3 out of reset into the run condition.

When a PC is booting, the ports get polled and that can do very odd (and dangerous) things, my plasma torch has been known to fire for a second if the system is not started correctly.

1526

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: July 14, 2016, 10:33:59 AM »

VFD control ?

I currently have my fwd and rev signals wired through two relays using the built-in VFD control supply to control itself.

Is this worth it or should I bin the relays and connect the VFD ground to the CSMIO control ground and go direct from CSMIO output to VFD input?

Its a little layer of isolation but also mechanical complexity if not needed.

1527

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: July 14, 2016, 02:14:55 AM »

Hi Jim, as you guessed its not quite the right place, I would ask a Mod to move your question to a new thread - you will get a better response that way.

I have seen your issue on one of my Mach installs but only after pressing the reset button to put Mach into reset, i did a new install and it seemed to help.

People will need to know your install - Mach version etc to offer help.

1528

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: July 12, 2016, 02:51:20 PM »

Nice, thanks for that.

When mounting the MPG module remotely, what sort of cable is used to extend the CANbus?
Is it a serial lead wired 1:1 etc or something exotic?

1529

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: July 12, 2016, 02:02:20 PM »

You could always fit a SSD if you're worried about hard disk life.

Coincidence - i was just looking into that !
Seems one of these should do it.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zheino-Solid-State-Desktop-Laptop/dp/B011KY4XFM/ref=sr_1_50?ie=UTF8&qid=1468332364&sr=8-50&keywords=sata+ssd

1530

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: July 12, 2016, 07:48:26 AM »

What does one do with the PC?

I had thought of stripping it and building into the moveable pendant type control panel but i have doubts about the life expectancy of the hard-disk?

I could possibly stand it in the bottom of the control cab, this means longer USB and video leads.

Any other ideas or go with one of these??