Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / E stop and limit issues and not on new setup

« on: July 23, 2018, 05:07:39 AM »

OK, so this is not a new topic I know, but my situation is a little different I think.
My own assumption at this point, is my switch is no longer usable.

So my machine is not a home build or new, it has done over 2200 spindle hours, so this is not me struggling to get settings correct. I stay away from any settings and never play with it.
Everything has been going fine until yesterday, when I came out to the garage to see the machine had stopped near the end of the job. Rather than change the code to suit the milled material already, I just re-ran the program and walked off.
I came out later to find it had stopped again at what appeared to be the same spot. I changed the tool paths to suit material removed and I altered the path itself so the offending line of code was gone and worked OK.
( This was cutting soft jaws by the way)   So next to that I ran another cut into those soft jaws which milled ok.

This morning I put some stock into that original cut, found G54 and hit start. About 40 mins into the job it stopped and had the ''external e stop requested '' flashing. Not sure what it had the night before, as I didn't take note.
I re-ran the program and same result. I did it again and it seemed to work and when it went to cut I saw straight away it was coming down offline. Turns out the Y axis had moved approx 4mm or so.
Found G54 again, but this time while rechecking the X axis , ''e stop requested '' several times.
I went through this all again, same results and Y axis off again.
Then I get a message saying something like ''requested home switch is active please fix then home'' .   In the diagnostic page Y axis is lit up, then starts flashing

Fast forward half a day, I cleaned the whole machine, all the switches and still have the issues.
I tried changing the pin on the Y axis , which removes the light , but does not see the switch, which is about what I expected. The switch has a little ball on top which is not stuck and moves in and out freely when pushed.
Nothing is obstructing the switch and the cover is now removed .
If I get the Y axis away from the switch then put it back on pin 11 again and push home, then it moves 10mm or so and triggers and then stays active.
Attached is the XML file .

X homes ok and since the issue finding G54 when it triggered, it has been fine.
Z homes fine.
X and Z can be jogged anywhere without issue as well.

Y now triggers every single time I try.

SO, any ideas?

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Centroid probe for mach3

« on: October 19, 2017, 05:10:41 AM »

$2.50         No, I have never used a probe
My level is somewhere between beginner and almost beginner  .
I have made some watch buckles, machined some trial watch cases from Aluminium with just flipping over using a ''stop'' of sorts, that was close enough to prove the tooling and tool paths etc, but not something that would be considered ''done''
I have enough stock in Aluminium for 15 more trial pcs and enough 316 stainless for the same. By that point I want to have the final tool paths, tools to use and setup on the machine.
Youtube has been a big help, taught me most things and forums also.

I will spend the evening as you suggest Youtube!

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Centroid probe for mach3

« on: October 19, 2017, 05:03:31 AM »

OK, I get your point.

I will look at Mach 4 now and the probe or something like it, that was in the link you posted. I would rather pay a few dollars then mess about.
But it is still way cheaper than what I had in mind! So I will look at that as the plan right now.

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Centroid probe for mach3

« on: October 19, 2017, 04:51:27 AM »

That is not my work, they are done in Germany for me.
It has come to a point though, that either I do it, or the business will not work due to the very high costs.
I will still buy Swiss movements and hands, but will  make the dials myself , the bezel, case and case back are the main things I need to make to bring down costs.

I will look at Mach4, but I have to admit, I am scared to touch the current setup, if its not broke, dont mess with it kind of thing.
I am happy to pay the money IF it will do what I want and no playing around, thats why I was keen on that Probe in the OP.
A Renishaw probe is not working with Mach3 and I simply cant afford it. I will take a look at Mach4 however

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Centroid probe for mach3

« on: October 19, 2017, 04:26:47 AM »

OK, so ignore the case back and movement on the picture.
This is the back facing up, where my first operations are being done. So I end up with that 24mm space between the lugs which is square .
The outside profile is not, as there are angles there.

When I flip it over to this point , and ignore the dial and bezel (dont have a center case pic)


Then I was planning for the probe to just pick up on the outside lug edge  (lug is the extended part that form where the strap will fit, for those reading who may not know) 
This way, I dont need to worry about the slight angle, as the probe will work that out and I only have to flip it over and probe a few locations.
If I went cheap as can be, that will not take into account those angles.
Maybe I could pick up the inside lug part that way, but I still need to go over on its side to the 4th axis and pick it up there.
Would like to do this the easiest way I can and the fastest.

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: Centroid probe for mach3

« on: October 19, 2017, 03:27:47 AM »

I get that, but not sure its what I need.
What I am trying to do , is machine a watch case. You will have to use imagination here for a bit.

I have been successful , and it is held from raw stock in the vice. I face the stock and then machine out the pocket where the crystal sits above the dial.

This I flip over onto an expansion clamp and mill out the center steps. Its all still round stock, so orientation does not matter at this point.
I machine the o-ring groves then the underneath profile of the lugs. (roughing then finish) and the sides are partly roughed out due to the crown (winding part) protectors, and partly finished .
The sides are no use to me to flip over and use as a reference, as they have angles to them.

I mill out between the lugs where the strap will attach,  but there is a 0.3mm radius in there, which I am rethinking on the approach to that. If I finish that off while its in this position, I can use some type of block that is the machined to fit and then attached to the base plate , but it has to be perfect. Then the part needs to go to another clamp on the 4th axis and once again, needs to be perfect.
So this is why I wanted a probe that can not only find the location, but angles too and if I am off a touch , it should not matter, as the probe will pick it up.

Or so that is the way I understand it

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: Centroid probe for mach3

« on: October 19, 2017, 02:03:13 AM »

I have a day job as well, so making one would interfere (not going to get it right first time and some parts need to buy etc) so I am happy to buy one. The one you list is cheap enough, if it worked well.
And if I am not mistaken, its in the same country as me, for once.
The reason I posted the one I did, is because it said it works with Mach3 and if it was plug and play, my life would be made just that bit easier , and that is worth the money

8

General Mach Discussion / Centroid probe for mach3

« on: October 18, 2017, 08:51:00 PM »

I was looking to make a solution for part location on my mill, and have in the past read that probing systems do not work with Mach3 , or at least it is all a bit tricky.
Came across this http://www.centroidcnc.com/cnc_touch_probe.html    and they claim it works with Mach. So, does anyone have any experience using this on a mill running Mach3?   if so, thoughts, pros/cons?

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to set tool height with face mill on auto tool setter

« on: September 06, 2017, 12:18:47 AM »

Thanks, I will try that out today.

10

General Mach Discussion / How to set tool height with face mill on auto tool setter

« on: September 05, 2017, 10:42:18 PM »

I asked this question on Google without much success, so thought one of you will surely know on here.
I have a tool height setter on my machine, which I use every time.  I have just bought a 100mm diameter face mill to speed up some operations, but now that I have taken it out of the box, I realize that it will not set the height of the tool as I normally use it, because the center of the tool is not the bottom.
So in order to measure of the cutters, how would I do that?

This will be the first tool of 4, so if I manually set this tool off the part, I am concerned the following tool will be slightly out coming of the tool setter and then again maybe not, but I would prefer to use it, as I have it.

Anyone?