Messages

11

General Mach Discussion / Mach3 not returning to part zero....ideas why??

« on: November 26, 2017, 05:51:27 PM »

Hi,

I ran a couple of pocket cuts and the x and y axis did not return to zero. x was .o13 and y was .061.

This was the last lines of the code.
g01 z0.500
g01 x0 y0 z0
m30
%

Any ideas what would cause this?

Thanks,

Billy

12

General Mach Discussion / Re: Some general questions about homing

« on: November 25, 2017, 10:56:23 AM »

Thanks Tweakie,

I took a quick look at the PDF and at first glance it looks to be very readable and easy enough to understand.

Thanks,

Billy

13

General Mach Discussion / Some general questions about homing

« on: November 25, 2017, 08:46:21 AM »

Hi,

I am very new to CNC. I have two machines I am trying to learn to operate. I want to develop a standard safe process to cut every part and all necessary setups.
One, a Sherline mill with 9" of X travel running Mach3. ( The Sherline has no home switch and many other limitations.
Two, a Eagle mill with 54" of X travel running Fagor control software. ( The Eagle has most everything except an encoder on the spindle, manual spindle speed control)

So...I ASSUME homing is the  first process that should take place for any machine. Correct?

The Eagle machine homes to the near the limits of quadrant IV. This is not always very convenient due to the long length of travel. I am normally  machining parts of less that 12" X 12"

Can there be more than one home position?

I am very new to G Code programming but I am not having issues with the G Code. I don't have a clear visual idea in my head of the "best practices" steps to take to set up any machine.

Thanks,

Billy

14

General Mach Discussion / anyone know both Fagor and Mach3 controls?

« on: November 24, 2017, 09:16:07 AM »

Hi,
 I have access to a Fagor mill and am trying to learn how to operate it. Also I have Mach3 running my Sherline mini mill. All of this is very new to me. I would like to know how different the two control systems are and if learning the Fagor system will help in learning Mach3.

Thanks,

Billy

15

General Mach Discussion / Re: How I hope to learn CNC

« on: November 21, 2017, 04:34:50 PM »

For the pipe problem, clamp something on the far end of the pipe like a U-bolt or a big exhaust clamp and either reference it against the bed of the machine or put an inclinometer on top. The first method gives better accuracy but is a bit more fiddly

Yes, I see where you are going with both ideas. A 20 foot long pipe is a bit hard to deal with unless you have a 20 foot table to work on.

Thanks,

Billy

16

General Mach Discussion / Re: How I hope to learn CNC

« on: November 20, 2017, 07:33:39 PM »

Hi guys,

Well...the first day in the machine shop went well. I am learning how to program a Fagor 8055i MC. I hope much of what I am learning will transfer over to Mach3. The machinist is teaching me manual machining as I have no real experience at all.

The first task today was to extend a key way slot on a 2" shaft about 10' long by 6". All of the setup was pretty logical to me and I got it done without issue. The slot was .5000 and ''wow" I can take a .0500 cut at a apx feedrate of 20 IPM. Big industrial machine...no fooling around!! The shaft was kinda heavy for an "old man" to pick up...lol

The second task is to drill 1.125 holes on 12" centers in a 2.5000 dia 20 foot pipe. I have not figured out how to keep the pipe vertical as I move it through vice. The holes receive a 1" pipe to be welded so drilling the holes in a perfect line is not critical but I need to know how to do that if it were. Still thinking.

Fun first day.

Billy

17

General Mach Discussion / Re: How I hope to learn CNC

« on: November 16, 2017, 04:58:30 PM »

Hi Craig,

Yep..looks like fun. BTW, I been cutting a few small parts from 304 SS on the Sherline mill. It don't like it much but it can cut SS. SS stands for super slow in this case...lol

I been taking very light cuts at a fast feed rate. May not be the way to do it, but I am not breaking anything.

Billy

18

General Mach Discussion / How I hope to learn CNC

« on: November 16, 2017, 04:04:05 PM »

Hi guys,

I bought the 40 pound book as recommended here, the one by Peter Smid. By the way, it is a easy to read book and well written. That is my first impression.

The other good news is the local machine shop has agreed to teach me some stuff. I agreed to work for them for free to pay for the schooling.

As I am retired I don't need or want a "job" this looks like a good opportunity to learn and see the industrial world of CNC. I am not sure why any shop would agree to let me hand around or why someone my age would even want to learn to be a machinist to begin with...lol  

Well...at least I have a few pairs of overalls left and steel toe boots from a past life...lol The machinist likes to fish and I have a really nice boat so I think it will be a good trade.    

Cheers,

Billy

19

General Mach Discussion / Re: General question about small CNC mills

« on: November 15, 2017, 11:28:31 AM »

Thanks,

I have to run take my wife to Miami. See you guys in a bit.

Billy

20

General Mach Discussion / Re: General question about small CNC mills

« on: November 15, 2017, 11:12:47 AM »

Both the machine and I are "outside our comfort zone"...lol Big learning curve for me.

Here is a photo of the machine. I got a 3/8 aluminum plate that I will make into a table for the machine. I will mill slots for the hold down and drill and tap holes also. At the moment I  made a little spring loaded pencil to draw out the limits of the machine. I am having a bit of trouble trying to figure out how to set up the home position. I do not have a home switch made yet. I will ask some questions when I study the Mach 3 instructions some more.




Thanks,

Billy