Messages

111

General Mach Discussion / Re: New PlugIn

« on: January 16, 2007, 07:30:37 PM »

Thanks! This actually could be handy in a number of things. It would make a neat way to teach a multi axis robot moves.

Chad
 (or make tea)

112

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach + Grex + Pendant w/MPG

« on: January 11, 2007, 11:23:20 PM »

An encoder and a mpg are basically the same type of device, or more specifically a quadrature encoder.

Art probably was testing the mpg input and the hardware already handles the quadrature decoding so it was easy to work with.

Chad

113

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Eagle KM-750..Anilam Crusader GX-M

« on: January 11, 2007, 11:54:27 AM »

That thing looks great if it works. Too bad it doesn't have one more axis!


Chad

114

General Mach Discussion / Re: servo versus stepper drives

« on: January 05, 2007, 06:59:41 PM »

no..

Steppers are steppers, servos are servos. You could home brew a true closed loop stepper system with lots of electronics exp.
Steppers are usually way behind servos in performance and speed this is also reflected in the price of steppers vs. servos. They were designed as a way to get close to servo position accuracy with out the added expense and complexity of a true closed loop system.

AC servo  (brush-less) = true closed loop - highest performance - highest cost.
DC servo (brushed) = true closed loop - high performance - medium to high cost.
Stepper = open loop - moderate performance , can loose position - low to high cost.

Now i am not trying to say that steppers are junk, I have a couple of machines with them and they do great. I am just trying to say that they are what they are. I also have a couple of machines with ac servos and they stomp the steppers.

There is a company that makes a encoder feedback for steppers. It doesn't provide true closed loop feedback but it will tell mach to stop if a stepper has lost position.

Chad
 

115

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: radius

« on: January 05, 2007, 06:54:13 AM »

Those are very cool!! Could you describe the process for one of them. 

BTW. you can post up to 4 photos per 'post' , not total..

Chad

116

Mach Screens / Re: Stumbled across this cool OEM screen

« on: January 02, 2007, 11:38:24 PM »

That is cool! It is too bad art probably can't tell us about all of the oem's. I bet there are lots of people doing neat things with mach.


Chad

117

General Mach Discussion / Re: motor setup

« on: December 30, 2006, 03:31:46 AM »

Laptops with a PCMCIA parallel port do not work. You chances are about as good as my lotto ticket letting me retire. SO don't spend too much time on it.


Chad

118

Tangent Corner / Re: CNC telescope mirror grinder.

« on: December 26, 2006, 10:49:17 PM »

cool good post, thanks!

Chad

119

General Mach Discussion / Re: spindle hookup

« on: December 24, 2006, 05:27:03 AM »

A Much easier way to do this is with a solid state relay. It is basically a relay that can take 5 volt from your controller board and switch the router on and off when mach tells it to.

Google: crydom solid state relay. Look for a 20 amp 240 volt. they should be about $30 or so and are very easy to hook up..

Chad

120

General Mach Discussion / Re: spindle hookup

« on: December 23, 2006, 01:31:49 AM »

What is the spindle. Is there a controller for the spindle. or is is it just a plug like a router/ dremel.

Chad