[LN-JET]

Hi there,
regarding Smoothstepper time out, I used to have those issues, but after the latest plug-in updates I am tempted to say they have gone away. Have also had some problems with the ftdi driver, but these are taken care of by a grounding wire between my laptop and the controller case.
Your description of the troubles you can run into with "run from here" are very familiar!

Lars

[Mad Welder]

Hi there,
regarding Smoothstepper time out, I used to have those issues, but after the latest plug-in updates I am tempted to say they have gone away. Have also had some problems with the ftdi driver, but these are taken care of by a grounding wire between my laptop and the controller case.
Your description of the troubles you can run into with "run from here" are very familiar!

Lars

Hi there Lars yeah and in my case I'm using the USB cable to power my SS so I don't have to worry about any grounding issues and yup Greg also told me to update to the latest SS plug-in and update to the development version of Mach but in my case even in idle Mach kept crashing with timeout issues so it appears that for some PC’s the latest plug-in works then….good to hear……..since I’ve had SS time out issues I also read that Greg has released for sale the Eithernet Smooth Stepper and this definitely has solved the dreaded “Ground Loop” issue completely too….!

And for anybody else too here’s the links to my queries and to the solutions offered too from other members…


Warp9 Tech. Design - Home of the SmoothStepper

Development version of Mach .056 Z axis crashing

Smooth Stepper just stops communicating with Mach3

[Mad Welder]

oops just found out that the link for Warp9 in my previous post only works if you can log in... sorry......but there's nothin new in that thread from what you can read in the Mach Forum posts....


:cheers:

[Mad Welder]

I know you can buy them pretty cheap but just a little project simply to see if it worked.......I ruined my lovely turned finish with the needle file pity..

[Flexo!]

... wrong thread

[Mad Welder]

... wrong thread

no problem

[edimar]

Hi Mad Welder

very good topic. :cheers:
I hope you have more things to develop, because I will follow
I have a mill similar to BF20.
And soon I intend to convert it into a CNC

Tchau

[Mad Welder]

Hi Mad Welder

very good topic. :cheers:
I hope you have more things to develop, because I will follow
I have a mill similar to BF20.
And soon I intend to convert it into a CNC

Tchau

thanks for that you're welcome and there's a bunch of other builds/conversions too just select the Benchtop Machines link above and check out the PM25, G0704, WMD etc these are all similar machines.

[Mad Welder]

For the past while I've been learning my CAD/CAM (Rhino…….bloody heck this surfacing software is seeeeerious….!) package and Mach so no build progress updates till now but here’s one drawing I thought was pretty cool and if anyone wants the GCode just post

[Mad Welder]

ok a few updates, originally when planning my build I had intended to increase my Y axis, hence the larger support table, drip tray and enclosure and I had factored in adding approx 200mm to the Y axis by purchasing another base Machines Tools, Beltsaws, Machine Tools Ireland, Millennium Machinery, Used Machinery for at the time I was quoted (€200euro/262USD XE: (EUR/USD) Euro to US Dollar Rate) this would be a similar Y axis extension to what Hoss had done on his X2 Projects 6 , but unfortunately finances have dictated my progress again so using what I had as stock, this is what I have chosen to do….. and more to follow hopefully tomorrow

[Mad Welder]

oh yeah and one of the reasons I'm including extra Y axis travel is because I'm including a 5th axis in the future and this will move the spindle head too.

[Mad Welder]

and also a new updated enclosure click the drawing in the attached file and left click and hold and you can rotate it to get 3D imagery

[Mad Welder]

oh and can someone tell me how to add a photo within a text post and another photo and text etc...as opposed to just attaching loads of photos as I've been doing as it will allow me better captions to explain progress and how to avoid problems too with similar builds....thanks

[Rikk]

If you type some txt, then do

[/img]url link to image here[img]

and some more txt....that should do you

[Mad Welder]

thanks Rikk and yeah I tried that but I mustn't be doing it correctly so when I select the image icon and get the little popup window asking to enter the URL and as I don't have a website to link the pics to what do I type in here?? is it just the standard C/documents and settings/mypictures/folder etc....?

[Rikk]

You need to have the photo's hosted on a site to be able to do it that way, loads of free ones about. I use Photo Sharing. Your Photos Look Better Here. | SmugMug you do pay for it but it's very cheap and extremely good.

[Mad Welder]

yeah I thought so cheers

:cheers:

[Mad Welder]

I'm back again looking for advice can some one explain the advantage of AC/VFD over DC spindle motors please?

I'm lookin to upgrade my spindle motor and change to belt drive too. My Optimum 850watt stock motor just simply hasn't got enough umph for face milling...!

Am I correct in understanding that basically the VFD 'part' converts single phase to three phase to power a larger HP motor?

also am I correct in understanding that VFD can also induce huge amounts of electrical noise? and can lots of electricial noise cause lost or incorrect steps in the Stepper Motors?

[Starleper1]

One of the biggest advantages is efficiency and reliability. The VFD can take single phase and convert it to three phase on lower horsepower motors, but that's not the purpose of a VFD. The VFD gives you an infinite amount of speed control between 0 and whatever speed you decide run your motor at. Also if you go with a sensorless vector drive, low speed torque is greatly increased due to the way it monitors motor load. However they come with a price. DC speed controls just can't compare.

Another feature that I personally like is the flexibility you have when setting up a VFD. There's usually digital I/O's, analog, and the list goes on. If your interested in going AC/VFD check out automationdirect.com. Amazing products for reasonable prices.

[Mad Welder]

Cheers for that Starleper1 and the link too, I am kinda leaning towards the VFD route it's just.... oh boy another learning curve to understand the additional wiring and connection and I/O's......I have the C32 bob from CNC4PC CNC4PC and I may be able to wire direct from that but I must read up more....


any one got a simple wiring diagram that I could use to help me understand more.