Thread: Chris's First CNC Build

Hello Blueray

Here are three files you are welcome to use, first is three five point stars, bit bigger than you asked for, they are each about 100mm, ( well they fit in a 100mm circle ), so you will need some 16mm thick board about 350mm long, feeds ( F ) is 2000mm / min if to fast / slow you can change using the editor in Mach 2/3, the first star is cut outside the line, and has two tabs, the next is inside the line, no tabs, the third is on the line, maybe 4 tabs or might be none.

The next two files are a small sign for you, both about 100mm high by 350mm long, the depth of cut will be about 5mm, both the same but different, you'll see when you run them.

All files are for a 6mm cutter, won't be a problem if you go bigger / smaller for the first file but don't change if possible for the other two.

I have also attached the VcarvePro file, you may be able to open it as well - not sure.

Good luck, if you have any questions / problems email me.

Ed

Hello Blueray

Don't know what happened to 2,3 or 4, will try again, also change the txt to tap to run in mach.

The problem was / is file size, change the extension to the LAST THREE LETTERS BEFORE the dot and all will be well.

Ed

Ok, Thanks.

I'll do them and post up some videos if they work out fine.

OK, was setting up the steps per unit and my HDD dies, put a new HDD in and reinstalled everything, looks good so far I think, I load the code check all the settings ect. disconnect the Z axis and raise it so I can do a run with just X and Y.

It keeps trying to go off the table. ie. The image in the mind of the software is huge. I know I did something wrong.

The 2nd file I loaded it can fit the design on the table but again it goes slow as. it says around 150 units/sec I think it was when the feedrate is set at 2400 and a little warning on the bottom about it being too fast for belts and pulleys


Ok I am sure I have made a mistake when setting up the motors but im not sure where,

I have a thought that its the acceleration and velocity but what should I be setting these to? But this does not address the problem of size.

I was playing around with the steps and velocity and got upto 720 unit/sec (I think its sec or its min)


PS: motors sound like ????.

Hello Blueray

Is this for the machine that is belt drive??
So has it been working under jogging keys ( which Mach are you using )
If it has do you get the right movement for what is displayed on the sceen in Mach, ie, if you move the machine 200mm does the axis move display increase / decrease by 200mm?

I think from memory my belt drive machine the acceleration rates are <50, I'll check tomorrow.

Ed

Originally Posted by appiwood

Hello Blueray

Is this for the machine that is belt drive??
So has it been working under jogging keys ( which Mach are you using )
If it has do you get the right movement for what is displayed on the sceen in Mach, ie, if you move the machine 200mm does the axis move display increase / decrease by 200mm?

I think from memory my belt drive machine the acceleration rates are <50, I'll check tomorrow.

Ed

Never got jogging to work as I dont know how to get it working, but I can move the axis's by defining the X and Y axis ratio to steps in the settings tab.

Hello Blueray

Seems we have a little work to do, you need to have all the " stuff " working before you try to use the machine, or grief will follow, learnt from experience.

Are you using mach2 or 3?
1/4, 1/2 full step or other?
Mechanical setup, how many turns of your stepper motor to go 1mm, or how far do you go on ONE turn?
You can fiddle around with the spped and accel rates to get it purring, judging from your photos it liikes like a well built machine and it should go very well, this is always the worst bit as it seems like with all the effort you put in it should just work, Mach being so versitile ( works on so many machines ) needs to be set up to work on yours.

Ed

Hi there,

This link will take you to the mach 3 setup and running video's http://www.machsupport.com/videos/ and would be the first place I would call for help and it will go into the installing and setup in the first video

Mach 3

Full Step I think I never changed the Xyoltex settings.

Ed, I did think it was all setup and right but with things so large I did something wrong



Bob I will watch the video but last time I just read the PDF on how to set it up.


It has to do with calculating the ratios differently as I must have done it wrong. I will have half the day today to tinker with it.

Originally Posted by blue^ray

Mach 3

Full Step I think I never changed the Xyoltex settings.

Ed, I did think it was all setup and right but with things so large I did something wrong

Xylotex is 1/8 step?

1/8 microstep is correct Bob.
There is a quick easy way to check steps. Go to the "Settings" screen in Mach3 and just above the reset button is "Set Steps per Unit". Follow the prompts and it is fixed.

Forgot to say make sure your Native units is set to mm (if that is your choice). Default is imperial. Menu is Config then Select native Units

Originally Posted by rodm

Forgot to say make sure your Native units is set to mm (if that is your choice). Default is imperial. Menu is Config then Select native Units

It must have been set to inches when I reinstalled everything.

I just redid it (Program was on MM already) but it now does the proper size. Must have had inches when I configured it.


http://www.ausxmods.com.au/S6300355.AVI (Will be finished in 15 minutes)

Will be the link to the video, look at the feed rate and the speed it runs at

Velocity = 240 (same on both X and Y)

Is this right? I would think the default settings (Velocity = 120) would be more than enough.

Any idea what is slowing it down? BTW is the motor sounds normal?

Gave it some velocity and acceleration and it seems to be running at a nice pace now.

But I just wanted to know are there any safe levels for these motors? or will it just miss steps ect when its running too fast.