Messages

21

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

22

General Mach Discussion / Re: Reinstall Mach3 How To Do It Properly

« on: January 06, 2009, 12:55:59 AM »

Houston, We have SUCCESS!!

The solution of the nonworking Limit/Home Switches was to reconfigure the X Y and Z Limit/Home Switches into one serial connection and connect all three to Pin 12 (z) and Ground on the BOB.

Brett also walked me through configuring my Motor Home/Soft limit settings.  Am proud to say that everything is working as Mach3 has designed it to thanks to. 

All of this was done without the aid of Brett connecting to my PC and seeing the screen and know exactly what was happening.  If there is a next time I will arrange to connect the CNC PC using a wireless adapter, that will make technical assistance much, much easier.

Thanks again Brett.

Hager (AKA Mr.Chips)

23

General Mach Discussion / Re: Reinstall Mach3 How To Do It Properly

« on: January 05, 2009, 10:01:58 AM »

I am using micro switches,and all of the Limit/Home switche pairs (IE: X+ and X-) are wired in series, and are connected to the Normally Closed terminals of the switches.

I disconnected the X-10, Y-11 and Z-12 connections to the BOB from the switches, and moved the wires for testing.

I then made a connection from my VOM to the ground on the BOB which was still connected to the return of all three sets of switches.

I then tested the X-10, Y-11 and Z-12 wires that were disconnected from the BOB and all three showed continunity, as they should because the switches were wired Normally Closed. (Testid one by one)

I then checked X-10, Y-11 and Z-12 wires in turn by pressing the + and - limit switches and the circuit showed an open as each switch was depressed.

Everything checks out as far as the switches and wiring from the BOB to the Switches and back.

What is my next step?

Thank you all for your help.

24

General Mach Discussion / Re: Reinstall Mach3 How To Do It Properly

« on: January 05, 2009, 01:42:45 AM »

1. With the Bob connected to the computer, but not to the switches, check the outputs (i.e. the ones going to the computer) that correspond to the inputs from your switches and see what voltage they are - Ov of 5v. If you check the Z axis first and see what that is. then the X and the Y axis. They should all be the same. If not there is a problem with your Bob.

Voltages:  Measured from ground to drive pins and limit switches disconnected.  X= 5.08  Y= 5.08  Z= 4.84  A= 3.34  E-Stop Pin15 (not isolated) 4.95

2.  Verified that X, Y, Z were all set to the correct port and pin.  Plugged Limit switch connection back in.  Input 1 & 2 not Lit, and there isnt any change when I manually trip either switch, Z was lit and it goes off when I trip either Z limit switch.

3. Disconnected the limit switch connection:  Used a jumper between the ground and X and then Y no led light, jumped ground to Z and the led lit.

What do you think?

25

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

26

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 View Screen too BIG for my monitor

« on: January 01, 2009, 04:34:05 PM »

Thanks Hood,  I'm back in the game now.

Hager Hay

27

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 View Screen too BIG for my monitor

« on: January 01, 2009, 04:30:29 PM »

OK I got it.

Had to shut down Mach and restart then it was OK

Thanks.

28

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 View Screen too BIG for my monitor

« on: January 01, 2009, 04:28:44 PM »

I found the General Config and checkwd the Auto  Screen Enlarge option, however even if I move that screen to the very top I can only see a portion of the OK.  Tried clicking that but it doesn't resize the screen, is there something below the "OK" on the screen that I would need to click on but cannot see?

29

General Mach Discussion / Mach3 View Screen too BIG for my monitor

« on: January 01, 2009, 03:44:34 PM »

When I started Mach3 Mill this morning the Mach3 screen was about 30% too large for my 17" monitor.  For some reason it was way oversize.  Haven't had this problem before.
Opened Mach3 Plasma and it filled the monitor screen normally.

How can I correct this?   

Thanks

Hager

30

General Mach Discussion / Re: After using the “Steps Per Unit” in “Axis Calibration” my CNC wont run properly

« on: September 04, 2008, 02:30:12 PM »

Thank you Thank you Thank you.  Two Gold Stars for You!

I looked it up in the Mach 3 mill manual and it talked about running the Wizards but not this very important point.