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[02:03:27] <DJ9DJ> moin
[03:15:15] <whfxy> hello
[03:16:11] <BirdyNumNum> Hi
[05:43:54] <RyanS> Is the interpolation on a converted cnc desktop mill okay for helical boring?
[05:45:24] <archivist> first think where the interpolation is done, cam, or cnc control or ..
[05:51:23] <RyanS> What has the most impact.... Mechanics on the mill itself would seem to be the hardest to fix?
[05:55:20] <archivist> where mechanics is concerned, just engineer the mill to have 0 backlash
[05:58:33] <abetusk> I'm passively thinking of making my own spindle, possibly using an outrunner prop engine from somewhere like hobbyking. I'm a little confused how to assemble it and how to minimize runout. Could someone give me a kind of high level overview of how to construct a spindle like this? I have an ER11 collet in mind...
[06:03:37] <jthornton> might start with an ER11 collet holder
[06:09:55] <archivist> I have a few spindle bookmarks
http://www.dieselrc.com/projects/cncspindle/ and
http://www.dieselrc.com/projects/cncspindle/ the other is currently dead
[06:11:24] <syyl_> the idle sound of that spindle is ok
[06:11:30] <syyl_> but the machining sounds horrible :D
[06:11:38] <archivist> raynerd needs to fix his site!
[06:12:33] <jthornton> neat write up on the spindle
[06:13:16] <archivist> forgot to link this properly :)
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/benchtop_machines/12184-high_speed_spindle_sieg_x2_mill_--5.html
[06:14:35] <archivist> I got a holder ready to make something but it got "used" in my lashed up grinder
[06:24:37] <RyanS> 3+2 axis milling as opposed to 5 axis simultaneous. is The CAM software less complex and more affordable in the former case?
[06:33:44] <abetusk> how do you attach the bearings to the case?
[06:33:47] <abetusk> press fit?
[06:39:27] <archivist> press/tight
[06:40:10] <archivist> sloppy would need locktite or other bodge
[06:48:44] <archivist> if you listen to that spindle you can hear chatter, either loose shaft in bearing or bearing in housing or poor mounting and machine flex
[06:51:23] <archivist> there are three distinct sounds, the motor and its whine/hum, the cutter on the metal, and a grumble, the grumble is the chatter
[06:52:07] <jthornton> and the sounds of recut
[06:55:11] <RyanS> Is there a cheap way of adding electronic variable speed to a belt drive lathe? Probably need a higher torque motor
[06:55:33] <jthornton> a VFD
[06:55:34] <archivist> vfd and a 3 phase motor
[06:55:59] <RyanS> Need to replace the motor?
[06:56:01] <jthornton> use the Automation Direct GS2 and you can control it with LinuxCNC very easy
[06:56:32] <RyanS> Its manual
[06:56:39] <archivist> depends on the motors winding
[06:56:55] <archivist> and mains you want to run on
[06:57:07] <RyanS> Belt changing is a pain in the ass
[06:59:36] <archivist> get a lathe with a mechanical varispeed , some have levers and a gearbox others have sprung pulleys
[07:00:29] <RyanS> Too late :)
[07:01:07] <archivist> colchester chipmaster
[07:01:51] <RyanS> Actually it's my old man's lathe.. He doesn't research, just purchasesn :p
[07:03:36] <archivist> you can add a varispeed drive between the motor and spindle
[07:04:26] <RyanS> Sounds expensive/complicated
[07:04:57] <archivist> http://www.snaintonwoodworking.com/index.php/accessories/machine-accessories/machine-drive-belts/belt-to-fit-vari-speed-woodlathes.html
[07:06:20] <RyanS> oh pully gets 'resized'
[07:10:14] <RyanS> $245 750w motor and vfd which could handle up to 1500w
[07:11:27] <archivist> motors do not like large torque for long periods at low rpm so there is a limit to the vfd method
[07:11:49] <archivist> they lose cooling at low speed
[07:13:32] <RyanS> DC motor conversion?
[07:19:56] <RyanS> I have a 24v wheelchair motor...
[10:09:53] <tjtr33> L84Supper, thx for the link to printing graphite. might be a way to reduce edm electrode manufacture
[11:09:35] <PetefromTn> Afternoon linuxCNC folks..
[11:16:05] <IchGuckLive> hi all
[11:36:53] <IchGuckLive> nice and shinie wetter now in germany after a wave of thundershowers
[11:54:02] <Tom_itx> nice quiet morning on the prarie
[11:54:18] <IchGuckLive> no buffoloes on the run #
[11:56:36] <IchGuckLive> im off by for today
[12:22:25] <pimperle__> hi
[12:23:44] <pimperle__> i'm working on my first project with linuxcnc and just started the machine for the first time. currently it only consists of a pid-controlled dc-motor + position encoder, but it seems to work. However, when editing the config and restarting linuxcnc, the motor starts to spin during startup of linuxcnc. is there an easy way to prevent this? do all hal stuff after the gui has loaded?
