So it looks like the general consensus is to move the rotary axis to the A axis and that way in Mach it can be setup as an angular axis. That with using a wrapped axis post processor, it should work. We will see really soon. My final parts arrive Friday and we should be able to fire it up this weekend.

Thanks,
James
 

The machine is alive! I need to program the VFD for the spindle later today. Still have all the proximity switches to setup and then I'm sure there will be a few things to tweak in Mach. Getting the motors tuned now. I need to tension the Ball Screws, I'm getting more whip than I expected but with 2800mm screws you are going to have some whip. I have an idea for dampers that float and raise/lower with the gantry. Really happy with the stiffness of the Z axis when fully extended. Upgraded the lifting steppers to 1900oz x4 and now I don't need counter weights. The design with just two wasn't working. Hope to start making snow later tonight.

James

Is anyone familiar with the Wrapping Gadget in Aspire? I can get it to make the continuous cut that wraps around the A axis. But it starts from the bottom and works it's way up. In my situation I would like it to work from the top down. I cant seem to find a setting that would do that other than flipping the axis in my Mach configuration. That's a crappy way to do it but technically would work. Just seems like there has to be a way.

Thanks,
James

You could draw/move the profile to the opposite side of the datum point in Aspire e.g. if you are drawing on X- side move it to X plus side.  Don't mirror it unless the profile is the wrong way round.

No, that doesn't move either.

Stepper motors just swap 2 wires on A+ A-

Stepper motors just swap 2 wires on A+ A-

I still need y0 to be Y0. But the wrapping gadget in Aspire seems to only start at 0 when I need it to start at the top and work its way down. Reversing the machine will not help and would actually make it worse since the current bases are typically large.

What do you have in the job setup tab?

Job Type : Rotary
Job Size  : ?
Z Zero Position : Surface
XY Datum Position : Top Right : Use Offset X? Y?

See the screen shots. The Datum is set to the the lower left. If I move it to the top left, nothing changes. In the 3D view, you can see it at the base of the material and will work its way up. I want it at the top to work down.

Okay, what do you have in the Home / Start Position in the toolpath tab?