Messages

41

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: August 18, 2009, 05:05:34 PM »

All,

I'm an Aeronautical/Mechanical Engineer/Sailplane Pilot who is using Mach 3 on a Dyna 2800 mill that I converted to Mach 3 (CandCNC components), mostly as a hobby to make simple parts. Since I'm in the Engineering Consulting business, I have made prototype parts that I needed to have quickly (i.e., a couple of hours!) if they were simple enough...

I'm pretty ignorant on the machining side of this business, but I'm having fun learning. Fixturing parts has been the hardest thing for me figure out, but so far I haven't done any serious damage.

I'm pretty good on the CAD/Mechanical Design and Stress/Thermal Analysis side of things (mostly using Solidworks and its analysis package, Cosmos), and getting better at the CAM stuff (Visual Mill), so I can probably provide some help in this area if anyone needs it...

Regards,

SF

42

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: G52 Question

« on: July 27, 2009, 06:42:29 PM »

Excellent.

I added the G00 to the moves, put the G52 call on the next line, and put a G52 X0 on each subroutine call. It seems to execute exactly as it should.

Thanks for the help.

SF

Just in passing, the toolpath display shows four instances when file loads, but during execution, it repeats over the initial instance. I assume from reading other posts that this is because the absolute coordinates are the same for each instance, but the G52 command has moved the origin on the machine each time the subroutine executes...

43

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: G52 Question

« on: July 27, 2009, 12:14:23 PM »

I have another similar question about G52:

The following is my first attempt at using G52 to repeat a section of code to make multiple parts. I'm attempting to make 4 copies of the part, shifting the Xaxis 3.1 inches each time.

When I run the code, sometimes it behaves exactly as I intended. Occasionally, it shifts the second part in the negative direction, and other times seems to miss the the second shift altogether.

I'm new at this, and clearly I'm missing something about the G52 command...

Thanks,

SF

N10 G00 G49 G40.1 G17 G80 G50 G90
N20 G20
N30 (2 1/2 Axis Profiling)
N40 M6 T16
N50  M03 S4583

