Hi All,
I have a Taig mill with a Sherline rotary A axis.  I am using Mach3, but something has me troubled.  How do I switch the configuration so that A axis is in degrees?  Here is the problem... I was running a program that told A to rotate 180 degrees.  Well, the A axis started to rotate, with each rotation equalling one - not 360.  The guy that sold me the mill told me the step per unit is 115,200.  It seems to jog properly, so I believe I have that correct.
Thanks,
Steve

Hi, Steve

Have a sherline rot. table, read this below, you need to devide the 115200 by 360 enter this value in Step's Per in  motor tunning, set the vel & Acll. up high.

Config - General Config - checked A-Axis is Angular,  checked - Rot 360 rollover, checked - Ang Short Rot an G0.
Config - ToolPath Configuration - checked - A Rotations Enable, use Diameter for Feedrate.
Config - Motor Tuning, My A  Rotational set-up 360 deg., set-up X,Y,Z, 40000 step's, 10.002 vel,  A 1 Deg.=, 400.2 step's,  2500 vel, 144072 = 360 1 turn   144072 dev by 360 = 400.2
Re-Start, Mach3

Loaded Tooth1.txt Gcode file, No Rotational View Shows in Tool Path Window's, just linear view..
Regen Tool Path, Still No Rotational View, Gcode Shows Run Through, Jog A axis shows Degree Mode in Display.

Setting's Page, set Rotation Diameters A axis to 1.0000, Re-Gen ToolPath, OK, Now it shows Rotational View.

Default Start-up and Create New Profile or Closing Mach3 with a value of 0.0000 in the Setting's Page, Rotation Diameters on re-start will Default back to Linear View as it is now.

Hope this Helps Chip

Chip,
Thanks for the reply.  Unfortunately, most of what you tell me to do I cannot find.  Of the items listed, the only thing I found (under the Config menu) was A - Axis is Angular - checked.  I am using Mach3 ver R184.001.  Is that the same version you are using?  If it is, I am going to need a little more help.  Also, I found this same information in one of the earlier discussions.  I did modify my steps per by dividing by 360.  The only effect it had was to make the A axis turn more slowly, but one rotation still moved the DRO's only 1 unit - not 360.
Steve

Hi, Steve

I'm using is Mach3R2.0.005, If I remember correctly 360 and 360 rollover are only avail. in Mach3v190 and newer.

If you enter your one full turn number what ever it is set vel and axcell, then if you devide 1 by the number of teath you want, examp. below, 11 tooth gear.

Deg move single move, 1/360X90 deg=.249993,  90 deg move. 

Try the file below you wont have 360 view though.

g91
m98 p110 l11;  A= 144072 steps 360 Deg. Table Rotation
m30

o11;---------------------------- 360 deg step set at 400.2
g01 x.5 y0 a32.727272 f100; 11 equal spaces
g01 x-.5 y0 a-32.727272
g01 a32.727272
m99
%
o110;--------------------step set at 144072
g01 x.5 y0 a.090909 f100; 11 equal spaces
g01 x-.5 y0 a-.090909
g00 a.090909
m99
%

Give it a try.

You should update to latest Ver. Mach3R2.0.006  it's in download's now.

Thank's Chip

Chip,
Thank you so much taking the time to help.  Downloading the most current version of Mach3 did the trick.  Now I'm one step closer to getting my mill up and running.
Steve

Hey All,
Well I have the new version of Mach3 loaded and installed.  I have another problem with A axis now.  When I try to rotate the axis using the jog functions, sometime hitting the "+" button causes the axis to rotate clockwise.  If I then hit the "-" button, the axis does not reverse.  9 times out of 10 it will continue to rotate clockwise.  Sometime later, hitting the "+" button will cause the axis to rotate counterclockwise.  So, in other words, I have no idea which way the axis will rotate, and I have no reliable way of reversing it.  I checked the wiring from the board, and it is wired the same as the other three axis.  I increased the dir pulse to 4 with no effect.  Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Steve
PS Chip, what is the file you wanted me to download (Tooth11) do anyway?

What happens if you program it to move, e.g.

mdi mode

G91 G00 A90.

and then

G91 G00 A-90.

Graham.

Hi, Steve

It's a 11 tooth cross cut gear, just an example to show X, A, axis movement 11 equal space's.

The G98 p110 l11 tells it to repeat 11 time's, the code in Sub Code, o110.( set lin. 144072 steps per 1 rev.)

The G98 p11 l11 tells it to repeat 11 time's, the code in Sub Code, o11.( set 1 Deg. 400.2 based on 144072 steps for sherline rot. table)

Just something to look at.

Have you used the MPG Jog window use the Tab key to view it.Tab key to close it.

Thank's Chip

Well, I am at my shop and I used the MDI mode to enter commands for the A axis:

G91 G00 A90 (enter)

then,

G91 G00 A-90 (enter)

To answer Graham's question, YES the MDI mode also causes the axis to sometimes turn clockwise with positive inputs and continues to turn clockwise with a negative input... sometimes it turns counter-clockwise with a positive input and continues to turn counter-clockwise with a negative input.  Does this help to troubleshoot the problem?

Chip, to answer your question... YES I use the MPG jog window, then I use the buttons near the bottom to move the various axis.

Thanks,
Steve

Hi, Steve

I am using a sherline rot table and Mach3R2.0.007 with no direction problem with MDI or MDI Jog window arrows.

You need to check your A/4th axis Dir Pin connection, use a volt meter make sure the pin is High(5 volts) in one Dir and Low(0 volts) in the other Dir., at the stepper cont. Box if you can, also check for lose connection's.

It's about the only thing that could be wrong.

Thank's, Chip