[12:23:52] <pimperle__> or is it a bug in my hal config?
[12:27:27] <jthornton> a bug in your electronics
[12:28:37] <pimperle__> oh, that's bad
[12:28:39] <jthornton> your driver should not be enabled until LinuxCNC is loaded and you have turned off the e stop and powered up
[12:29:08] <pimperle__> which driver? the motor-driver (piece of hardware)
[12:29:16] <jthornton> yes
[12:29:44] <pimperle__> ah, ok. thanks for the hint, i didn't know that.
[12:30:00] <pimperle__> i guess i'll just turn the powersupply off each time i restart linuxcnc
[12:30:26] <jthornton> that will work too
[12:31:06] <pimperle__> yes, unfortunately everything happens on a single pcb so i will probably not be able to control it's power via my parport without powering it on :)
[12:32:44] <Loetmichel> re @ home
[12:32:49] <Tom_itx> JT-Shop, ever make a nested cube?
[12:34:12] <jthornton> no
[12:34:30] <Tom_itx> i've seen a few but never tried one
[12:34:37] <Tom_itx> was thinking about it
[12:38:13] <Tom_itx> http://bgerber1.weebly.com/nested-cubes.html
[12:38:21] <Tom_itx> that one looks kindof interesting
[13:07:26] <Tom_itx> http://www.cnccookbook.com/index.htm
[13:07:32] <Tom_itx> might be of use to someone here
[13:09:44] <archivist> it costs money!
[13:10:31] <archivist> whereas
http://openscam.com/ is open source
[13:10:43] <fragalot_> lol open scam
[13:10:44] <Tom_itx> air is all that's free anymore... oh and linuxcnc :)
[13:11:15] <archivist> name is exceeeedingly unfortunate
[13:11:16] <PetefromTn> LOL so's Freecad..
[13:11:25] <Tom_itx> i was looking at the links at the bottom mainly
[13:12:04] <archivist> and for the adventurous there is vismach included in linuxcnc
[13:46:51] <syyl_> cnc cookbook is generaly not to bad
[14:20:48] <skunkworks> he is a bit mach biased.
[14:21:49] <Tom_itx> alot are until they 'see the light'
[14:22:52] <skunkworks> heh
[14:50:54] <andypugh> Bob Warfield was subscribed to LinuxCNC for a while, but appears to have disappeared from the users list.
[14:56:58] <skunkworks> andypugh: bringing acupins... (and the shields for the arduino we played with_)
[14:58:41] <skunkworks> he keeps saying that cv doesn't work. It works just not the same or as good as mach... (maybe)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mach1mach2cnc/message/140520
[15:00:33] <archivist> he is what you call a difficult customer
[15:01:23] <skunkworks> http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,21035.0.html
[15:02:03] <skunkworks> that guy thinks linuxcnc works better :)
[15:57:20] <andypugh> I think they may both be looking at the same thing from different perspectives. LinuxCNC slows down on small-radius curves to stay with accelleration limits. It may be that Mach doesn't (you can easily see how an algorithm might only honour individual axis acelleration limits, rather than trajectory limits. A constant-velocity circle might be high acelleration or zero accelleration, depending on how you look at it.
[15:58:39] <ssi> mach has an option for cv vs exact stop
[15:58:50] <ssi> but I think it does cv the same way that linuxcnc does (or is supposed to anyway)
[15:59:05] <ssi> it trades off exact path for cv, by rounding corners to some degree to stay within accel parameters
[15:59:23] <ssi> which, if you're cutting a circle made of line segments, that corner rounding actually helps :D
[16:38:18] <DJ9DJ> gn8
[16:53:30] <Tom_itx> what's the best way to check the Tram on a mill?
[16:53:54] <pfred1> a tramming gauge?
