[TOTALLYRC]

every one here is always looking for more tool holders they come up on ebay from time to time.

worst case scenerio you could always make one

I actually have quite a few. Between what I got from Gus when I purchased the machine and what I was lucky enough to find on ebay already, I almost have enough to fill the tool changer. But I am always looking for more.

Work progreses nicely.
I cut some air last week and acording to my air calipers it is dead on. +- 50 millionths LOL.

I am working on a 1 button brain in Mach3 to manually change the tooling. Otherwise it is a three finger salute and it ties up three buttons.

The DSPMC-IP board that I am using is working very well. As it is still Beta, I am helping Rufi and the guys work out some bugs. Plus I am rewriting the owners manual. I have heard from several people, myself included that it was a little thin but I am fixing that. It will include info on how to tie in the VFD and a lot of other little things. The real nice thing is that it works like a charm under VISTA and with a LAPTOP.

I have found that I use my laptop for development work and when the machine is running well, I can tranition to the full time computer.

It also uses a network port, Not the parallel port. I am really liking the 36 inputs and the 16 outputs. They are also working an addon that will give even more I/O and will connect via the network. Just the thing for all of us guys that have rotary tool changers and need a million I/O. The other real nice thing is that it drives the +-10v servo amps.

Hey Gus.
I took you advice and lowered the accel and increased the speed. I was able to get the Z to ga all the way to 200 IPM like the owners manual says. I was only able to get the X and Y up to 180 IPM or so. I backed everything down to a nice and easy 150IPM and it all looks good. This is with the accel back up to 12 IPS/SEC. I stil have to hook up the auto lubricator and finish tying in the VFD. :violin:

I think we need to be payed to stay home and work on our machines. I have a real problem with work getting in the way of my hobbies. LOL

More updates to come.
Mike

P.S. I took the plunge and bought a Kurt 688 vise. The local supply house had them on special for $425. It was more than the chinese knockoff's but I figure my grandchildren will be using it. And possibly the machine itself.

[chipmakes]

I'm debugging a long program and would like to restart in the middle. I've tried setting the start line number per the programming manual, but even with the spindle turning, each time I reach the first feed block the axis stop moving. The only way to get it going again is to start at the beginning of the program. What have I missed?

Thanks,
Chip

[chipmakes]

Ok, OK, stop laughing! I figured it out: if you don't tell it how fast to feed it won't feed. Sure makes debugging faster. I'm learning!

Chip

[TOTALLYRC]

Ok, OK, stop laughing! I figured it out: if you don't tell it how fast to feed it won't feed. Sure makes debugging faster. I'm learning!

Chip

I am not laughing. I make a similar one in that when doing mdi I do this and then scratch my head wondering what is going on.

G00 f10 x15.

I wonder why it is going 125ipm instead of 10 ipm.

It is usually a sign for more coffee.

Mike

[hkfanatic]

ok first off while i love my BTC 1 these things have more programming quirks then an old apple newton palm pilot (less computing power too )

ok im trying to run a program that on the first -Z axis command it's put into incremental G91 first then the -Z command then G90 and a G03 command.

it has a looping macro right infront of it, i have used this EXACT same looping/G91 to a G90 in several different programs and it works perfecly, basicly what im trying to achieve is removing material in layers. after said number of loops it go's to the finish depth which is a little less then another
.125 would get me.

what the machine is doing when it reaches line N105 is start a -Z move ment but just keep moving past -.125 and it continues to plunge i stopped it when it got to .250 i have tried retyping it and adjusting some of the other G commands no avial. it still keeps traveling

i dont know if im programming something wrong or its just one of the machines quirks on ths particular program

heres the piece of the code (there is nothing before N096 i had to edit and add somethings early on and i did not feel like renumbering, and as far as the G92 on N102 i did that to make it easier for me to write the I and J commands for the following code later on in the code it returns to X-.693 Y-.908 and resets G92 for another operation)

useing a 1 inch cutter

thanks guys let me know!

N096 G75G90
N097 G92 X0.0 Y0.0 Z0.0
N098 T1M6
N099 M3 S530
N100 G01 X.693 Y.908 F10.0
N101 G01 Z0.0
N102 G92 X0.0 Y0.0
N103 G01 X.855
=N107/7
N104 G91
N105 G01 Z-.125 F1.0
N106 G90
N107 X.855 Y0.0 I0.0 J0.0 F6.0
N108 G01 Z-.945 F3.0
N109 X.855 Y0.0 I0.0 J0.0 F6.0
N110 G0 Z.100
N111 G01 X-.693 Y-.908
N112 G92 X0 Y0

[Jonp]

I'm more into the hardware, not a genuis when it comes to programming but from my experience with the BTC you need either a G90 or a G91 in the same line as the G92, if I am MDI'ing to get the thing to reset axis's to 0, I go G90 G92 X0 Y 0 or which ever axis I want to zero. Good luck Jon P.

[hkfanatic]

well i feel stupid as a box of rocks

i guess it pays to read your code when your not tired and frustrated

look at lines N107 and N109 i think im missing something there Huh like a G03 or G02 maby thats the reason my machine was acting funny i'll give it another shot tonight

[Cartesian-xyz]

Hkfanatic,

Hey, Dont be to hard on yourself, I can remember many occasions working on a program and fighting it for hours! Only to vent to a co-worker and in the process have the answer jump at me like a frieght train(chair). Thankfully the frequency of this has deminished as "Senior Moments" prevent me from remembering all the occurances.

