Messages

21

General Mach Discussion / Re: Motor tuning question

« on: May 23, 2006, 12:35:55 AM »

Thank You! That makes sense, and I will adjust my settings accordingly.

Whew! And I thought BASKET WEAVING was technical

Mark

22

General Mach Discussion / Motor tuning question

« on: May 22, 2006, 10:25:18 PM »

I am using a 3 axis driver board from HobbyCNC.com. I have set the jumpers on the board to 1/4 step microstepping.

I am confused by the 'steps per' setting in the Motor tuning setup. I am using 1.8 degree 200 step motors with 200 oz/in torque. I am using lead screws of 5 turns per inch for X and Y, and 16 tpi for the Z axis. I have the same motors on all 3 axis.

So, in order to set up the software properly, do I use the 2000 'steps per' setting? I have watched the video and read the manual, and am just a bit confused if I have done this properly. I set the value to 2000 'steps per' and I am calibrating in inches in the system.

(My initial thought is that I am set for 1/4 step micro stepping, so that would be 4 steps per turn, times 5 turns per inch, so it would be 20 steps per inch, but since that is SO far off from what I see in the manual, I am confused.)

Thanks for the help!

Mark

23

General Mach Discussion / Making my first cut... getting the DXF file into Mach 3 and working it...

« on: May 22, 2006, 01:35:57 PM »

I just finished my 3 axis mill last night and want to cut my first part. I have not yet gone through the well written Mach 3 manual fully, so forgive me if the answer to this is there.

I have the small part in a DXF file, and want to use it in Mach 3 demo version to test things out. I tried the roadrunner file last night and it didn't seem to move the machine, but I could get goo movement just jogging the axis with the jog buttons.

I imported the small part file into Mach 3 via the File>DXF feature, and it shows up in the window properly. However, I am not sure how to size the part. It appears that Mach 3 thinks the part is larger dimensionally than I designed it. Also, when I go to cut the file, it seems to show a slow cut path, even thought I have set the speeds and tuned it in the motors menu.

Thanks for the help. I am looking forward to being a contributor instead of an 'asker"

Mark

24

General Mach Discussion / Re: Planning my first cutting project

« on: May 18, 2006, 12:03:17 PM »

Thanks Brian.

I will need to take one step at a time before I learn to run, but I wanted to see if the program had some built in functionality for multiple cuts that I had not seen.

My first thought was to draw the tree in the CAD program, copy and paste it several times in the CAD program-- say 5 to a row, and 8 rows deep-- so that I would have an entire drawing of the completed set of 40 trees of control horns.

If I did this, imported the file into LCam and let it work it's magic, do you think that would be the best way to go for a  project like this?

Also, since I have the Mach 3 trial download, is LCam available for trial testing as well, or only after registering?

I see it is not available as a separate download.

Thanks for the advice!

Mark

25

General Mach Discussion / Planning my first cutting project

« on: May 18, 2006, 12:16:53 AM »

Hi All:

I am just finishing a scratch built 3 axis mill, and I am preping for my first cutting job.

I want to make several iterations of the same part on a sheet of ABS plastic. I am making control horns to be used on a model airplane I sell. I am looking for advice and a possible explanation of what I should do to set this file up for cutting in Mach 3/4.

I plan to make a set of 4 of these parts for each kit. Each part is identical, so I just need to cut them in such a way as to hold all 4 of them together in a tree. My table is 18" x 33" cutting area, so I can make several trees per run.

So my question is: To set this kind of part up in Mach 3 or 4, would I make a DXF file of all of the parts on one sheet, set up as I want the sheet to look after all of the sets of parts are cut;

Or...

Do I make a DXF of one tree, and have that duplicated via some offset mechanism in Mach 3 that allows multiple cuts of the same file in rows and columns?

After watching the training videos, this program is so comprehensive that I feel I must get some direction from the experts before I attempt to re-create the wheel. I can see myself duplicating trees of 4 control horns on one DXF file, and finding out later there was a faster, more elegant way of doing this. So.... I ask for directions BEFORE getting lost 

Thanks!

Mark