Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / Add 2nd DRO for Y axis

« on: April 23, 2020, 01:25:28 PM »

How can I add a second DRO to monitor the Y Slave (C) axis I’m having problems with lost steps and would like to monitor both the Y master and Y slave movement.
Thanks

2

General Mach Discussion / Loosing steps Add a second Y axis DRO for mach3

« on: April 22, 2020, 03:11:28 PM »

I am having a bad problem with lost steps, and was wondering if a second DRO display for the Y axis. Am using Y Master and Y slave.
The lost steps are always coming from the Y slave driver to the left side Y stepper motor.
If I switch the cables to the steppers, send the Y slave driver output to the right side stepper, the right side stepper starts loosing steps.

This looks like it points to the driver, and not the stepper motor.

What could be the cause of loosing steps?
The below test was ran Wednesday morning. Tuesday afternoon it was not possible at all to run the same code at 75IPM without it failing and loosing steps.

I was surprised this morning for it to run so well until later in the test, and I realize thet 200 IPM is extreme for me.

Here is some testing I have done at different speeds.
Material 3/16" plywood, 1/8" single flute end mill,  cutting 0.050" per pass, the letter outline I'm cutting is 12"x14"

Test 1 pass 60 IPM
Test 2 pass 60 IPM
Test 3 pass 75 IPM
Test 4 pass 75 IPM
Test 5 pass 100 IPM
Test 6 pass 125 IPM
Test 7 pass 150 IPM
Test 8 pass 175 IPM
Test 9 fail 200 IPM  Realign gantry
Test 10 pass 75 IPM
Test 11 pass 75 IPM
Test 12 fail 75 IPM  Gantry skew left 33" right 34 3/4"
Stepper temperature left 170 F   right 185 F

3

General Mach Discussion / Configure C25S with ESS Smoothstepper

« on: March 26, 2020, 08:24:05 PM »

Mach3, ESS Smoothstepper, C25S BOB, windows10, Gecko G251 Drivers
Two Y drivers, C slaved to Y2

I  have the Smoothstepper set up and the C25S card arrived today.

My problem is that the C25S board manual or site doesn’t include the configuration of the C25S to the drivers.   The wiring diagram that they show in the manual doesn’t match the C25S board.  I have left three messages on their phone, but I guess the virus or something has them shut down.   Also Posted on their forum a few days ago without any reply.

The only response I got back was that the back row of pins is exactly the same as the front row, that’s true except for some 5V and Ground pins are not in the same location on the front and back rows.

I need to know how to configure my four drivers X, Y1, Y2, and Z. Where Y2 is slaved to C.

SIGNAL. ENAB.  STP PIN NO. DIR PIN NO. DIR LOW ACI. STP LOW ACI. STP PORT DIR PORT
X axis.     Yes.           1.                  2.              X.                   X.                1.                1
Y AXS 1.  YES            3.                  4.             X.                    X.                1.                1
Z ax’s.     Yes.            7.                  8.             X.                    X.                1.                1
C axis      Yes.            5.                  6.             X.                    X.                1.                1

C axis is slaved to Y2

I’m guessing that the numbered pins on the C25S board can be step or direction either on, as the pins are defined in the Ports and Pins.  Is that correct?

The “PORT” in ports and pins, on the C25S board the front row of pins, are they PORT1 and the back row of pins, are they PORT 2?

Thanks

4

General Mach Discussion / Update Mach3 SW to a newer version

« on: November 02, 2014, 10:44:42 PM »

I have recently purchased the 2010 Screen utility which allows for auto zero of the Z axis and for zeroing the Z axis when a tool change is done.

The 2010 Screen SW requires a newer version of Mach than I have installed, I downloaded a version of Mach3 that is compatible with the 2010 screen utility.

What is the process to replace my old version of Mach3 with the newer version?  Any precautions?


Thanks
HH

5

Mach3 and G-Rex / Updating from Mach3 version 3.43.022 to 3.43.062

« on: October 28, 2014, 05:36:05 PM »

I have updated to a newer a version of Mach a few years ago but at age 74 it might as well been in a past life.  I downloaded the newer version from their FTP site, and that went well.

