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Messages - cjmerlin

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41
General Mach Discussion / Wierd LPT problem
« on: January 12, 2011, 11:54:16 AM »

Hi all, I've been using my Mach3 lathe for quite a few years without too many problems.

Today, I was running the same code as always and in the middle of the run both axis stopped.

I checked through from drive power to the lpt cable and discovered that the computer is not outputting any steps
on the pins. I connected an oscilloscope to the lpt1 connector and checked pins 2 and 3, The direction signal on pin3
works ok but no signal on pin2.

I then swapped the pins in Mach3 and tested again and I have direction on pin2 but no output on pin3 so the lpt port is ok.

This 1200 mhz computer only runs Mach3 on Win2000 nothing else. I have not loaded any new software or done anything but use mach3
on it. I then re-installed Mach ontop of the existing version and still have the problem.


Any ideas..


Cheers
John




42
General Mach Discussion / Re: TTL signal
« on: January 04, 2011, 08:47:28 AM »
Hi, TTL chip 7414. It has a few schmitt inverters each with an input and output. You will need to use 2 inverters in the chip, connect an output of one to the input of another. As each inverts the signal so by connecting two together means you original signal will be correct and not inverted.

The datasheet for the 7414 can be easily found online.

If connecting straight to a computer you really need an opto isolator too. If you already have a BOB, use an output on this and connect your new circuit.

43
General Mach Discussion / Re: TTL signal
« on: January 04, 2011, 07:58:55 AM »
You could make a small circuit using a schmitt trigger TTL chip supplied with a 5v source. This will give a clean output 0v-5v on-off for your laser.

44
General Mach Discussion / Re: Serial Port control under cypress enable
« on: December 18, 2010, 01:16:43 PM »
Hi, Very interesting post. I have a Boxford TCL160 lathe that is original and uses Win98 software.

I would be interested to understand the serial communication Boxford uses and try to get Mach3 working with it.

I have put up with the win98 software for now but the reason I need a change is that the tool is selected by type and not tool position. I have a few tools of the same type but it will only select the first one it sees. It also can't do internal righthand threads without me having to tinker with the postprocessing which can be a manual nightmare.

Great work..

45
General Mach Discussion / Re: Automoatic tool changer macros & sensing
« on: September 30, 2010, 06:19:43 AM »
VB isn't difficult and i'm sure if you get stuck there's plenty of us that can help. My Boxford lathe uses a stepper on it's toolchanger. When reversing onto the rachet enough pulses are sent to the stepper for about one and a quarter tool positions. The boxford changer is so much quicker than the Orac.

It so happens i've a spare stepper driver built in the Orac and will have to get around to following your lead.

Thanks for sharing.

John

46
General Mach Discussion / Re: Automoatic tool changer macros & sensing
« on: September 29, 2010, 12:59:47 PM »

Interesting thread, I have one of these in it's original form and I like what you did with the stepper there, do you have any details of the coupling.


I've attached my macro for you to look at, It uses the original sensors so there are bits of code that may interest you.

47
General Mach Discussion / Re: Input or output
« on: May 12, 2010, 11:09:21 AM »
Hi, Using a brain, there is a way to invert the signal if I remember. Would this help?

48
G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Turning Aluminium Advise.
« on: May 06, 2010, 07:45:16 AM »
Hi Graham, I re-did the code this morning to .35 and made some really rough threads (chuckle). I readjusted to .1mm/rev and 0.5mm DOC and all seems well.

Thanks for the advise though, Ally is a new material for me as I've been turning stainless most of the time.



Cheers
John

49
G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Turning Aluminium Advise.
« on: May 05, 2010, 03:20:40 PM »

Hi, I've recently been cutting aluminium on my boxford cnc lathe, the swarf production is copius and I have to stop at each pass to remove said swarf.
 I've been trying to adjust the feed rate to produce short swarf lengths which will not gather up around the tool.

All tools have positive inserts and the surface speed is set at 200M/min and a feed of 0.06mm/rev, cutting 1mm per pass. I am using G95,G96.

What is the best strategy to produce short lengths of swarf in roughing passes.

Cheers
John

50
General Mach Discussion / Re: Cutting speed
« on: April 30, 2010, 06:56:11 PM »
Rapid feed is as fast as the machine will jog without losing position. Max cutting feed rate will depend on the maxium spinde speed for the cutter in use. For example my mill has a maxium spindle speed of 1750 rpm so even when using cutters that can happlily run at 10,000rpm I have to limit my feed rate to get the correct chip load for the cutter so it's slow feed rates for me until I redress the mill's lack of spindle rpm.


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