Messages

991

General Mach Discussion / Re: M30 Doesn't Load

« on: December 20, 2007, 04:24:18 AM »

Perhaps  on the last line would do !!!

992

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach w/ digital scales or encoders for DRO until full CNC conversion

« on: December 20, 2007, 04:20:00 AM »

The DRO's on Mach3 do not normally take information from your lathe/mill. The DRO's are run by the computer, according to the number of pulses it puts out to the stepper motors. In other words the DRO's show where Mach3 THINKS the machine is.

It is normally very accurate (at least it is on my machine), unless there is some problem and the motors start missing steps.

I do not use any digital scales or encoders on my machine and rely on Mach3 DRO's to be accurate.

I would have thought that the first thing to do is get your machine to respond to Mach 3 - i.e. get some stepper motors on the axis. I cannot see that this would cost much more than a digital scale or readout (unless you already have them).

Once you have your machine controlled by Mach3, you can still use it "manually" by using the "jog" facility or programming each line seperately.

993

General Mach Discussion / Re: M30 Doesn't Load

« on: December 19, 2007, 11:28:48 AM »

You are not on your own - I have also had programs on which M30 did not load. On other programs it seems to work fine. Anybody any ideas.

994

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need a little spindle encoder timing help

« on: December 18, 2007, 04:01:20 AM »

This is a bit simple when you have spent all this time on it - have you tried changing the input terminal number.

Maybe that particular input is a bit duff (15 WAS the ERROR signal on the printer port). I would try one of the others and see if you are still getting the fault.(10 - 13).

At least then you will have eliminated one possible fault. The other possibility is that the input has internal pull up resistors. Get a meter on pin 15 and make sure the voltage changes cleanly from 0v to 5v - not the terminal on the breakout board, but the lead to the computer (unless, like mine there are no electronics on the BOB).

The only other thing is widen the slot. The input only needs one change of pulse every rev. so give it a good pulse. Your slot is less than 50th of the diameter. Spinning at say 3000 rpm - 50 revs/sec thats less than 1/2500 of a sec.

The only other thing I can think of - is there any stray light getting to the pickup by reflection.

995

General Mach Discussion / Re: Odd Startup Behavior

« on: December 17, 2007, 01:28:54 PM »

For the output pins I used a Darlington array chip to drive four relays. The darlington comes in an 18 pin DIP - it has one input at 0v (common), one input at relay voltage, 8 inputs from the computer (which you can double up if you want) and 8 outputs which ground the relays. (you can double these up as well) Each pin can control 0.5 amps. It is very easy to use and can be driven directly from the printer port.

I hope you resolve your problem.

Jim

996

General Mach Discussion / Re: Home location/limit switch problem

« on: December 17, 2007, 01:15:52 PM »

Richard -

The home switches are just a way of telling the machine where it is. They can be anywhere. If you set the automatic zero option then the "machine co-ordinates" will zero at that location.

The location might be no earthly use to run a program from - for instance my machine is a lathe, with a milling machine attached. The home switches are as far left (under the spindle) and as far towards me as the table will move.

All my lathe programs tend to be written with Z0 at the end of the work peice, and X0 on the center line of the lathe. My milling programs tend to be 0,0 at the bottom left hand corner of the table. To facilitate this you have an offset table G54 to G59 and there are many available under G59 (255 I think - but I might be wrong).

You home your machine, which sets the machine co-ordinates at 0,0 then select the appropriate offset as your program co-ordinates. The table can then move to the correct position to interpret your program.

Is your brain still hurting???

997

General Mach Discussion / Re: Odd Startup Behavior

« on: December 16, 2007, 10:29:24 AM »

The stepmaster was a good card - I had a double and a single for three axis. I have gone onto Routout, not becasue I think they are better, but in UK they are more quickly available. I now use seperate cards for each drive, so that if one goes, I don't loose the whole machine, and a single cards is easier (and cheaper) to replace. I have built my own electronics for the spindle and the coolant. I don't bother with a charge pump, so I still have spare outputs. I am waiting for a PWM card to run my inverter to control the speed from Mach3 - s Christmas present, hopefully

The thing I meant about the "dir" pin is - something - and it would appear to be your spindle output - is switching the "dir" pin of your axis as well. Test the "dir" pin and see if it is switching to +5 or 0v for the faulty move. It seems to be that switching on your spindle also switches or cancels your axis "dir" pin. Whe it gets the oppsoite comand it is then reset and works OK again. On a printer port pin 16 was the "initialise" signal. Whether this should interfere with the data lines, I do not know , but it seems to be that yours does.

Sorry I didn't realise that F5 switched the spindle, I do all mine from the mouse screen, and if the fault occurs when you use the mouse, it can't be your system hotkeys.

998

General Mach Discussion / Re: Toggle G94-95 On Turn Screen

« on: December 16, 2007, 09:58:21 AM »

No - I don't see how you can just toggle between G94 and G95.  Most of the Macro for the wizards will be written in Visual Basic and the line for G94 might be something like:

If so-and-so < this-and-that then Code "G94 S"&a+b

The G94 is hard written into the program. The G Code is printed when all the variables are entered and the program is finally run. The program is not written in G Code and then the variables added as you enter them.

What you could do is open the program and insert some extra lines - altering the program using If Then - something like

X=GetUserDRO(888)
and later on
If X=0 then Code"G94 S500"
If X>0 then Code"G95 etc etc"

Whilst you are filling in the variables then you tick a box or whatever to indicate which you want G94 or G95 - or even more cleverly have a DRO for G94Feedrate and one for G95 Feedrate and it automatically write the correct code dependent on which box you have filled in. (the other being left at 0)

I'm not sure about LOOP - does it count the number of loops in canned cycle operations - i@m not sure.

Jim

999

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help needed to get web camera going.

« on: December 16, 2007, 07:27:00 AM »

After a morning of messing about, trying to alter the drivers, I got into it and discovered that the driver is  the one named in the Mach3 window - and so would appear to be correct

As I say the camera works on the computer - Mach3 doesn't seem to be able to connect to it - any help out there???

1000

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help about "24VDC/5.0A "

« on: December 16, 2007, 06:42:28 AM »

You are using the same motors as I am. They work very well. I run mine on 24 volts, they get slightly warm but not hot, even when stood a long time.

Unlike an ordinary motor, a stepper motor comsumes power even when stood - the current keeps the rotor fixed in the one position. I think your 5 amp supply will struggle. You will find that the voltage output will dip as the motors take power. The Stepmaster cards I used at first carried a warning not to let the voltage drop below 12v, or everything would overheat.

Try it and see - start by using only two motors connected and see how the supply voltage holds up.