Messages

91

SmoothStepper USB / Re: G4 Dwell Setting _Smoothstepper

« on: January 05, 2010, 04:43:13 PM »

Thanks Hood.

I was hoping it wasn't something that I had done wrong.

Now that it is confirmed I will ensure that my programs express G4 calls in seconds.

Regards

Chrisjh

92

SmoothStepper USB / G4 Dwell Setting _Smoothstepper

« on: January 01, 2010, 03:50:09 AM »

Hi all,

Can someone confirm what I suspect?

When using Smoothstepper (any Plugin Version) the G4 Dwell units of time in milliseconds is ignored regardless if the setting in Mach3 "General Config" is checked.  I have been forced to express everything in seconds in my lathe G codes, which is not a problem, but annoying.

G4 dwell commands expressed in mS on my mill computer which uses a parallel port, behave as intended when mS is checked.

Just curious.

Regards

Chrisjh

93

SmoothStepper USB / Re: E-Stop issue

« on: December 17, 2009, 12:54:42 AM »

I had exactly the same issue.  Under "General Config" I changed Input Signal Debouncing/Noise Rejection to the following settings:

Debounce Interval ----> 500

Index Debounce ---> 30

I haven't had the EStop trigger when selecting the coolant relay on or off since.

Regards

chrisjh

94

General Mach Discussion / G73 Pullback Setting in Mill Options Tab

« on: November 07, 2009, 05:52:21 PM »

I have tried to change the G73 Pullback from the default 0.1 (presumably inches) to 1mm ( My units are set to metric) and get to stick at that setting.

I can get it to change from 0.1 to 1 by entering "OK" not "Enter".

Problem is when I reboot Mach3 the pullback reverts to 0.1.

Can this be fixed?

Regards

Chrisjh

95

General Mach Discussion / Re: Lathe G83 Peck Drilling Problem

« on: October 21, 2009, 11:30:49 PM »

I solved the problem

For some unknown reason when I set up my profile for the laptop in my shed, the "macro" folder was missing a lot of files. 

When I compared the contents of the "MachTurn" macro folder with my "chrisjh_turn_shed" folder there were a lot of files missing. 

I copied the contents of MachTurn macro folder into "chrisjh_turn_shed" folder and fixed the problem.  One of the many missing files was M1083.m1s which is why the peck drill routine did not work.

I don't understand how this happened as I started off with "MachTurn" profile and saved it as the new profile.

I tested to see if G83.1 mode works as described in the manual.  It behaves the same as G83.  I presume that this is because there in no M1083.1.m1s macro.

Chrisjh

96

General Mach Discussion / Re: Lathe G83 Peck Drilling Problem

« on: October 19, 2009, 03:59:37 AM »

Thanks Hood for taking the time to help sort this out.  Very much appreciated!!

xml file as requested:

Regards

Chrisjh

97

General Mach Discussion / Re: Lathe G83 Peck Drilling Problem

« on: October 18, 2009, 10:27:54 PM »

Hi Hood,

The machine starts the spindle, moves to the start position, does not drill at all, then withdraws and stops.

I have also tried single step mode to see if I can see what happens block by block.

It behaves like Mach3 is not seeing the G83 Line of code at all.

Regards

Chrisjh

98

General Mach Discussion / Lathe G83 Peck Drilling Problem

« on: October 17, 2009, 07:52:35 PM »

Hi,

I cannot get the G83 Peck Drilling routine to work.  I have read "Topic: couple of things I have noticed with mach /g83 problem " and it appears that some can get it to work albeit with reported bugs relating to minimum peck distances. 

I have tried in vain with the codes attached.

In desperation I hand coded the Centre Spot Drill Template_B which uses simple G01 and G00 movements.  This works fine.

Where have I gone wrong with the G83 routines?

I am using the latest lockdown release of Mach3 Version R3.041 and SmoothStepper Plugin.

Regards

Chrisjh

99

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Hissing noise from Idle Stepper Motors with Smoothstepper

« on: October 13, 2009, 07:00:03 PM »

Presumably if the SS is not powered up then the motors will not be powered up, i.e. the drive is not getting any signals from the SS. In my experience noise from the steppers is related to the drive. Since you notice it when the motors are idle it may just be from the idle current reduction? What type of drive are you using?

Thanks Jeff,

I am using Leadshine M542 drivers in the lathe and generic "no name" drivers in the mill.

I tried setting Idle current reduction "off" and it made no difference.  I think that you are right regarding the drivers causing the noise.  Presumably the PWM technique used is different from driver to driver.  Some seem to cause magneto striction effect which manifests itself as "hissing" in the steppers.

The good thing that came out of this was that when I was checking the settings of the mill drivers, I noticed that the "current reduction when Idle" switch was off.  I changed this setting on all 4 drivers for the mill and the steppers now run "just warm".

Regards

Chris

100

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Chrisjh Home Built CNC Lathe

« on: October 10, 2009, 08:53:25 PM »

Haven't got that far yet.

I am still setting up my gang toolpost.  This morning I almost completed a custom LH boring bar that I intend to use as tool 1 in the tooltable.

Coolant will probably be a couple of months away.

Regards

Chris