Messages

811

General Mach Discussion / Re: Wanted: Position X & Y at the Center of a Hole Macro

« on: September 21, 2010, 03:12:59 AM »

If you need accuracy, I'd use a dial indicator held in the spindle chuck.

Dan

812

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: is there a name for this kind of cut

« on: September 21, 2010, 03:10:13 AM »

I and J can never be BOTH zero. Unless, of course, you're using the R word to define the radius, and then I and J are not used.

Dan

813

General Mach Discussion / Re: Save Fixture??

« on: September 19, 2010, 04:04:09 PM »

It is asking you if you want to save the work offset(probably the default G54 )

FWIW, Mach saves all the offsets, not just the default G54.

Dan

814

General Mach Discussion / Re: Parallel Port Voltage

« on: September 19, 2010, 08:59:53 AM »

Yes, James. As far as I remember, this is what Sherline mode does - increases the pulse width. It shouldn't change the kernel frequency.

Dan

815

General Mach Discussion / Re: Parallel Port Voltage

« on: September 19, 2010, 02:07:30 AM »

Hi James,

Are you measuring the voltage on the step pin? If so, the reading of the voltmeter doesn't reflect the actual wave voltage. Since it is a square wave and the voltmeter reading would depend on it's frequency. So the 0.1V or 0.35V you're seeing are absolutely meaningless in determining the wave high and low voltages.

If it works for you in Sherline mode, then just leave it this way. Sherline mode outputs wider pulses, so appears like that is what your drive needs.

Dan

816

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: Jog buttons in Mach3

« on: September 18, 2010, 02:20:37 PM »

Glad you got it figured, Eugene.

Dan

817

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: Jog buttons in Mach3

« on: September 17, 2010, 07:33:00 AM »

Hi Eugene,

In the hotkeys window you click on the desired axis direction (X++, X--, etc.) and it will ask you to press a key. This will be the key associated with jog in that direction.

Dan

818

General Mach Discussion / Re: Losing Steps?

« on: September 17, 2010, 05:34:06 AM »

Are you using a breakout board? If it has optos, they might be slow or have a bad timing for outputting the direction change pulse. Trying to connect the PP directly to the drives will show if the problem is in the breakout board.

Try checking the Active Low for the step pulse.

If it's a consistent lose of steps and only in one direction, then I'd doubt it has something to do with shielding.

Dan

819

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: Jog buttons in Mach3

« on: September 17, 2010, 05:11:20 AM »

Hi Eugene,

There is a convention that you treat the tool as being moved. So the direction is the tool travelling direction regarding the table. It's not wise to change it, but since you asked you can define whatever keys for jogging under Config -> Hotkeys.

Dan

820

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: The Laser Project.

« on: September 15, 2010, 05:32:55 AM »

Thanks for the video, Tweakie. Is it the true speed, or did you sped the video up? Is it possible to do the same on wood?

A lot of smoke... hope you have good ventilation there.

Dan