Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: OD Taper Wizard Help Needed

« on: July 07, 2011, 10:51:37 AM »

Thanks for laying it all out so clearly Rich.  I have cross checked my results (using the standard Mach3 Turn xml AND my customized one, SBLathe) on the testbed PC and everything matches up to your outputs in both Radius and Diameter mode which makes me happy   

I have to check all of this on the lathe itself, but using the same xml should give me the same results.  The strange thing is still that what was actually cut using the SBLathe xml doesn't look like either of your drawings.  The nose is very blunt, almost like it cut 27 degrees as measured from the face and not the axis. It's similar to your first drawing if it were rotated 90 degrees CCW.

It definitely looks like I need to stay in Diameter mode to use this wizard.  I'll experiment more and try to find what I may be doing to mess this up, and post it here of course.  Thanks again!

Mr. Technical

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: OD Taper Wizard Help Needed

« on: July 06, 2011, 06:02:29 PM »

Hi Rich,

Thanks for shedding some light on this, and glad to hear I may not be crazy.  I'll be anxious to hear what will fix this. 

Hood,

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner, but I appreciate the help!  Let's see if I have any questions after Rich comes back.

Mr. Technical

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: OD Taper Wizard Help Needed

« on: June 29, 2011, 05:17:05 PM »

Sure.  This is the code that I generated from the test computer running the same personalized XML that I posted.  Also, I used the same settings for start/end etc as I listed in the first post.  However, although I think the feed and speed settings are the same, I'm not sure.  If that causes any issues, please let me know.

Mr. Technical

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: OD Taper Wizard Help Needed

« on: June 29, 2011, 04:25:35 PM »

That makes sense, but any other ideas about why this is happening?

Mr. Technical

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: OD Taper Wizard Help Needed

« on: June 29, 2011, 02:36:59 PM »

OK, something weird is definitely going on. 

Loading my XML on a different computer, and inputting the ODTaper2 file you supplied I get what you can see in the ODT1 screenshot file below, which looks very close or identical to the simulation diagram I get on the actual lathe computer where all of this started.

Loading the same ODTaper2 file under the standard non customized XML, (Mach3 turn) I get what appears in ODT2 screenshot.  Interesting thing is, this looks like what the lathe actually cut.  You can see how flat the angle is-it's not the 45 degrees I need.

Incidentally, what version are you running?  I'm not at the lathe so I don't know the exact version, but it's in the 2's I think.  The other test computer I'm using is running version 3.042.

Mr. Technical

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: OD Taper Wizard Help Needed

« on: June 29, 2011, 10:45:28 AM »

Here's the screenshot showing how I've filled out the fields.  Thanks for all the help!

Mr. Technical

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: OD Taper Wizard Help Needed

« on: June 28, 2011, 03:29:59 PM »

Hood:  Still figuring out if there are problems with different types of cuts, but 1" of commanded Z movement equals 1" of actual Z movement, and same thing for the X axis.  That was one of the first things I looked at (steps per revolution).  XML attached.

mr.c:  Thanks for the input.  Z zero is the face of the part, and X zero is the center.  X .5 is with the tool touching the side of the 1" diameter barstock, since I'm in Diameter Mode.  Z -.5 is half an inch from the faced end of the part (towards the chuck).

Also, I'm attaching the g code that running the wizard as stated produces.

Mr. Technical

8

General Mach Discussion / OD Taper Wizard Help Needed

« on: June 28, 2011, 12:41:21 PM »

Hi Guys,

I recently got my lathe set up, but am having problems using the OD Taper Wizard.  I'm trying to put a 45 deg taper (90 degree included point angle) on a 1" diameter rod.  The wizard seems to want to make a taper with the wrong angle.  It's making the angle very blunt, or flat.  The odd thing is that the display of the toolpath looks right.

What I'm looking for is a point on the end of the bar, that goes from a point all the way to the outer diameter (no step).

The specifics:
I am a licensed user.
I am using Diameter mode.
OD Taper settings are as follows:

X End:  0.0
Angle:  +45.
X Start: .5
Z End: -.5
Z Start: 0.0
Clearance: .1

I have no idea what I'm missing.  Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Mr. Technical

9

General Mach Discussion / Config/State only for licensed versions??

« on: July 25, 2007, 04:38:27 PM »

Hello All,

I am trying to set up a trial version of Mach 3 to work with a 3rd party break out board.  The instructions that came with the board refer to going into 'Config/State'.  I have been unable to find that in the Config menu.  Am I looking in the wrong place, or do I need to buy the full version to get access to that area?  I plan to buy soon, but have to recuperate a little from the cost of the mill.  Any help is greatly appreciated.  Thanks!!

Ian