Messages

391

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Mach3 Ethernet IP setting

« on: March 25, 2019, 07:17:32 PM »

Hi,

So why the PREJUDICE??

Because they make stuff that does not work and then refuse to help the customer.

Craig

Really?
Customers who buys though ebay can always seek EBAY protection for this. If any seller sells products that does not work and seller refuses to help customers, buyer can make a claim to ebay and ebay will get you your money back.

392

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Parallel Port Legacy Plugin

« on: March 25, 2019, 06:28:59 PM »

Just remember that you will need Windows XP or Windows 7 32bits to be able to use Mach4 with MACH4 Parallel Port Legacy Plugin
Window 8.x, Windows 10 32bits will NOT work.
All 64bits version of windows will also not work.

LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP.

393

General Mach Discussion / Re: Limit switches and PWM for laser

« on: March 25, 2019, 05:25:49 PM »

Reuelt, MN300,  thanks for all the time and effort that you have put into my questions.  Still working on the project.  And yes I do have the 4th axis that I can work with.  I still need to hook up the limit switches, have some cannon connectors on order for the backside of the VFD box. Going with four connectors in case I renew the BOB.  Do I need to use shielded cable for wire run?  Connecting the switches in parallel as needed by the BOB, would disable the functions in MACH3 diagnostics readout.  Just the same, as long as keeps me from jamming the table.

xlr8sion -- may change to (snail), for my CNC experience

If you have the 4th axis, there is another way to use the laser even without changing your BOB. You can have a micro-switch with bended long lever mounted on the spindle mount so that when the z-axis is lowered and the micro-switch is switched-on by touching the material, then the laser in turned ON.
You can get an external PWM power supply to control the light in volume.
Some have done it that way and uploaded videos on YOUTUBE
It is better to use shielded cable for the limit switches but even non-shielded wire is OK - IF you use "normally closed" limit switch system. Because the two limit switches connected in series for each axis and are normally closed (current is already flowing), it is less affected by EMI noise.
Even with limit switches installed, you should set up soft limits to trigger about 0.1" BEFORE the far end limit switches go open.
Take a clear picture of your BOB (as I requested before) and I can help you with limit switches step by step.

394

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Mach3 Ethernet IP setting

« on: March 25, 2019, 08:35:40 AM »

XHC maker's FULL Company's name is Chengdu XinHeCheng(XHC) technology co.,ltd
Their website has Chinese & English pages. Click on English at right hand corner.
http://www.cdxhctech.com/html/ecompany/

Since they make products only for MACH3 and MACH4, we should be treating XHC as a better supporter & friend.
(Unlike some European & US Companies "FRIENEMIES" that are often trying to grab Mach3 customers away from Mach3/Mach4.)

If we know XHC's website, all the English documents are there for download. They also have online chat support.
So why the PREJUDICE??

395

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Mach3 Ethernet IP setting

« on: March 25, 2019, 05:19:16 AM »

  happy for you.
But I do not agree that just because you bought a whole CNC machine from UTECH, that you can received support.
UTECH does not make the XHC controller themselves. The XHC maker is cdxhctech and so anyone who has bought the XHC controller from anywhere should be able to get support from cdxhtech.
Anyone who buys Mach3/MACH4 (legally) from any authorized reseller should be able to get support from Newfangled Solutions and HERE. Newfangled Solutions  does not make complete CNC machines but they still support the products they make.

396

General Mach Discussion / Re: Limit switches and PWM for laser

« on: March 25, 2019, 12:27:40 AM »

"In the diagram AVI- connects to the Inverter GND terminal, this would say it's the same as COM. If so, why isn't it just labeled COM? "

Analogue ground for Inverter is different from COM which is the digital ground.
If the BOB provides 0-10V analogue rather than PWM, then there must be a separate ANALOGUE Ground which must not be connected to com.
I have a Nowforever VFD inverter and I MUST connect 4 wires to my BOB when others who use PWM only need 3 wires.

(The Manual was a translated manual from a Russian manual by someone in CNCZONE because no one could find the BSMCE04V manual anywhere . In Russia, the same board has a different model number.)

397

General Mach Discussion / Re: Lathe trouble

« on: March 24, 2019, 10:19:45 PM »

As The computer was purchased new in 2014, i would recommend that you open the computer case and use compressed air to blow out all the accumulated dust especially from CPU heat sink and inside the Power supply.
CPU makers intentionally slow down the CPU speed when temperature rises - to protect CPU from damage because they provide 3-years warranty.
CPU automatically slowing down is bad for CNC.
(When I bought my CNC router from an unhappy Mechanical Engineer, he gave me his PC and quite a few quality end mills and even a spare lathe chuck and spare z axis threaded rod for free. As I build and sell computers, the first thing i did was to open the computer case to have a look. The CPU heat sink was completely chocked  with dust and the CPU fan had also died. After the cleanup and a new CPU fan everything ran very well. Sorry Mechanical Engineer, it's wasn't MACH3' fault)

Next I would recommend the look ahead lines to be 200 lines or more. Mach3 defaults to 20 but Mach4 defaults to 200 lines.

Windows 7 will run better if superfetch & windows update services are both disabled. Turn them on 1/2 yearling - update everything at night and disable them again.

398

General Mach Discussion / Re: Limit switches and PWM for laser

« on: March 24, 2019, 02:06:07 AM »

It would help to know if your laser is looking for an analog signal or PWM signal (digital). As an example, Opt Laser’s PLH3D will work with either.

I think he already said PMW. It is easy to get an analog from PMW pin. His problem is his BOB has only an analogue to be used for Spindle.

In the USB system, you cannot just add another BOB (unlike parallel port system) - it won't work. You have to replace the whole motion control with a more expensive one + 2 parallel BOBs. Then you can have more than 1 PMW or analogue.
That's why I will never buy a cheap USB motion controller.

399

FAQs / Re: chines spindle setup

« on: March 24, 2019, 12:27:47 AM »

You need to find out the exact Brand and Model of your 2.2K VFD inverter & the BOB first. Then try to get hold of their manuals.
Not all VFD inverters are set up and connected the same way.

400

General Mach Discussion / Re: router bits

« on: March 23, 2019, 11:09:39 PM »

Someone at Routerforum claimed that ARDEN from Taiwan (not mainland China) makes good router bits at (not so high) prices.
www.arden.com.tw/

I haven't used Arden myself since I prefer to buy more expensive bits from  Carbitools.