Messages

41

General Mach Discussion / Re: Combined Lathe / Mill in MACH3?

« on: March 20, 2010, 05:02:32 PM »

There's mill2lathe, maybe that can do something.
Also I'm sure someone has made a simple machining centre using mach, this has 2 spindles.

Steve

42

General Mach Discussion / Re: Fixtures, Offsets, Origins & Suchlike

« on: March 07, 2010, 09:29:13 AM »

Go to http://www.myhobbystore.co.uk/browser/149/workshop-practice-series?p=2 and find the little engineers workshop series of books, there you'll find a few about using milling machines and makeing fitures etc (or try your local libary) these books give loads of info on this sort of thing and are just as relevent to CNC as manual machining.
Also as a general rule keep any referance points as simple as possible, so you example of the block with holes on the top and side you would follow the advise of using the fixed vise jaw plus an end stop. Try to make stops round as well, this helps with swarf etc as your only touching on one little point.

Steve
edit - added link to website.

43

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: End mill recommendation

« on: March 03, 2010, 04:34:47 PM »

I've cut sheets of lettering out of cast acrylic using a 3mm single flute cutter recommended by ITC.
Just get your feedrate up it makes all the difference.

Steve

44

General Mach Discussion / Re: 4th axis - GCode degrees vs distance

« on: March 03, 2010, 04:20:32 PM »

Set the rotary to angular, like someone has already said the only true way to set it is angular.
There is a setting in mach to tell it the diameter so it can sort out the feedrate via linear units though.

Steve

45

General Mach Discussion / Re: IMP?

« on: March 01, 2010, 06:50:09 AM »

Hoods quite correct and I should have pointed out that you needed to be at X0 before starting
Have a search on the internet for G code tutorials, you'll find loads of free lessons to get your hand in.

Non of this really helps with your problem though, I suggest you get a watch and time your moves with that, counting the seconds is never that accurate.

Steve

46

General Mach Discussion / Re: IMP?

« on: February 28, 2010, 04:17:45 PM »

10.5 ipm should be the fastest it goes.
G0 moves are rapid moves and these are the moves that should be 10.5 ipm
You could try G1 X5 F1 this should take 5 mins
G1 moves are feedrate moves.

Steve

47

General Mach Discussion / Re: Freeing the motor to avoid overheating

« on: February 27, 2010, 07:10:36 AM »

I've not yet had a problem with the steppers getting hot when stood.
If I'm not doing anything for an hour or more then I just turn off the drivers and have an input into mach to let it know that an emergency stop has been triggered so no code will run.

Steve

48

General Mach Discussion / Re: Program start from a tool number

« on: February 13, 2010, 06:51:46 AM »

I think Adam is asking if you can "run from here" without the prep move.

Steve

49

General Mach Discussion / Re: Coupler question Motor Lead Screw

« on: February 13, 2010, 06:49:07 AM »

I use Oldham couplings on my router & Mill 4th axis, they allow for a small amount of mis-alignment and you can also remove the motor without having to undo the coupling. You can also get different centres for them.

Steve

50

General Mach Discussion / Re: Normal Condition Button

« on: February 06, 2010, 04:27:38 PM »

I really think that we NEED an alternative screenset supplied without this bloody thing
I'll have to hunt out screen 4 and delete it, never thought of that

Thanks
Steve