N51 M98 P100
N53 G52 X3.1
N54 M98 P100
N55 G52 X6.2
N56 M98 P100
N57 G52 X9.3
N58 M98 P100

N559 M30


O100
N60 G00 Z0.0625
N70 X1.2268 Y1.5360
N80 G01 Z-0.0450  F9.0
N90 Y1.4650  F15.0
N100 X1.2272 Y1.4637
N110 X1.2281 Y1.4628
N120 X1.2293 Y1.4625
N130 X1.5743
N140 X1.5756 Y1.4628
N150 X1.5765 Y1.4637
N160 X1.5768 Y1.4650
N170 Y2.0850
N180 X1.5765 Y2.0862
N190 X1.5756 Y2.0872
N200 X1.5743 Y2.0875
N210 X1.2293
N220 X1.2281 Y2.0872
N230 X1.2272 Y2.0862
N240 X1.2268 Y2.0850
N250 Y1.5360
N260 Z-0.0900
N270 Y1.4650
N280 X1.2272 Y1.4637
N290 X1.2281 Y1.4628
N300 X1.2293 Y1.4625
N310 X1.5743
N320 X1.5756 Y1.4628
N330 X1.5765 Y1.4637
N340 X1.5768 Y1.4650
N350 Y2.0850
N360 X1.5765 Y2.0862
N370 X1.5756 Y2.0872
N380 X1.5743 Y2.0875
N390 X1.2293
N400 X1.2281 Y2.0872
N410 X1.2272 Y2.0862
N420 X1.2268 Y2.0850
N430 Y1.5360
N440 G00 Z0.0625
N450 X0.7863 Y0.9620
N460 G01 Z-0.0450  F9.0
N470 X0.7822 Y0.9625  F15.0
N480 X0.4399
N490 X0.4387 Y0.9622
N500 X0.4378 Y0.9612
N510 X0.4374 Y0.9600
N520 Y0.3400
N530 X0.4378 Y0.3387
N540 X0.4387 Y0.3378
N550 X0.4399 Y0.3375
N560 X0.7849
N570 X0.7862 Y0.3378
N580 X0.7871 Y0.3387
N590 X0.7874 Y0.3400
N600 Y0.9602
N610 X0.7863 Y0.9620
N620 Z-0.0900
N630 X0.7822 Y0.9625
N640 X0.4399
N650 X0.4387 Y0.9622
N660 X0.4378 Y0.9612
N670 X0.4374 Y0.9600
N680 Y0.3400
N690 X0.4378 Y0.3387
N700 X0.4387 Y0.3378
N710 X0.4399 Y0.3375
N720 X0.7849
N730 X0.7862 Y0.3378
N740 X0.7871 Y0.3387
N750 X0.7874 Y0.3400
N760 Y0.9602
N770 X0.7863 Y0.9620
N780 G00 Z0.0625
N790 X0.5867 Y1.7421
N800 G01 Z-0.0450  F9.0
N810 X1.0234 Y2.4946  F15.0
N820 X1.0580 Y2.5456
N830 X1.0995 Y2.5912
N840 X1.1469 Y2.6306
N850 X1.1994 Y2.6628
N860 X1.2559 Y2.6874
N870 X1.3153 Y2.7039
N880 X1.3764 Y2.7118
N890 X1.4380 Y2.7110
N900 X1.4989 Y2.7016
N910 X1.5579 Y2.6837
N920 X1.6138 Y2.6577
N930 X1.6654 Y2.6242
N940 X1.7119 Y2.5837
N950 X1.7522 Y2.5371
N960 X1.7855 Y2.4852
N970 X2.7830 Y0.6648
N980 X2.7957 Y0.6362
N990 X2.8034 Y0.6059
N1000 X2.8060 Y0.5747
N1010 Y0.1250
N1020 X2.8013 Y0.0833
N1030 X2.7875 Y0.0436
N1040 X2.7651 Y0.0081
N1050 X2.7354 Y-0.0216
N1060 X2.6999 Y-0.0439
N1070 X2.6603 Y-0.0578
N1080 X2.6185 Y-0.0625
N1090 X0.1250
N1100 X0.0833 Y-0.0578
N1110 X0.0436 Y-0.0439
N1120 X0.0081 Y-0.0216
N1130 X-0.0216 Y0.0081
N1140 X-0.0439 Y0.0436
N1150 X-0.0578 Y0.0833
N1160 X-0.0625 Y0.1250
N1170 Y0.5731
N1180 X-0.0596 Y0.6058
N1190 X-0.0511 Y0.6375
N1200 X-0.0372 Y0.6672
N1210 X0.5867 Y1.7421
N1220 Z-0.0900
N1230 X1.0234 Y2.4946
N1240 X1.0580 Y2.5456
N1250 X1.0995 Y2.5912
N1260 X1.1469 Y2.6306
N1270 X1.1994 Y2.6628
N1280 X1.2559 Y2.6874
N1290 X1.3153 Y2.7039
N1300 X1.3764 Y2.7118
N1310 X1.4380 Y2.7110
N1320 X1.4989 Y2.7016
N1330 X1.5579 Y2.6837
N1340 X1.6138 Y2.6577
N1350 X1.6654 Y2.6242
N1360 X1.7119 Y2.5837
N1370 X1.7522 Y2.5371
N1380 X1.7855 Y2.4852
N1390 X2.7830 Y0.6648
N1400 X2.7957 Y0.6362
N1410 X2.8034 Y0.6059
N1420 X2.8060 Y0.5747
N1430 Y0.1250
N1440 X2.8013 Y0.0833
N1450 X2.7875 Y0.0436
N1460 X2.7651 Y0.0081
N1470 X2.7354 Y-0.0216
N1480 X2.6999 Y-0.0439
N1490 X2.6603 Y-0.0578
N1500 X2.6185 Y-0.0625
N1510 X0.1250
N1520 X0.0833 Y-0.0578
N1530 X0.0436 Y-0.0439
N1540 X0.0081 Y-0.0216
N1550 X-0.0216 Y0.0081
N1560 X-0.0439 Y0.0436
N1570 X-0.0578 Y0.0833
N1580 X-0.0625 Y0.1250
N1590 Y0.5731
N1600 X-0.0596 Y0.6058
N1610 X-0.0511 Y0.6375
N1620 X-0.0372 Y0.6672
N1630 X0.5867 Y1.7421
N1640 G00 Z0.0625
N1650 X1.8628 Y0.9612
N1660 G01 Z-0.0450  F9.0
N1670 X1.8624 Y0.9600  F15.0
N1680 Y0.3400
N1690 X1.8628 Y0.3387
N1700 X1.8637 Y0.3378
N1710 X1.8649 Y0.3375
N1720 X2.2099
N1730 X2.2112 Y0.3378
N1740 X2.2121 Y0.3387
N1750 X2.2124 Y0.3400
N1760 Y0.9600
N1770 X2.2121 Y0.9612
N1780 X2.2112 Y0.9622
N1790 X2.2099 Y0.9625
N1800 X1.8649
N1810 X1.8628 Y0.9612
N1820 Z-0.0900
N1830 X1.8624 Y0.9600
N1840 Y0.3400
N1850 X1.8628 Y0.3387
N1860 X1.8637 Y0.3378
N1870 X1.8649 Y0.3375
N1880 X2.2099
N1890 X2.2112 Y0.3378
N1900 X2.2121 Y0.3387
N1910 X2.2124 Y0.3400
N1920 Y0.9600
N1930 X2.2121 Y0.9612
N1940 X2.2112 Y0.9622
N1950 X2.2099 Y0.9625
N1960 X1.8649
N1970 X1.8628 Y0.9612
N1980 G00 Z0.0625
M99
%

