Messages

61

General Mach Discussion / Re: Dual Monitors

« on: January 04, 2016, 05:12:43 PM »

It's possible. Plenty of graphics cards let you run double monitors. I'm running a Dell laptop with a dock and two DVI connected monitors for 3 screens total. It's a sweet ride to efficiency when running Solidworks and five other things at once. Best of all you can use a triple width background for the final touch of awesomeness.
Mouse coordination is easy. Identify and place monitors using Windows' resolution setup and the desktop extends from one to the other. You can put monitors side by side, or stack them. Use two identical ones if you can.

62

General Mach Discussion / Re: How do you Cut a Slide Rail?

« on: January 04, 2016, 04:52:14 PM »

Or use a masonry type petrol cutoff saw with water feed, these are great for keeping dust down and should help with cooling.

63

General Mach Discussion / Re: Moving an axis while code is running.

« on: December 07, 2015, 07:52:43 PM »

I was thinking of just fitting a bigger pump and hosing it in with a wide nozzle. That should work.

64

General Mach Discussion / Re: I had stroke!

« on: November 25, 2015, 03:16:17 PM »

Good thing you spotted it for what it was, the FAST checklist is taught to all first-aiders here but still not everyone knows about it. Hope you're feeling better soon.

65

General Mach Discussion / Re: Axis motors spinning but no movement in router/spindle

« on: November 18, 2015, 05:38:00 PM »

Good news! Happy perforating.

66

General Mach Discussion / Re: safe z

« on: November 18, 2015, 05:33:01 PM »

A safe Z value should be positive with the top of the workpiece as Z=0. As to height, it should clear any clamps and fixtures. It is entirely dependent on setup and will vary according to workpiece, jigging and tool length.

67

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help with MACRO I will compensate you for your time.

« on: November 05, 2015, 02:22:00 PM »

The parts will be easy, it'd just be microswitches or inductive proximity sensors or whatever suits from RS or Farnell or any of the others. The code will be the important part. You could use relay logic for some of it depending on construction, it's a good robust crash proof way of handling things. Got pictures of the ATC?

68

General Mach Discussion / Re: Velocity in Gcode G0

« on: November 01, 2015, 04:40:12 PM »

G0 is for rapid positioning only. It's not for cutting. Still read the manual though.

69

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Enormous turning job: 4.5m OD spinning tool

« on: October 30, 2015, 01:39:43 PM »

Thanks all

The motors are actually fairly small, I can't find the specs for these just now but they are about the size of 2 tuna cans, and standard 200 steps/rev. They are very strong though, magnets have improved since my mill was built. They are each geared down 4:1 to a 5tpi 25mm ballscrew.

The bearing blocks, rails and ballscrews are all from HiWin. The stepper driver is a RoutOut unit similar to the one on my mill. It didn't need to move quickly, just steadily and accurately.

The wood stuffed under the rail was to damp a vibration which occured periodically as turning progressed. The setup lacked rigidity and if I was to do it again I'd fabricate a rail based on some of the 20" hot finished steel CHS we use here, and probably filled it with concrete. We also experienced resonance in the tool and were forced to adjust the spindle speed to dial it out. It was quite a job. I needed a good long sleep afterwards.

Afterwards we removed 600kg of swarf from the pit.

Chrisjh - Both techniques are still in use, we spin ours but larger sizes are hydroformed here and in the US. Stretch forming is also widely used, it works for the bigger segmented reflectors. Composites are also widely used but they have problems all of their own.

70

General Mach Discussion / Re: Hi Newbie question

« on: October 30, 2015, 01:21:45 PM »

Been using Mach3 for about 8 years now.

I'd avoid this as well. Unless your home switches are absolutely spot on you will almost certainly shift a little on re-homing and turn out a bad job, or at worst you could end up with a busted tool, or a damaged machine.

I concur with bfgstew, plan your day to allow complete cycles.

That said, welcome, and enjoy