Messages

721

CS-Lab / Re: Cslabs ips epid error on tool change

« on: February 23, 2017, 02:45:23 PM »

Interesting, thanks, i think i'm on 062

722

General Mach Discussion / Re: SSR relay wont power down

« on: February 23, 2017, 01:58:01 PM »

Sounds like you might need a pulldown resistor to ensure the output from the board goes below the threshold voltage of the SSR.

I'm not sure of values here but a 1k resistor between the SSR input and 0v would not do any harm, can't guarantee it will work though

723

General Mach Discussion / Re: SSR relay wont power down

« on: February 23, 2017, 10:40:36 AM »

If you disconnect the input, the pump stays running??


If yes then the SSR is blown - permanently on is a favourite failure mode for SSR's.

724

CS-Lab / Re: Cslabs ips epid error on tool change

« on: February 23, 2017, 10:17:13 AM »

I have a Bridgeport conversion, same screen-set and cmsmio-ip/a and servo's - I had the exact same issue, never could fix it.

It seems it does not like move instructions in the M6 macro's - i removed mine and the mill just stops where it is, I jog to do a manual tool change then press start and it works ok.

I really have no idea what goes on here but fail to see how to fix it with an ATC in there. there must be a reason for it.

My stepper/UC100 driven mill worked ok so it must be the csmio units somehow.

725

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 safety switch wiring

« on: February 23, 2017, 07:17:57 AM »

Apologies, BOB = Break Out Board = the board that connects your inputs / outputs to your PC

726

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to use Z soft limit with the Tool Length offset?

« on: February 23, 2017, 04:54:48 AM »

No,

once set you should never need to change the soft limits unless you physically move your hard limit switches.

Yes, if you fit a longer tool after a shorter tool, it WILL crash IF you tell it to go too low - this is life in the world of CNC - YOU are in command of the code that tells the machine what to do.

IF that code is written properly AND your machine is setup correctly for the job in hand, the tool will NOT crash the table

You need to know exactly what your code is going to do with whatever tool is fitted BEFORE pressing the start button or things will get expensive very quickly - we have all been there, i busted probably £100 worth of end mills in my first week after i built my milling machine, now it rarely happens, just chalk it up to learning.

There are very few safety nets in CNC - the machines are dumb servants and merely follow your command - you must be in control.

Having said that, it's a blast when it all works - what a ride

727

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to use Z soft limit with the Tool Length offset?

« on: February 23, 2017, 02:16:06 AM »

Forget the tool length and offsets.

turn off soft limits

Set your physical hard limits first and make sure they work.

then if using combined limits and home switches you can now ref the machine.

next, jog to say 3mm away from the axis lower limit, the machine DRO reading is your axis soft limit so enter that into soft limits for that axis, then jog to the other end say 3mm away from the limit switch and get the machine DRO reading again, enter that into your soft limit table.

save the soft limits data

now turn on soft limits and you should be able to jog from one end to the other without hitting a limit switch at full rapid jog speed, you may need to fine tune the settings a little.

thats all thats needed.

tool length offsets affect the work origins NOT the machine origin so have no effect on soft limits at all.

728

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 safety switch wiring

« on: February 23, 2017, 02:10:35 AM »

Does your BOB work that way or does it need say one pin to 5v and the other to the input - pull up or pull down

729

General Mach Discussion / Re: UC300 (USB) to Mach3 erratic connection losses

« on: February 22, 2017, 02:16:45 AM »

Does sound like a laptop issue, I have read many issues with laptops and CNC. I would get a cheap XP pc off eBay myself and dedicate it to cnc.

730

General Mach Discussion / Re: A dumb question

« on: February 20, 2017, 07:41:06 AM »

Always best to test it - just run a program cutting in air with no tool fitted and press the buttons.