Happy CNCin
Stephen

[hkfanatic]

thankfully the correct G03 command fixed it, i hate when i overlook stuff like this. i cannot get master cam to post 100% im useing a converted boss 9 post so it gets me very close but i still have to go through and add and edit a few things.

-HK

[Kevin Taylor]

Hkfanatic I replied by Email from the mesage I got but you may not of gotten it 11/18/08 but I think it look's like you have it figered out I'v always used a redundent G75 G90 to do multy Qud G2/G3's seem's like I forgot one time after a rapid to a tool change and had bad results . Last weekend My son and I went on another adventure and retreved Two BTC's from Vince in Mo. Now I have more spair part's board's and tool holder's Jon P I need to talk to you about checking out PCB's so I will have backup's . If Megamoog is listening You mention having tooling could use Shell mill holder's and has any one ever come across TG100's Holder's for the Series one Machine . And does any one know If a collum riser can be used on a Boss ridgd head machine since I now have three I thought I might try making it require an even taller lader to fill the tool changer oil . Let's have a new roll call even the series two and retro fit guy's chime in . At least my trip didn't involve any breakdown's like the last story in this thread Hope the holidays treated all well Back to work to pay for the next holiday Kevin AKA twomanyBTC's

[hkfanatic]

never got your email kevin, i have always had bad experiences when useing forum emails i always PM or go direct to the email address from my email provider.

nice find on the BTC's let me know if you ever want to unload some of the tool holders. i have quite a few but could always use a few extra on the shelf

[Kevin Taylor]

BTC Stuff I got what look's like two compleat set's of book's including maintnce manual with the two from last week one machine is prety intact less one ball screw wich is now in the other and the servo's have been removed the other machine has beed striped of the tool changer and had a modern frequince drive instaled and rutex drives witch one has died no PC but vince had it runing on mac I forgot I have the local BPT dealer's book's I need to return and one of them has a stack of service bullition's i will copy and have for referance All for now Kevin

[TOTALLYRC]

Like this , Kevin?


Mike in CT, torturing Gus's BTC-1 into submission.
Always looking for more tool holders.

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66994

[hkfanatic]

i was reading through one of my manuals and i noticed that there was an option for this machine to add a rotary axis to it, i guess you plug it into the Y axis servo and encoder connectors???

anyone ever seen one of these???

[machintek]

It was very common back then (this includes the NC and CNC stepping motor machines) to put a rotary table on the machine and use the Y axis cables to control this hardware. there was no provision for a true 4th axis (additional axis). Even the Boss 8 and 9 could not have a true 4th axis.

George

[hkfanatic]

i have a manual rotary table, is there any way i can retro fit it to put a stepper and servo on it ????

maby if i get a servo and stepper from another BTC1 and make an adapter ???? that way the cable connections are the same?

[Cartesian-xyz]

hkfanatic,
The BTC-1 has a Control relay for M51. like all M-codes it will be executed after any G-codes on the same line. Once executed it passes contol to the Miscellaneos equipment such as an indexer or probe until a confirmation of completion is issued by the miscellaneos equipment. I purchased a SMW 5c system off of E-bay and interfaced it to my BTC-1. This is NOT a true 4-axis setup but what I refer to as a 3-1/2 axis machine. I can by means of the SMW control system FEED the A-axis at a determend feed rate and the after completion feed a X,Y and/or Z axis to cut windows in a tube for example. However Coordinated A-and and any other axis XYZ is Imposiible or VERY difficult to say the least. At anyrate the BTC-1 has the M-code output and wait state ability to use many external devices.

Stephen

[hkfanatic]

ok so based on what your saying i can set up a rotary indexer and maintain all three axis movement. but it will not be a true fourth axis, where i can rotate the indexer while moveing the x y or z axis.

my biggest concern is that i can rotate a part without haveing to put a program stop in and manually moving the indexer. then restarting the machine. i have a pretty complex project coming up soon that needs to have 5 faces machined. i wanted to be able to do the four sides on the indexer, and then set up and machine the last face later.

anything special i should know about trying to hook and indexer up??

thanks for the info stephen
-Nodder

hkfanatic,
The BTC-1 has a Control relay for M51. like all M-codes it will be executed after any G-codes on the same line. Once executed it passes contol to the Miscellaneos equipment such as an indexer or probe until a confirmation of completion is issued by the miscellaneos equipment. I purchased a SMW 5c system off of E-bay and interfaced it to my BTC-1. This is NOT a true 4-axis setup but what I refer to as a 3-1/2 axis machine. I can by means of the SMW control system FEED the A-axis at a determend feed rate and the after completion feed a X,Y and/or Z axis to cut windows in a tube for example. However Coordinated A-and and any other axis XYZ is Imposiible or VERY difficult to say the least. At anyrate the BTC-1 has the M-code output and wait state ability to use many external devices.

Stephen

[Jonp]

You wont have any problem, we have a erickson pneumatic indexer we use on ours, if you happen to get one , the BTC has the air valves built in , the M51 function plug is located near the base of the machine just around the corner from the comm port. Good Luck Jon P.

[Cartesian-xyz]

hkfantic,
As jonp assured you, you will not have any problems. Unless you forget (in the case of my SMW system) there are 2 CNC brains to consider if there is a program interuption. Intensional or Un-Intensional. Your BTC-1 does nothing but recieve the interupt signal to halt motion until it gets the confirmation of motion complete from external device, then it carries on with its program as usual. If after an interuption you start the BTC-1 from the beginning of the program AND neglect to manual reset your external device to beginning of program, Undesireble things result! This sounds more complicated than it is but bottom line is you have to be mindfull of both programed devices and there relative positions at ANY program restart.
Stephen