[16:54:34] <pfred1> I just stick a dial indicator in a chuck with a plate on the table
[16:54:36] <ssi> Tom_itx: checking it is easy with an indicator mounted in the spindle
[16:54:45] <ssi> don't even need a plate on the table
[16:54:52] <Tom_itx> that's kinda what i figured
[16:55:01] <pfred1> but they make these special arms that go into the chuck that hold 2 dial indicators
[16:55:07] <ssi> yea like the eztram
[16:55:12] <ssi> or protram or whatever
[16:55:14] <ssi> I have one
[16:55:14] <Tom_itx> i only have one dial though
[16:55:19] <Tom_itx> or at least one good one
[16:55:21] <ssi> you can do it with one DTI
[16:55:30] <pfred1> yeah one is good enough you just have to spin it more
[16:55:35] <Tom_itx> i got a dial and a last word
[16:55:54] <ssi> get a holder like this:
http://www.shars.com/products/view/1456/Test_Indicator_Holder_Arm_Only
[16:56:17] <ssi> touch it on one side of the table, spin 180 degrees and touch on the other side
[16:56:26] <Tom_itx> i've got a similar holder
[16:56:29] <ssi> you should get the same value on both sides if it's in tram
[16:56:36] <ssi> do that along X, do it along Y
[16:56:43] <pfred1> it helps to put a flat plate on top of the T slots
[16:56:55] <pfred1> but you really don't have to do that either
[16:56:58] <ssi> alternatively, you can put a cylinder square on the table and run the quill up and down
[16:57:00] <Tom_itx> i'm using my tooling plate
[16:57:06] <ssi> with the indicator touching the side of the cylinder
[16:57:12] <ssi> if it's in tram, the needle won't move
[16:57:41] <ssi> the protram is nice because you can just touch both indicators down, and move the head until they read the same
[16:57:59] <ssi> instead of bump and check
[16:58:01] <pfred1> you can tell if the table is out of whack when you face mill too it'll drag on one side
[16:58:01] <ssi> which is tedious
[16:58:15] <ssi> yea if it's in tram, a face mill or flycutter will cut overlapping circles
[16:58:17] <ssi> like the mastercard logo
[16:58:29] <ssi> if it's out of tram, you'll only get one side cutting
[17:12:10] <Tom_itx> i suppose if i'm not certain my plate is flat i should take it off and work off the table itself
[17:12:19] <ssi> I would start with the table
[17:12:43] <ssi> does your machine have a usable quill?
[17:12:53] <Tom_itx> it's a friggin sherline
[17:12:59] <Tom_itx> it doesn't have much useable on it :)
[17:13:02] <ssi> hahah
[17:13:06] <ssi> well the reason I ask
[17:13:10] <Tom_itx> but i do what i can
[17:13:12] <ssi> if you're on the table, the slots can get in the way
[17:13:16] <ssi> so like, on my 9x42 manual,
[17:13:16] <Tom_itx> i know
[17:13:18] <ssi> I'll set a quill stop
[17:13:28] <ssi> run it down to the stop with the indicator on one side, zero the dial
[17:13:38] <ssi> pick it up a bit, swing it 180, and run it down to the stop and check the dial
[17:13:56] <ssi> but on a machine without a quill, it may be more involved :)
[17:14:09] <Tom_itx> i'll get it
[17:14:23] <Tom_itx> i checked it once but it's been a while
[17:15:22] <andypugh> ssi: The cylinder + travel measurment is not quite the same as the table-rotate-table measurment.
[17:15:50] <Tom_itx> you'd have to measure both travels on the x and y side of the cylinder
[17:16:06] <andypugh> The former checks the angle of the column to the table. The latter checks the alignment of the spindle rotation axis to the table.
[17:16:34] <andypugh> Ideally these are the same thing :-)
[17:16:37] <ssi> you're right
[17:16:48] <ssi> if your spindle isn't dead parallel to your quill travel they'll disagree
[17:16:55] <Tom_itx> bbl
[17:16:58] <ssi> but on my machine they tend to be pretty close :)
[17:18:19] <andypugh> A car brake disc can be a good thing to run the dial indicator round. If you have one lying about. (ideally not one that is so worn that it was taken off to throw away). Some of them are so cheap that you can buy one just for this purpose.
[17:18:40] <ssi> yeah ford truck brake rotors are like $12
[17:18:59] <ssi> but I'd be worried that it's not flat
[17:19:16] <ssi> if the front side of the rotor isn't dead nuts parallel to the backside, then you're just building in bad tram
[17:19:39] <andypugh> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300909853012
[17:19:56] <pfred1> you could hand scrape it until it is perfect
[17:20:07] <ssi> yeah that sounds practical ;)
[17:20:15] <t12> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300909853012
[17:20:17] <ssi> and it'd be tough to scrape the top side
[17:20:17] <t12> er
[17:20:30] <ssi> tough to spot it rather
[17:20:40] <andypugh> They are ground flat. Flat/parallel is critically important to brake discs. They might be all over the place otherwise, but the thickness will be exactly constant.
