Messages

21

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

« on: November 10, 2017, 03:50:45 PM »

Thanks Gary,

I think I will program a square for example and use the G40 offset. I will cut something easy to cut so I am only dealing with learning the programming issues.

I cut two more of the "T" parts and damaged the cutter. Broke one of the four teeth. Not sure just what happened but assume it was caused by a chip. This little machine is not very ridged so that could have been the cause also. I assume breaking tools is something that will happen from time to time. The cutter I broke was HSS. I replaced it with a carbide cutter to finish up the cut without further issue.

This little machine is kinda like my pickup, it will pull a 18000 lb trailer but it don't like it...lol  Just because some machine can be pushed to do something does not make it a good idea.

Thanks,

Billy

22

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

« on: November 09, 2017, 11:16:54 PM »

Hi Guys,

OK, I understand about breaking the tool. I also downloaded CamBam and messed with it a bit.

 I  got the part programmed correctly and cut the part in steel without issue. So far so good. There was a lot of fooling around with the math to get the cutter offset correct. I am a old guy and now have to work harder to deal with math in general. I advise never getting old...lol

 I am looking forward to the time when I can use the tool radius offsets. I'll get there. The CNC Programming Handbook arrived today and I looked at it a bit. It seems to be pretty well written and understandable. Many of the issues I am faced with have less to do with CNC than just machining in general.

Another option I considered today was to power coat the part and just make it out of steel. I actually may try that as a test in any event. The part is not subject to very much abrasion just the effect of fertilizer for the most part and some type of coating may work well enough.

At least I got the part cut out of steel and that is pretty good progress for me. It is for sure not a complex part but for my first attempt at hand writing code it was a bit of a challenge. 

Anyway, thanks for all the help and feedback.

Billy

23

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

« on: November 08, 2017, 07:26:16 PM »

Thanks Gary,

I just about got the programming figured out. I did not consider the tool deflection issue. As this part does not need to be very precise the tool deflection will not make any difference  most likely.  I am sure CamBam would do the trick. I will go check it out.

I am trying to program by hand just for the purpose of learning and understanding G Code.

Because all this is for my own needs, I am not pressed to get it done in any hurry.

Thanks,

Billy

24

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can I install the Mach3 software on more than one computer?

« on: November 08, 2017, 06:21:49 PM »

Well...figuring out G Code will always be a lot easier that figuring out the wife!!...lol

There is only one appropriate response to the wife. "Yes Dear"

Billy 

25

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

« on: November 08, 2017, 05:05:07 PM »

Hi guys,

This is the part I want to cut. Material issues aside, I don't know how to write the G Code properly. I can write the code for a T shape but don't yet understand how to write the code for the angle just yet.

The length for the hypotenuse is 1.5607.
a=0.250
b=1.500

Disregard the holes.

Perhaps someone could give me a heads up on how to write the code.

Thanks,

Billy

26

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can I install the Mach3 software on more than one computer?

« on: November 07, 2017, 07:55:19 PM »

Well...a bit of progress. I managed to cut my name in a block of wood...lol

Time to get out of the garage and spend time with the wife!! I hope the hell I don't dream in G Code tonight!!...lol

See you guys later and thanks again.

Billy

27

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

« on: November 07, 2017, 02:07:23 PM »

Thanks guys,

I  don't normally have much need to cut stainless. I do have the need to cut small parts out of other materials from time to time.

In this case, the part in question operates in a machine that pots flowers. The issue is the the fertilizer is highly corrosive. The parts that came with the potting machine were made of steel and have corroded to the point they are failing. They cost $80 each and there are 48 of them....painful...lol

These parts are not very precise and look to be cut originally with a water jet or perhaps with a plasma cutter. I can get them cut locally on a water jet for a whole lot less than 80 bucks which is what I will do if I can not cut them effectively.

It was clear to me soon after I bought this machine that it had a very limited use. I have used it a good bit to cut circles in aluminum and steel chassis for electronics projects I mess around with. I guess the good news is the knowledge I am acquiring about CNC machining with this little mill will for the most part be useful when and if I buy a larger machine. Crashing a fast high horsepower mill looks like a really bad thing to do on a Saturday morning...lol Perhaps it is a good thing I have this mill to learn on.

I got the Mach3 software up and running and got the limit switches and E switch working. I have a basic configuration in the software which seems to work ok. There is a world of things I do not understand at this point but little by little I will wade through it.  

Thanks to  both Tweakie joeaverage from down under for how to cut SS on any machine.

Billy

28

General Mach Discussion / General question about small CNC mills

« on: November 07, 2017, 10:21:56 AM »

Hi,

Being very new to machining, I have very little idea what to expect. I bought a Sherline 2000 CNC mill several years ago and did not have the time to use it much. Now I am retired or retarded or something like that and have more time...lol

I just replaced the computer and bought Mach3 and a new driver box. I have most of this up and working except for the limit switches.

Should I reasonably expect to cut a 2" X 4" X 1/8 T shaped flat part from 303 ss ?
Thanks,

Billy

29

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can I install the Mach3 software on more than one computer?

« on: November 07, 2017, 10:10:57 AM »

I guess over the years I have come to understand that many things that are "free" are frequently worth about what they cost...lol I am not sure why people think software should be free to began with. The $175 I paid for Mach3 seems like a pretty small amount as software of any kind goes. The licencing agreement you describe looks to me to be way beyond fair.

I bought this little Sherline CNC mill a long time ago. The software to run it was "free", Linux EMC and I assume still is. When I started having issues with the Linux system I decided to replace everything using a windows based system because I did not want to put in the time to learn the Linux operating system.

I ordered all this from a Sherline dealer in New York. I have all the parts and software now so I am putting all this together.

Thanks,

Billy

30

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can I install the Mach3 software on more than one computer?

« on: November 05, 2017, 06:12:40 PM »

Thanks Craig,

I actually have a demo copy on the office machine. The version that came from the supplier is R3.043.066. I am not sure what the demo version is. For sure they need to be the same and configured the same.

I assume I can delete the demo and reinstall from the flash drive the software I receive from the supplier. 

The last of the parts will arrive tomorrow so I will be able to hook everything up. The supplier said he would help me config the software for my machine over the phone if I needed any help. I installed all the limit switches and E switch today. That was a good bit of work to design and machine the brackets for the micro switches. I may wind up doing it all over again as the switches he provided were not very high quality.

I only use this machine for my own amusement and amazement and to make a few simple parts to repair stuff I own.

Thanks,

Billy