Messages

11

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Setting up mist control problems

« on: August 21, 2018, 08:32:26 AM »

Hi, I am trying to set up a mist control from Mach3, My first breakout board uses pins 2 - 9 for Axis Pul/Dir X,Y,Z and A, P14 as Enable, P1 as PWM P17 to turn spindle on, So installed a second Parallel card so can use Pin #17 for relay to turn a 12volt supply, I have jumper inserted on board.

I cant make any sense out of the control using M7, M8, M9 has no control, but sometimes when computer on 12volts appears as the relay seems to activate..

The only thing I am not happy with is the port address for Port #2 is EC00 - EC07 so entered EC00 in port address in Mach3 which seems to change to 0xec00, has Port #1 has 0x378 and the common address for port #2 is 0x278 I am wondering if this is my problem
but not sure how to change.

I would be most grateful for any help

Regards John

12

General Mach Discussion / Re: Milling an Area on wood bed to get flat surface

« on: May 01, 2018, 02:34:31 PM »

I looked at that already and downloaded the file but couldn't work out how I use, Do I mill a 1mm area then input the Gcode of the board I want to mill and then click create gcode and it modify s the code after it probes the board.

Tried using a gcode from another page and it stops in Mach3 on a text line (.../Program Files (86x)/EAGLE-6.3.0/pcb-gcode.ulp) which I presume is the gcode I picked but it seems different to the .tap file prior to loading Gcode into Mach3.

Is there a youtube video to point me in the right direction

Regards John

13

General Mach Discussion / Milling an Area on wood bed to get flat surface

« on: May 01, 2018, 11:42:20 AM »

I find that my MDF bed plate has about 10 to 20 thou error over surface and I want to mill PCB tracks onto a 1.6mm FR4 copper board which are normally only .007 thou deep so I want someway of milling in Mach3 an area for board to fit, I thought of using Fusion360 and sketch a flat surface of the size i need and then extrude to so 0.01" and then offset "Z" axis so I just cut a 0.025 thou area in this bed, Unless there is another way would appreciate any help

Regards John

14

General Mach Discussion / Control Panel

« on: March 21, 2018, 08:26:36 AM »

I would like to build a seperate set of buttons seperate from the keyboard on a Control Panel to operate some of the functions of mach3 i.e Jogging X,Y,Z move E-Stop( I know this goes on Breakout board) etc but not sure how to interface with PC using Win7, is there anyone that has built such a panel.

Any info I would be grateful.

Regards John

15

General Mach Discussion / Re: First Run on CNC machine

« on: February 12, 2018, 07:33:10 AM »

Hi Gerry,

Thanks for feedback think the 2.2kw Motors I have looked at have ER20 Collete which will give up to 13mm shaft would be fine for me, looking on ebay from Germany are about £250 inc delivery to UK at least no VAT extra to pay.

Regards John   

16

General Mach Discussion / Re: First Run on CNC machine

« on: February 12, 2018, 06:24:52 AM »

Hi,
My late reply way I had flue over January.

The CNC is home built, revamped from an earlier build, I will use as it is for the moment but If I install a 2.2kw motor I intend to beef up the "Y" axis gantry with a "U" shaped  12mm Aluminium form around the  underside to give added strength, and the uprights will construct from a 5mm and 25mm and 5mm sandwich to make a box section, at the moment it is pretty rigid, also the "Z" axis assembly will be thicker Aluminium and I will put a 300mm  leadscrew and 16mm supported rails instead of the 8mm at the moment, I don’t want to run as if it was a Bridgeport but just as a hobbyist.
I enclosed a couple of Autocad sketches of my revamp, the base is wood but will be 2” thick and bolted to a frame for added strength.
The main construction is Aluminium.
When I cut the MDF profile I was getting some vibration, mainly when got to end of stroke and stepped into the next cut.
Found out later I hadn’t secured the Y Axis Nut to the Lead Screw OOPPSS.
I want to install a 2.2kw Square motor with VFD supply, what is the main difference between the Cylinder Type Spindle Motors and the square type is it just cost.
Regards and many thanks the comments have been very helpful.

John

17

General Mach Discussion / Re: First Run on CNC machine

« on: January 01, 2018, 08:36:03 AM »

Yeh i realised after posting..i was using MDF and spindle is only running at about 2700rpm as i only put a 12 volt power supply ned to up that to 48v to get 10000rpm.
It didnt like 6.4mm cut depth so was taking 1mm cuts..will have a look as you advise but would like to cut MDF and Aluminium
Regards john

18

General Mach Discussion / Re: First Run on CNC machine

« on: December 31, 2017, 11:05:29 AM »

Finally got my CNC machine running cutting, I have only got a 400watt spindle motor and using a 2 flute 6mm cutter running a Face profile G-Code program 4inch X 4 inch using Mach3, the motor didn't like the 1200mm/min feed which g_code was set too, so slowed down to 150mm/Min with a 1mm depth of cut a bit of vibration but think a 2 flute is not enough4 would be better and also motor as I suspected is no where near powerful enough.

I also want to cut Aluminium and was looking at a larger spindle motor with an ER20 collett so I can go up to 13mm max shank, the only one I can see is a 2.2kw motor, about £300 on ebay.

Can someone advise me best way to go on Motors.

Regards and Happy New Year

John

19

General Mach Discussion / First Run on CNC machine

« on: December 31, 2017, 11:03:36 AM »

Finally got my CNC machine running cutting, I have only got a 400watt spindle motor and using a 2 flute 6mm cutter running a Face profile G-Code program 4inch X 4 inch using Mach3, the motor didn't like the 1200mm/min feed which g_code was set too, so slowed down to 150mm/Min with a 1mm depth of cut a bit of vibration but think a 2 flute is not enough4 would be better and also motor as I suspected is no where near powerful enough.

I also want to cut Aluminium and was looking at a larger spindle motor with an ER20 collett so I can go up to 13mm max shank, the only one I can see is a 2.2kw motor, about £300 on ebay.

Can someone advise me best way to go on Motors.

Regards and Happy New Year

John

20

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 Licence

« on: October 29, 2017, 12:15:39 PM »

Hi Tweakie,

That sorted it many thanks name appears at to of screen know.

Also got CNC machine running with a lot of help from Joeaverage (Craig), but know find "Y" axis gantry has too much movement when moving and drilling so revision 2 coming up LOL

Learn from your first mistakes.

Regards John