Thread: Help with Mach

What happened, did you get the square with the star in it?

Looks good from here

Hi guys
many thanks again
Tried Rod's small star-in-box file and this works well, except that I have some calibration to do as my machine cuts this design at around 20 inches square.
I figure this is a problem with the set-up of the motors.Otherwise - OK.
Oh Yes - I forgot to load the license details for Mach3 onto the machine in the workshop - now that it is loaded, the 500 line restriction has disapearred.
Cheers
Noel

Good to hear Noel.
A quick easy way to calibrate is this

Click on the "Settings" button at the top of the screen.
Just above the "Reset" button is Axis Calibration so click on the "Set Steps per Unit" button.
From there it is easy to follow. Select an axis and type in an amount to move. Mark on your table the distance you told it to move then click the "OK' button and your machine will move. Once it has moved a new pop up appears asking how far it moved. Measure the distance it moved and enter that value in the box. Mach3 then changes your steps per unit in the motor tuning to the new value.

Good Stuff

Follow Rods instructions and it should be right.....

Guys - must be 'dumb day at the ranch'.
Tried what you suggested re autocalibration, and ended up with about 400 instead of original 2000, and when I tried to cut raodrunner, it was about 5 mm square.
Cheers
Noel

Rod - sorry to be a pain in the ????, but I can't seem to get the ratio's right.
My y axis is running a 20mm diam ballscreww , dual start at 5mm pitch. Both X and Z axis are 15mm diam ballscrews , dual start and 5mm pitch.
I am using standard Keling 425oz/in motors. (200 steps/rev).
by my calcs, I should have the motor setups at 2000 steps, but when I use 'autocalibrate', the machine wants to set them at 400 steps. As I have already posted, this results in incredibly small motor movements and very, very small work output.
Any ideas??????
Noel

PS
my machione is set-up for mm not inches.

Noel

The roadrunner is in inches. So when you run it in MM mode it will come out at about 6 x 7 mm. Instead of 6 x7 inches.

Just select inch mode on the settings screen and it will come out a better size.

Greg

Originally Posted by PsychoPig7

My y axis is running a 20mm diam ballscreww , dual start at 5mm pitch. Both X and Z axis are 15mm diam ballscrews , dual start and 5mm pitch.
I am using standard Keling 425oz/in motors. (200 steps/rev).
by my calcs, I should have the motor setups at 2000 steps, but when I use 'autocalibrate', the machine wants to set them at 400 steps.

I had to search back through your posts to see what drivers you are using. Nice looking machine you have built there.

Geckos are ten micro steps. So that means it is actually 2000 step per motor rev.

So if you screws are 5mm pitch then 400 steps per mm sounds right.

Greg

EDIT: Went back and had a better look. I have seen your machine before. Even posted about it. It's awful getting old isn't it.

Hi Noel
Greg is on the ball here. Sounds like you didn't allow for the pitch of the screw.
Formula is
200 motor steps times 10 gecko microsteps divide by 5 screw pitch = 400 steps per mm

Sorry I am repeating what Greg said.

thanks guys
looks like dumb is in fashion around here again.
Will alter the settings to 400 and give it another go.
Cheers
noel

Its amazing what you learn from reading other peoples problems.

Rod, the easy setup of mach for motor tuning is beautiful. I never knew this feature existed. Would have saved me loads of time in measuring and then re-setting steps.

/M

many Thanks to you guys - your patience and your willingness to help newbies is terrific.
i really appreciate all the help you guys have given.
the machine is now up and cutting - i cut the three 'roadrunners' and everything looks great.
I just have to clean up the front mounting of the machine and fit a shelf for the keyboard and mouse, then it should be all go!
have included a couple of new shots of the beast, including where I have mounted the monitor at the back and above the bed. this way I can easily see it when the machine is working. (Previously had it sitting on the shelf under the machine, along with the CPU and the control box).
About all I have to do now is enclose under the bed of the machine, and work on a dust extraction system.
Will post some examples a soon as I get around to cutting something original.
At the moment, my wife is wondering what is up because of the smile on my face - suspicious woman - ca't understand that a man can get satisfaction from a machine.
Cheers
Noel

Good to hear you are up and running.
I wish my first machine was as good as you have done.