Messages

71

General Mach Discussion / Spindle Speed setup

« on: December 27, 2007, 10:46:20 AM »

Hi all,

I've just upgraded to V3.0 and am having some problems with the spindle calibration. I had, by trial & error got a pretty good calibration both in open & closed loop on my old V2.52 installation. I created a profile and carefully saved the xml, then re-installed it after the upgrade. I found that my hard won calibration had vanished!
I've not found any information about using the spindle calibration function and have always had a problem getting it to perform.  The defaults button doesn't seem to get rid of existing corrections.
Can anybody give me ?
1: A clear explanation of how Mach handles spindle speed. Is the data really in the xml?
2: How to use the setup procedure correctly.
I'm using turn, if it makes any difference.

Tony

72

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help, motors only humming but don't rotate

« on: December 26, 2007, 12:37:05 PM »

Ah, fine, I hadn't looked at it myself.

Tony

73

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: lazycam in turn mode

« on: December 26, 2007, 12:06:30 PM »

To clarify the last post, the line needs to extend from the centre of the stock to the OD. A separation of 0.5mm will do. You also need to join the lines at the centre, so its one continuous line on the same layer.
I've attached a simple example.

Tony

74

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help, motors only humming but don't rotate

« on: December 26, 2007, 11:55:53 AM »

Hood,
wouldn't the active hi/lo make a difference to the voltage measured?

Tony

75

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: lazycam in turn mode

« on: December 26, 2007, 11:07:19 AM »

Don
If you make sure that there is a line at the RHS of the stock extending to the outer diameter of the stock, Lcam will use several cuts, depending on the roughing & finishing settings to produce the profile. I'm not an expert - but that's what I've found. There's not much information about using turn yet, also it doesn't always do what you want. Bear in mind it's still work in progress.

Tony

76

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help, motors only humming but don't rotate

« on: December 26, 2007, 10:46:30 AM »

Make sure the step pulse is set to to a reasonable figure - above 5 us. My own drives won't work with less than 6. Presumably you haven't changed the driver or motor since it worked on Turbocnc so there's no need to worry about the motor phase- leave it as it was.

Tony

77

General Mach Discussion / Re: Still unable to get motors to turn under mach 3 after 1.5 weeks

« on: December 23, 2007, 03:30:39 PM »

I use a charge pump on the lathe. I've had the occasional software freeze & I like to know that everything has stopped. My system uses the pump as part of the interlock system and has a bi-colour LED that is red for off & green for on.
With a spindle under PC control I wouldn't like to be without it.
Is your pump a separate unit?

Tony

78

General Mach Discussion / Re: Still unable to get motors to turn under mach 3 after 1.5 weeks

« on: December 23, 2007, 05:56:59 AM »

That's great,

it's always something small, tucked away in a corner, that stops things. Now you can really have some fun!

Tony

79

General Mach Discussion / Re: Still unable to get motors to turn under mach 3 after 1.5 weeks

« on: December 22, 2007, 04:40:10 PM »

When you checked your step pulse with the 'scope, did you do it with the drive connected?

Tony

80

General Mach Discussion / Re: Still unable to get motors to turn under mach 3 after 1.5 weeks

« on: December 22, 2007, 03:41:13 PM »

I may have spoken too soon about the common 0v connection. Although data sheet doesn't say it, the driver input may consist of the input to an opto- isolator with an internal resistor connected to the +5v input. That would allow the breakout board to pull current though it via it's own 0v. So my previous  comment may be a 'red herring'.
A test you could try would be to switch the drive to it's coarsest setting of 1 step per pulse. Disconnect the step input from the bob. Connect the step input to 0v (the 5v supply 0v) via a push button ( or just dab the wire on & off). You should be able to manually pulse the motor one step at a time.
This is about as basic a test you can do.

Tony