Messages

31

General Mach Discussion / My Mach 3 is set to native units of MM, but when I tram the DRO gives it in inch

« on: August 29, 2020, 01:25:34 PM »

It needs to be known I have switched back and forth and have finally settled on MM to be the native unit, and have adjusted all my limits, etc., to reflect that.

I have rebooted, even turned my computer off, but I can't get the DRO to read out in MMs. 

When I load "G0 X1" it actually physically moves 1 mm, yet the readout is still in inches. Same with all axes.

32

General Mach Discussion / How can I turn a home switch also into a limit switch?

« on: August 29, 2020, 12:11:49 PM »

I'm missing something when attempting this in Mach 3.

I have all the switches so they home into the front of the machine, to the left, with the spindle going up. I hit "ref all home" and they all hit their switches and then back off a tiny bit.

I have a kamikaze Z axis, and when running a g-code will often start out plunging up, or if it doesn't do that it plunges down several inches a minute or so into a carve.  I would like so when it goes up and hits the switch it stops instead of trying to crush the switch.

How do I do this?

33

General Mach Discussion / Re: Which wires in the control box should be shielded?

« on: August 25, 2020, 11:36:26 AM »

Tweakie,

It's hard to quantify how helpful you are.  Thank you.

34

General Mach Discussion / Which wires in the control box should be shielded?

« on: August 24, 2020, 05:57:51 PM »

I understand wires that send info need to be shielded, because one doesn't want the message to be corrupted. 

But how about those that only supply power?  And what about having shielded wire, but then there there can be that last half inch that is not shielded because it is part of a four strand shielded cable? 

How far away from the stepper control stuff should the inverter be?  I imagine it puts out a big chunk of magnetic fields. 

What about the Z axis motor being so close to the spindle?  Do those 4 wires to the stepper motor need every mm shielded?

I want to make it's not EMI that us causing me issues. 

35

General Mach Discussion / Can a Lenovo X220 laptop be used as a CNC controlling computer?

« on: August 21, 2020, 07:51:52 PM »

I have read where some laptops won't work if it has a centrino processor or internal powering down that can't be shut off.

I have gone through all the settings and disabled every screen saver, every energy saver, sleep mode, etc.   It's set so the processor is on maximum at all times and it doesn't shut off as long as power is to it.   

Therefore, was curious if anyone else has used a Lenovo business laptop and been successful. 

36

General Mach Discussion / Re: Suggestions for a better control system for my WorkBee 1500 x 1500?

« on: August 21, 2020, 05:43:22 PM »

The Warp9 ESS and Gecko G540 are worthy contenders if you are looking for quality products with manufacturer's full support and back-up.

Please remember that Mach3 is now obsolescent so you should perhaps also be looking towards Mach4.

Tweakie.

With the equipment you are recommending, would the Warp9 ESS be the motion controller, and the Gecko G540 be the stepper driver? 

37

General Mach Discussion / Re: Suggestions for a better control system for my WorkBee 1500 x 1500?

« on: August 21, 2020, 10:46:16 AM »

The Warp9 ESS and Gecko G540 are worthy contenders if you are looking for quality products with manufacturer's full support and back-up.

Please remember that Mach3 is now obsolescent so you should perhaps also be looking towards Mach4.

Tweakie.

Thank you. I just bought Mach 3.  What is the cost of upgrading?

38

General Mach Discussion / Re: Suggestions for a better control system for my WorkBee 1500 x 1500?

« on: August 21, 2020, 01:12:12 AM »

Btw, the motors are Nema 23, 2.45Nm.

39

General Mach Discussion / Suggestions for a better control system for my WorkBee 1500 x 1500?

« on: August 21, 2020, 12:08:06 AM »

I am an official purchaser of Mach 3 software.

I bought a Chinese kit to put together a WorkBee 1500 x 1500 lead screw machine.  It has a Novusun controller and TB6600 stepper controllers driving the 3A, 8 microstep stepper motors.

I also purchased V-Carve Pro because I had some very specific artwork with fonts in my house I wanted to copy and reproduce on wood for my grandchildren's bunkbeds. 

Anyway, I think I have the settings correct in Mach 3 (settings that worked for others), but I'm not sure this system is compatible with things created with V-Carve Pro and the .txt files they make for G-code.  Z axis goes too far up, and too far down.

I'm to the point where I'm ready to try another main controller and stepper controllers for these motors that others KNOW can work with V-Carve Pro .txt files and Mach 3. 

Any suggestions? 

40

FAQs / Re: When pushing left arrow X axis goes right

« on: August 07, 2020, 10:42:25 AM »

You da man.  Thank you!