44

General Mach Discussion / Re: Phantom Limit Switch Events

« on: July 04, 2009, 03:18:24 PM »

I've always had a minor problem with limit triggers, probably due to my low level of electrical wiring expertise. By setting the debounce to 1500, my "phantom events" occurred about every 15 hours or so of operation. Since I'm a hobby user, this has been a minor problem (far exceeded by my struggles in learning how to fixture parts well!), but aggravating.

I installed a filter cap as outlined by above by GF and reset the debounce to 400. As yet (probably ~30 hours of operation) I haven't had a limit switch shutdown. I'm guardedly optimistic that this problem has gone away for good...

Thanks for what seems to be a simple, elegant solution...

SF

45

General Mach Discussion / Re: Losing steps

« on: June 18, 2009, 01:54:05 PM »

Thanks for the suggestions.

I'm set at 5082 steps/inch, with a max speed of 40 in/min., Sherline Mode(required by the Dyna drivers).

After running the parts I needed by reprogramming at a higher speed and reducing the depth of cut, I played around with this a little more. All three axes have the same problem, but the onset is at a slightly different speeds on each axis. (The Y axis happens to be the highest speed at about 3 in/min).

I'm thinking that Ray's suggestion that it might be resonance in the motors is probably correct, especially given the sound of the motors when this occurs. At higher speeds, the motors"sing" with that pleasant sound I suspect we are all familiar with. The growling they make at low speeds is pretty awful to hear...

The motors and drivers are the original Dyna parts that have served well, but I think maybe its time to move into the modern era and replace them...

Thanks again,

Steve F.

46

General Mach Discussion / Losing steps

« on: June 17, 2009, 11:22:46 AM »

I've been running an old Dyna2800 that I converted to Mach 3 using the CANDCNC breakout board and keeping the original Dyna stepper motor drivers. Running in Sherline mode, it has performed well (a vast improvement on the original Dyna controller!).

This morning I ran a couple of parts and began losing steps on the Y axis. The Y axis motor "growls" and loses about 20% of the commanded travel, but only on the Y axis.

After messing around for while, I discovered that if I increased the feed rate from the original 2 in/min to 10 in/min (sorry for not using metric, but I'm an old guy whose brain thinks in what my first boss called "Christian Units") the machine ran the program perfectly.

It occurs to me that this is the first time I've run this machine this slowly (I'm usually making plastic parts), so that would explain why I never came across this before.

I suspect that I should just install modern drivers (I know, I should have done that in the first place), but I'm curious if there might be any other explanation for losing steps only a slow speed...

Thanks,

Ventuseu

47

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: Circular Pocket problem

« on: March 31, 2009, 04:18:10 PM »

The problem is solved (although I still don't what caused it).

I deleted the Newfangled folder in Mach 3 and replaced it with a newly downloaded folder containing version 2.83. The Circular Pocket (and everything else I checked) now works exactly as its supposed to.

Who knows, perhaps one of the shop cats has been logging in and messing with the files...


ventuseu

48

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: Circular Pocket problem

« on: March 20, 2009, 09:56:11 AM »

Thanks for the information. I'll keep you posted when I figure this thing out...

ventuseu

49

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: Circular Pocket problem

« on: March 19, 2009, 10:54:44 PM »

No, the "run macropump" box is unchecked on the "General Logic Configuration" page...

Ventuseu

50

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Circular Pocket problem

« on: March 19, 2009, 08:06:26 PM »

I can't get some of the DRO's in the Circular Pocket wizard to accept data. The position DRO's work fine (i.e., accept new values when entered), but the others (depth of cut, stepover, depth per pass) will not accept new values. The DRO box color changes, the typed in value appears in the DRO, but when I press enter the DRO reverts to its original state.

The Rectangular Pocket wizard works perfectly.

The problem is the same for versions 2.77 and 2.82

Is there a Mach configuration setting I could have inadvertantly changed that would cause this problem?

Thanks,

ventuseu