Messages

51

General Mach Discussion / Re: locked motor

« on: February 03, 2010, 09:38:28 AM »

I use micro switches from Maplins, they have been fine and are repeatable within a few thou and so far havn't been bothered by swarf and coolant splash.
I'm sure they'll fail some time but they are really cheap and easy to replace.
Wire them in series then you only use one pin and use them N/C so that if a wire is broken or pulled off then you know right away and not when it's too late.

Steve

52

General Mach Discussion / Re: locked motor

« on: February 02, 2010, 04:43:06 PM »

When you do wire up just do one axis and get that working how you want it, then do the rest.

Steve

53

General Mach Discussion / Re: Leveling the gantry and table

« on: January 28, 2010, 03:15:55 PM »

Laminating the sheets to make 1" will be far stronger than 1 sheet of 1" mdf.
To keep them flat while laminating them you just need a flat surface like a table to support it while the glue dries.

You'll be amazed at how much stronger lamination makes sheet materials, I sometimes glue 2 sheet of 5mm PVC to make 10mm as it's a LOT stiffer than the 10mm PVC.

If you then put 1 or 2 supports across the bottom of the sheet that will also add to the strength, all a lot cheaper than an Ali sheet.

Steve

54

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problem with the gear cutting wizards

« on: January 25, 2010, 08:24:00 AM »

Oh dear!
I really shouldn't go on the computer when I'm drunk
Still not as bad as my brother in law buying a trombone off eBay after he came home from the pub

Steve

55

General Mach Discussion / Re: Remember Settings

« on: January 25, 2010, 08:15:29 AM »

I don't think mine alters at all when I load a file so it must be possible.
In fact I know it doesn't as I sometimes setup and then move the tool, load a file and it's still got the same zero position so it doesn't alter any of the dro's.
Are you sure there isn't something in you gcode that's telling mach to reset?

Steve

56

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problem with the gear cutting wizards

« on: January 24, 2010, 08:07:40 PM »

pah, can't you see that my picture was way bigger!
In fact you can see my gear hanging out of his back pockate ;-)

Because of the way my Z is driven I've had to make the blank double ended so I don't waste the material, so I just have to turn it round and true it in the 4 jaw chuck and check the centre then cut again with the other cutter for the 12 tooth gear.

And yes they may be small but their me babies so their perfect :-) (one bottle of wine and 3 bottles of cider later)

Steve

57

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problem with the gear cutting wizards

« on: January 24, 2010, 01:08:09 PM »

Yes that's just like it, but as Bill said they don't normally get used like that.

After a bit of messing with my subroutine I got it all working and I've cut one set so far.
I had to move the sub below the main code and I forgot to add a return at the end of the M99 so mach didn't see it and only ran through once.

Below are the results of the first run, it looks good so far, just have to see if it's the right size , should be as the step is the bottom dia of the tooth and the cutter left very faint marks on it.

Steve

58

General Mach Discussion / Re: 5 axis kinematics and coordinate transformation

« on: January 24, 2010, 06:09:50 AM »

Just found it

http://cnc4free.org/

look under essentials then cnc toolkit
More for hobby/ small business use but may be of some help.

Steve

59

General Mach Discussion / Re: 5 axis kinematics and coordinate transformation

« on: January 24, 2010, 06:02:48 AM »

I've seen a site were they are using gmax? and a plug in to write gcode for 5 axis milling, I'll try to find it again and post the address for you.

Steve

60

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problem with the gear cutting wizards

« on: January 24, 2010, 05:56:41 AM »

I was using 2 bobbins on a holder a set distance apart to form the cutter as per Ivan Laws book, anyway after messing on for a few evenings I had it set up and formed the 18 tooth cutter then moved onto the 12 tooth cutter, however my oil hardening steel seems to have a section of hard lumps in it just at the wrong place and it made a mess of my form tool.
So I bought some for £18 each, I was just fed up with wasting time when all I'd wanted to make was 3 gears.

I do have the licence for NF wizards and have used them no problem before for other jobs but I've never used the gear one.

Steve