Topics

11

General Mach Discussion / Mill as a lathe

« on: November 24, 2008, 07:08:24 AM »

Hi

I have a mill using the latest stable release of mach, I'm thinking of setting up the lathe module to do some basic profile turning of some cutters.
Can I just open Mach turn and setup the ports and pins, outputs/inputs etc?
Does Mach keep these separate from Mill? I'm guessing it does as there are separate xml files but I would like to be sure before I start messing.
Also for those that have done this is there anything to watch out for or that needs doing.

I had a look yesterday and turn seems to have taken in the motor ports and pins already from mill or was it just a coincidence motor tuning is way off though.
I'm also going to add an index pulse to the spindle for other reasons but it will come in on lathe for threading.
Does Mach need a disc with a cutout of will it work the same with a single "tooth", again I seem to remember that it needs to be a disc.

I don't use profiles, just the default mill profile.

Thanks
Steve

P.S. I will convert a small lathe some day but I seem to be gathering projects faster than I can do them

12

General Mach Discussion / Stepper rough and intermitant operation

« on: September 25, 2008, 10:02:46 AM »

Hi all

Well the gremlins have struck, I have a 4th axis that I made and is normally disconnected from it's driver when not in use.
I fitted it back on my mill last night to setup a job and just had to jog it round, nothing happened at first no noise no movement so i tried the other way and it moved slowly and very roughly and then stopped.
I checked for smooth movement of the stepper and axis by hand and it was all free and smooth, I then turned the power back on and it locked the stepper but just the same when jogging.
I have tried to input G0 and G1 moves in the manual input area, still the same.

So far I've checked the cable connections from the breakout board to the driver, I unscrewed them and checked then re fitted.
Checked the power to the driver.
Checked the pin settings in Mach and on the breakout board.
Checked the motor tuning, no change from before.
I've also disconnected the coupling and tried the stepper on it's own but no difference.

This is all strange as it was working  when it was removed and I haven't even used the mill much since and I'm certain I've not changed any settings.

The only thing I've yet to check is that the wires into the plug are ok, I have a socket on the front of the control box that takes this plug.
I'm wondering if having the mill running without a stepper attached to the 4th driver has damaged it, has anyone else had this.
It's a 3A driver from Arc Eurotrade set at 2.5A and the stepper is from them as well.

I have a new stepper (bigger but it should do to check the driver) so I can try that but I'll have to order a new driver to check that and it's money wasted if it turns out to be ok.
I don't want to go through the hassle of using one of my other drivers as they need resetting for the Amps and are a pain to get to.

Does anyone have any suggestions to try before I buy a new driver? I'll try another set of pinouts tonight just to make sure.

Thanks
Steve

13

General Mach Discussion / CV setting angle

« on: September 26, 2007, 09:25:37 AM »

Another question

When you set the CV override angle is the measurment the inside of the angle i.e. 90 degrees for a right angle, so if I want to stop CV mode on any corner tighter than a right angle I set it to 90 or 80 etc.

Also what setting are you all finding gives the best compromise?

Hopefully sometime soon I'll be able to give some useful answers to peoples questions

Thanks
Steve

14

General Mach Discussion / Using different screen sets

« on: September 26, 2007, 09:18:43 AM »

Hi All

Got my last problem sorted with limit switches etc, many thanks to all that helped.

I've what I hope is a simple question.

How do you use the different screen sets that people have created? is it just a simple selection in Mach3 (presume the screen set has to be in the Mach folder) or is there more involved?
Also can you change back to the default set?

I'm just wanting to use a simple 4 axis set without spindle control and just the main buttons on screen, Is there a screen set like this available for Mach3 Mill?

Thanks
Steve

15

General Mach Discussion / Rotary Axis softlimits

« on: August 23, 2007, 12:59:56 PM »

Hi all

I've done a search but didn't find an answer to the following questions.

I've converted my rotary table to stepper control, it's all setup in Mach 90:1 worm, 16 microsteps = 800 steps per Degree. Axis A setup as rotary, not sure about the degree box being ticked.

I'm having a problem with soft limits stopping the table and can't find how to disable them for the A axis, is it possible or does the degree box do this or do I just set the limit to 999999 (or whatever the limit is)

Also when using the rotary axis what does the F word do, does it set degrees or mm (tied in with the work peice dia setting)

thanks
Steve

16

General Mach Discussion / Z Axis not zeroing to switch

« on: July 18, 2007, 12:23:33 PM »

Hi all

Quick intro, I'm new here and have a Denford Easimill converted to Mach 3 and micro stepping drivers.

Everything has been ok so far but last night I set up my home switches using the N/C contacts on 3 micro switches, all wired up and set the machine to home, it went the wrong way so I changed it back to home positive, my home is top right corner of the mill table.

Z axis moved up homed and off by the 3 mm as set, the same with the X & Y.

Now though if say I restart with the Z down any amount then try homing the Z moves up by a few mm and stops then the X & Y home properly, I can keep doing this until the Z actualy does hit the switch and then it all work correctly. Wierd.

Anyway I've tried setting it back up and also tried setting the home switches as + limits, and that doesn't work either, I just get a constant limit switch activated.

Is this something I'm doing wrong or is it a bug.

Mach 3 version 2.0.065.

Thanks
Steve