Messages

1661

General Mach Discussion / Deeper into the 4th A Axis

« on: December 30, 2008, 01:11:22 PM »

Hi all,

Ok, I have a few questions concerning the setup with the 4th axis. For the moment, I will be using this in a horizontal position to either cut gears and splines using the Wizards in Mach 3, or using the "Wrapper" program that is a slick little program that was made up by a user on the Vectric forum.  This can be found here if you're interested:

http://www.vectric.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2920

A few questions:

1- Looking through many forums, I have seen of users setting up their 4th axis steps different ways such as "Angular"  or "Linear".  Which do I choose for the programs I want to run? I would be thinking angular but not positive. Is this something that the user would change for certain jobs using the 4th axis?

2- My stepper is indeed a 200 step/ 1.8 degr. per step and it is set up for microstepping so that's 2000 steps/ 0.18 degr. per step, correct?
    Which also means it's 144,000 steps per 360 rotation, correct?
    Does this  mean that by dividing 144,000 by 360 , I then put "400" into the steps per box for the A axis?
     
3- Any ideas on a slick way to check the actual backlash on a rotary table. By just putting an indicator on it, the "play" in the table is .0012" . Not too shabby but if you have any other ideas, please let me know -

 
Thanks as always-
Dave

1662

Works in progress / Re: Conversational Wizard/Screen set for Mach

« on: December 28, 2008, 12:07:33 PM »

 

Dave

1663

Works in progress / Re: Conversational Wizard/Screen set for Mach

« on: December 28, 2008, 11:31:06 AM »

Agreed, that's how I like to look at forums as well and mine is set up like that at the moment.

I actually thought it was set that way by default but possibly you have "Show most recent posts at the top." checked in the "Look and Layout Preferences" area in your Profile?

Dave

1664

Works in progress / Re: Conversational Wizard/Screen set for Mach

« on: December 28, 2008, 11:08:48 AM »

 

I hear ya, I've got way too many as well.

You're attention to detail on the screens is very impressive.

Again, beautiful work-

Dave

1665

Works in progress / Re: Conversational Wizard/Screen set for Mach

« on: December 28, 2008, 09:27:01 AM »

Andy, you do beautiful work, your screens are gorgeous.   

May I ask what you use to make them?

Thanks for sharing -

Dave

1666

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Finished my Taig 4th Axis

« on: December 28, 2008, 09:10:18 AM »

Thanks, fellas, and yes, it is a Sherline and it's a beauty.

Very tight unit but I'll be sure to figure out the backlash and let you know-

Dave

1667

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Finished my Taig 4th Axis

« on: December 27, 2008, 07:24:19 PM »

Thanks, Rich and yes, that program was "wrapper" that I pointed to a fellow member here at one time. I'll have to wite a few test programs to see ho it goes and report back.

As fr the chuck, it's probably going to be an independant 4 jaw Taig chuck from cartertools.com.

Dave

1668

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Finished my Taig 4th Axis

« on: December 27, 2008, 06:09:09 PM »

lol! Oh yeah, too small indeed, I could probably fit all my tools including my 9" south bend on just one of your machines..... 

Dave

1669

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Finished my Taig 4th Axis

« on: December 27, 2008, 05:50:02 PM »

Hood, it's a 4" table and I have it just about 5/8" above the table surface so that gives me about  2.625" swing on it. I don't imagine I'll be doing anything larger than that on it but we all know how that goes..... 

RC, I have not measured it yet, but it looks to be way less than a 1/4 degree. Probably around a tenth if I trusted my eyes like I should.. 

That will definitely be measured though as I'll be using it for small engravings which would stick out like a sore thumb if I didn't compensate for that.

Dave

1670

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Finished my Taig 4th Axis

« on: December 27, 2008, 04:34:18 PM »

Finished my 4th (A) axis today and thought I'd share a few pics.

It's a Sherline rotary table which is easily the best little table out there that I have found for the money and that's probably why most major benchtop CNC companies use them.

The base has a step block on the bottom that is parallel to the table to ease in mounting and locating the assembly. 

The electronics come from Probotix and so far the stuff seems decent but time will tell. No squealing or grinding or anything like that. Just a nice quiet drive.

Now I just have to learn how to use the damn thing  











Dave