But it seems I remember something about backing up a certain file just in case things go Amis,  that's all I remember.  If someone could give me a step by step procedure I sure would appreciate it. 

Thanks
HH aka Mr Chips

6

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Mach3 stops at this line "S100M03"

« on: October 18, 2011, 09:32:33 PM »

For some reason when gcode is generated and it contains a "S" command such as "S100M03" the execution stops at this line, If I comment the line out it runs fine.

Any idea how I can fix this so I don't always have to edit that line out.  I use a router so the "S" command doesn't have control over the router anyway.

Thanks

Also I have a new email and cannot find where to update that for this forum.

Hager

7

General Mach Discussion / The Display screen doesn't display the item being cut

« on: April 16, 2010, 11:52:25 PM »

For some time now the display screen (blue screen in upper right side of the standard Mach3 screen) in any of the views does not display the cut outline nor do the X/Y reference lines move.

What have I done to cause this, I'm sure it's not a Mach Bug, LOL   

Thanks

Hager

8

General Mach Discussion / Two CNC configurations on one PC, Possible?

« on: January 02, 2010, 02:45:31 AM »

I have a licensed Mach3 set up and running my 1st machine, It is a simple 3 axis machine using 3 steppers.  I am building a second machine which is a moving gantry with a screw and stepper on each side of the gantry and using 4 steppers.  After my second machine it running and all set up I will take tear down my first machine.

But in the meantime I would like to use the same PC that has mach installed on it to be able to run either of the two machines without having to change all of the configurations and mach set up when I connect up either one of the machines.  Is this possible and if so how would it be done?

9

General Mach Discussion / The Need For Speed. . . . At least for rapids

« on: January 07, 2009, 12:17:15 AM »

MORE SPEED.
I can cut plywood, maple and MDF very consistently at 30 IPM without any lost steps, but I would like to run rapids faster.

What can I do to increase my rapids speed, without risking loosing steps?
With the below settings the maximum IPM is 93.78, no matter what number I plug in above that it defaults to 93.78.  What is limiting this speed setting?

I noticed when running the X axis (x5, x0) it would run in the + direction just fine at 93.78, but as soon as it reversed it would stall.  Hmmm any ideas why?

Even after running over a half hour the motors are just warm to the touch, never hot.  I read about everyone being concerned about hot steppers and wonder why mine don’t get hot, hey not that I’m complaining, but why not?

Thanks
Hager

Here are my specifications:

PC running XP Pro

Steppers: 200 Oz In
   Nema: 23
   Phase: 1.5 Amps
   Volts: 12-24
   6 wire Unipolar or Bipolar (wired as Unipolar)

Power Supply: 24V
Acme Screws: ½” 10 TPI
Steps Per: 16,000
Kernel Speed: 25,000
G’s: 0.0259019
Step Pulse: 0
Dir Pulse: 0

10

General Mach Discussion / Reinstall Mach3 How To Do It Properly

« on: January 04, 2009, 10:47:17 PM »

IBM Clone Running XP Pro, Registered version of Mach3, Homemade Fixed Grantry CNC

I have wired up my Limit/Home switches in series.  Checked that they work as desired with a VOM, no shorts or opens found.

X is wired to pin10, Y to Pin 11, and Z to pin 12, the return to the ground of the BOB.

I have configured Mach3 Input to be Port 1 and pins 10,11,12 for XYZ.

And now the problem:
When go to the Diagnostics in Mach3 the Z is already lit and it will blink if I depress either of the Z switches.
Neither of the X or Y LED are lit and will not light if I depress either one of them.

I am told that I need to reinstall Mach3 because there is something that has gone bad within Mach3.

Do I need to delete the Directory containing all of the Mach3 files or can I just reinstall the latest version over the current version. 

I understand you can save a certain file that contains all of the current settings so you don't have to reset them all over again, but I'm not sure if I should do that as I might just keep the same problem.

Thanks