Messages

21

General Mach Discussion / Re: 3 Axis Machine Not Returning To Zero

« on: March 04, 2016, 04:39:15 PM »

Thanks Gerry,

I really trust my motor settings because Tweakster and RobertSparks helped me and the machine has been running great ever since...  ( a couple of months)..

This is a Romaxx WD-1 machine.. Uses stepper motors and ballscrew... 

It is a newer machine and I am a newbie to this stuff.. What lubrication is best for areas of moving parts?

Thanks,

22

General Mach Discussion / 3 Axis Machine Not Returning To Zero

« on: March 04, 2016, 03:23:56 PM »

My machine was running great for awhile (thanks to folks helping on here)

But now it a couple of times did not return to zero after a job. I noticed this once, then did an inlay (male and female) the pieces did not fit as they normally do but the machine did return to zero both pieces.  Then I did a sign and while the sign turned out , the machine did not return to zero after finished...

I am still very "green" with cnc machines and especially the major programming stuff...  Any clue what would cause this or how to tweak it back to when it was running perfect?

TIA

23

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Milling Is Off Center

« on: November 25, 2015, 04:11:45 AM »

well the problem is solved!  Everything you did worked and ran great!

I can't thank you enough.. I really do want to add the touch plate really bad...

What parts do I need to get started with that and how difficult for a newbie would it be?

I love the WD-1 and the help and support has been great... I will let him know that the problem is fixed and send him the thread...

I am not sure about your questions as to why he did certain things certain ways.. I do know he has the second port set up and ready for a closed loop upgrade, I just could not afford it.. I actually broke the bank on this (first )cnc...

I was going to get a cheap China made one but was worried about starting out without support (boy was I right)

Me and my wife are thrilled this thing is running perfect and can't thank you for all your help enough..

I owe you dinner and beer anytime!

Also thanks to Tweakie for aiming me in the right position...

24

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Milling Is Off Center

« on: November 24, 2015, 11:29:28 PM »

Wow Rob..

Thanks so much for all of that and the great information! 

The 2nd Parellel port is for the addition of a Closed Loop which I did not add (yet)  it can be added at a latter  date...

The unit also has 2 standard outlets for dust collection and the router...

The MPG can also be added later and even the 4th axis (but the machine has to go back to him for that)

I actually did want to get the touch plate and was wondering how to go about it.. How difficult would it be to do?  I am okay with learning things but am very knew to all this and a bit lost..

I can't thank you enough for all the help!

25

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Milling Is Off Center

« on: November 24, 2015, 03:39:24 PM »

What about all the other stuff? (Encoders and mpg, 2nd parallel port, OEM triggers etc)

Not using encoders, mpg or 2nd (close loop) parallel port have to check OEM triggers

Are you able to measure the leadscrew pitch... Are the ballscrews or threaded rod?... Number doesn't look right to me as far as steps per inch

I am not sure if I cna measure lead screw pitch or how to do it...  They are called ballscrews but it is a thread rod on each side running up the machine....

Have you got access to the stepper drives, can you see any dipswitch settings?

Yes.. I have been in the electronics , I will have to check again as I was in for a fuse but took a brief look at the stepper drives...

With all that said...  the reducing Accel and Velocity did make a big difference in the problem by cutting them in half... It is just running slightly off now...

The machine is a Romaxx WD-1  I attached a pic

Thanks for all the help!  I am using the machine for certain things, but for other things I need it to be precise I cannot use it...

26

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Milling Is Off Center

« on: November 24, 2015, 02:13:54 PM »

Okay,

Thanks for all the help...

First thing... I did not create the XML file it comes with the machine and load it into Mach3 file replacing the stock file for the machine settings...

The machine uses a Dewalt 611 router and works mainly with standard router bits on wood... 

The machine uses ballscrew/leadscrews

Here is some written files that come with the machine:

Motor outputs:

X axis   Port 1 Step pin: 2 Direction Pin: 6
Y axis   Port 1 Step pin: 3 Direction Pin: 7
Z axis   Port 1 Step pin: 4 Direction Pin: 8

Inputs:

Estop Port 1 Pin 10
Cycle Start Port 1 Pin 13
Feedhold Port 1 Pin 15


Motor tuning:

X, Y and Z axis: 5833 steps per inch.
Velocity: 160
Acceleration: 3

Thanks for the help!  I am new to this and really a bit lost on all the Mach3 setting stuff...

27

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Milling Is Off Center

« on: November 24, 2015, 03:30:30 AM »

Starting at the machine,
What leadscrew pitch do you have for each axis?
What stepper motors are you using (model no)?
What microstepping have you set for your drives?
What voltage is your power supply feeding your stepper drives?
Can you paste your XML file here (may need to rename it to *********.txt for it to upload)
The questions that it will answer:
What units the machine is set to run in
How many steps / unit you have set the machine up with?
What Max velocity you have set?
What acceleration you have set?
What step and dir pulse width you have set?
What lookahead you have set?
Have you set CV to turn off on certain angles?
CV turn off lookahead steps?
What kernal speed you have set Mach to?

I am not totally sure to many of these questions... I will go over them and report back.. With my machine I received an XLM file to paste into the Mach3 main file.. I have just been running the machine with these settings.. This is the only problem I have had so far...

28

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Milling Is Off Center

« on: November 24, 2015, 02:21:05 AM »

Duh.. Okay...

I only reduced the setting by half for the Y axis and not the X axis... so that should get me back to where I was last night.. But it is still .0625" off and I cannot get the axis's to stall out through jog...

any ideas of what I can set the velocity and Accel to from here to get me closer?  Like I said, I cut them 25% from the half setting and it was a mess...

29

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Milling Is Off Center

« on: November 24, 2015, 01:21:24 AM »

well today did not go so well.. was hoping to finish getting this thing working ...

The fast jog used to "bottom out" when I first got the machine but it does not seem to do it anymore even at 100% jog and shift...

I doubled the Velocity and Accel and the jog it would not stall out....

I took last nights setting of cutting the Velocity and Accel in half and took 25% off that since it was close last night.. That produce a horrible result which did not even complete the rectangle...

I brought the settings back to the half mark to do another test cut and wile the X axis remained .0625" off from center the Y Axis was back to .5"  ....

so I am once again lost and not sure what is going on or happening, especially why last nights results at half the setting produced one result and today they produced a totally different result...

Thanks for any help...

30

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Milling Is Off Center

« on: November 23, 2015, 03:41:30 AM »

Reduce your Velocity and Acceleration settings for the X and Y axes by 50% in motor tuning and save the changes and see if this cures the problem.

Okay, finally got on the machine today to do some tests and Tweakies  fix above seems to have made a difference.. Not perfect but it closed the offset the machine was running a lot and the milling ran much much closer to center of my work piece... still not perfect though.. Do I just tweak these setting until they are perfect?  Was running about .25" off and now about .0625"

Thanks for the help!