Messages

181

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to wire steppers???

« on: April 09, 2008, 04:44:44 PM »

Hi

I have the bigger drives (10 amp) from Routout CNC and I also looked at the smaller ones they supply, both have current limiting, the larger you set by using a volt meter across some special contact to set the current, a table is supplied. Can't remember how the smaller ones are set.

Just looked and here's the pdf setup file for the smaller 2.5 amp drivers http://www.routoutcnc.com/RoutOutCNCStepper.pdf

Hope this helps.

Steve

182

General Mach Discussion / Re: A Long Sad Story

« on: March 25, 2008, 07:28:38 AM »

You'll need a 3d cam program like Meshcam to convert 3d models in to gcode, and it'll have to be a 3d model not 2d drawings.
Alibra design express is a free very easy to use program, and very powerfull.
It has some good tutorials with it as well.

Meshcam only has simple 4th axis control though so you may need to find a program that can handle rotating 4th axis gcode but you may find that meshcam can handle what you want to do.

Ok just re read your post, it looks like your wanting to mill out a something that looks like a spoked wheel, this can be done in Meshcam, you'll need to make a 3d model and use 2 sided machining.
Also I think you'll have to get a good bit of practice in designing in 3d before attempting to make a spoked wheel, you will be able to do it, it's just the way to go about it that'll take practice.
If I was doing it I think I'd create the rim and hub first using a revolved profile and then add 1 spoke and array it, then mirror the array and do the spokes going the other way in the same way.

I've never done it though so it'll most likely be a lot harder than it sounds 

Steve

183

General Mach Discussion / Re: Ahha driver and Mach 3

« on: March 23, 2008, 11:33:08 AM »

I can't help with the problem your having but I've already moved my mill from AHHA artisan to Mach3 and I haven't regretted it one bit.

Steve

184

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z axis direction

« on: March 03, 2008, 08:46:34 AM »

Have a look at the you tube thread at the top of this forum page. there shoulf be something there, I seem to remember a video whre some one is showing an auto zero touch plate, this'll give you a good idea of how your meant to start.

Anyway it sounds like your machine is setup correctly but your CAM software isn't, what CAM are you using?

Steve

185

General Mach Discussion / Re: MACH3 is starting the router on its own... Scarry!!!!

« on: March 01, 2008, 09:37:36 AM »

If it's your spindle please please please replace the switch with a no volt dropout switch, spindles should ALWAYs be on one of these, even if the spindle is not started by Mach.
Imagine if you had a power cut, it goes dark (night) and you fumble around trying to get out of the workshop etc or your trying to find the spindle motor switch and then the power comes back on and your hands in the way. Or your not even in the shop when the power comes back on.
It has happened and will happen again.

For this reason the Mach manual recommends that you have a no volt dropout switch between the relay controlled by Mach and the motor.

Sorry if I sound a little over the top but I've seen it happen and I've had it happen on my pillar drill.

Regards
Steve

186

General Mach Discussion / Re: Version 2.63 vs: 3.00 vs:3.037

« on: February 28, 2008, 07:00:42 AM »

Ahh is that what happened. I had wondered why it swiched back to an earlier version.
I'll be waiting for the lockdown version myself as my system seams to work ok so I don't want to mess with it.

Steve

187

General Mach Discussion / Re: homing limits problems

« on: February 28, 2008, 06:25:20 AM »

Hello Adam and welcome to the world of CNC.

I'm no expert but my system seems to work ok so I'll try to help you.

The X++ & X- are the travel limits, one for the + direction and one for the - direction.
You can put all your switches in series and have them all on the one pin, stick to normally closed as this is fail safe. If a wire breaks then the system will stop and you'll have to find the break, possibly fustrating at the time but better than crashing into the end of travel as would happen with N/O switches.

You can use one of the travel limit switches as a homing switch as well, Mach only homes one axis at a time so the switches being in series will not be a problem (this assumes you want home at the end of travel) Off the top of my head I can't remember the settings you need to use but there has been much disscussion on recently about this subject so do a search on previous posts.
Also look at some of the video tutorials and the pdf manual, they both have information about limits and homing switches.

Steve

188

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 and a Laser.

« on: January 29, 2008, 05:03:43 PM »

I would think that it all depends what you are doing.

If you are just cutting or marking then you'll most likely just turn the laser on and focus it, but if you are wanting to "print" with it you'll need to control the focus depending on the depth of mark you want which mach will not be able to do.

Steve

189

General Mach Discussion / Re: Anybody notice that Limit Switch Trigger "De-References" Machine?

« on: December 22, 2007, 03:57:15 PM »

Mmmm, that abnormal condition light always flashes on my system whatever, never had it go out.

190

General Mach Discussion / Re: Trouble cutting accurate parts

« on: December 15, 2007, 04:18:45 PM »

If I understand this correctly you move the table in say the Y+ direction and the DTI shows 1.000" you then stop and reverse the direction to move the table in the Y- direction and before it moves in the Y- direction the DTI shows 1.005" before reversing?
This happens on both stepper driven and manual driven lead screw?

This would indicate slop in the table slides to me, you'll never get any sort of consistant result if there is movement in the slides.
If it isn't the slides then I'm at a loss, I can imagine turning the lead screw manually with the handle could move the table a little but the stepper is attached to the table so it shouldn't be able to.

Steve