[17:20:49] <ssi> gotcha
[17:22:17] <pfred1> andypugh a lot of calipers float on pins
[17:22:46] <pfred1> my old Volvos have fixed calipers they are picky about rotors
[17:23:23] <andypugh> Yes, but that is no help in avoiding judder due to thickness variations. Floating calipers helps if the rotors are not square to the wheel axis.
[17:23:52] <pfred1> just tell the customer that is the ABS
[17:24:26] <ssi> ahaha
[17:27:24] <pfred1> my little machining project came out good today. I had to make a mount for this monitor so it would go onto my monitor arm
[17:27:49] * pfred1 upgraded
[17:29:18] <pfred1> Screen 0: minimum 8 x 8, current 2960 x 1050, maximum 16384 x 16384
[17:38:43] <andypugh> I didn't do much, but I did do a three-prong shaft coupling to add a manual-over-ride handle to the ballscrew. It's something I found in machineries handbook, three cuts with a Woodruff cutter.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cVGGhnwqpKdGbTQADaf9HdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink and
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/abzo-Io3-DMkbvox4DLo19MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink
[17:39:32] <pfred1> is that a servo?
[17:40:28] <andypugh> You put the bottom face of the cutter exactly on the centre line, cut all the way across, rotate 120, repeat, rotate 120 for the last cut. You end up with a hermaphrodite clutch coupling.
[17:40:37] <andypugh> Yes, 600W Lenze servo.
[17:41:37] <andypugh> Which is partly why I want to be able to not have the handle on most of the time, whizzing round at gonad-height.
[17:42:46] <pfred1> so you can just take out that center nut and pop it off?
[17:43:43] <andypugh> No, even easier than that. There were two photo links there.
[17:44:17] <pfred1> yes the handle is off in the second one
[17:44:53] <andypugh> The handle has a matching clutch thingy, and a rod that fits into the centre hole on the ballscrew. I just slot the handle in, engage the clutch, do what I want, then pull the handle out again. No fasteners at all.
[17:45:11] <pfred1> did you make that timing pulley?
[17:45:20] <andypugh> Not that one.
[17:46:33] <andypugh> (That's an old picture, the clutch I made today was on the other ballscrew, actually). If I was doing it now then I would have made that pulley too.
[17:46:37] <pfred1> I got my Y axis just about done I need to run it now and see how it works
[17:47:42] <pfred1> http://i.imgur.com/eeqVuW5.jpg &
http://i.imgur.com/utBBzvx.jpg
[17:49:18] <pfred1> but I got sidetracked setting this monitor up
[17:59:07] <andypugh> Did you make the blue parts, or are they a standard component?
[18:00:05] <pfred1> yeah they are plywood
[18:00:30] <pfred1> with 2x4s I ripped and channeled and glued
[18:00:43] <pfred1> I have a pic someplace of the setup I made them with
[18:01:09] <pfred1> http://i.imgur.com/EXhhU.jpg
[18:01:40] <pfred1> it was kind of spooky cutting that dado channel into them
[18:01:56] <pfred1> but I lived
[18:02:37] <pfred1> if this mechanism works OK I'm thinking about remaking it with steel angle or square tube or something
[18:03:00] <andypugh> Send the wood parts to a foundry and get cast-iron back?
[18:03:17] <pfred1> that would be wild
[18:03:51] <pfred1> even made out of structural steel I think it would be nice
[18:03:57] <andypugh> That red-painted casting in my earlier pictures? I had that made for me, cost £25 (I supplied the wood pattern)
[18:04:20] <pfred1> I wouldn't even know where to go have that done
[18:04:44] <pfred1> nothing but corn and soy bean fields by me
[18:04:50] <andypugh> Where are you?
[18:05:07] <Tom_itx> andypugh, unfortunately a brake disk won't fit under my sherline
[18:05:11] <pfred1> I live in Delaware in Sussex county
[18:05:27] <pfred1> Tom_itx one for a bicycle would
[18:05:41] <Tom_itx> i bet those are 3x the cost too
[18:06:03] <pfred1> a cold rolled plate should suffice
[18:06:09] <pfred1> they are pretty accurate
[18:07:37] <pfred1> we had nice surface grinders at the machine shop I used to work at
[18:08:05] <pfred1> had one with a 4 foot diameter wheel and a 12 foot bed that was water cooled
[18:08:11] <andypugh> It does look like Delaware is short of iron foundries. There are a few in PA. This one does "historical restorations" so are probably happy with one-offs:
http://www.bbfoundry.com
[18:08:28] <Xfriend> t6560 ?
[18:08:46] <pfred1> andypugh I'm about 2.5 hours from philly
[18:09:13] <andypugh> I am about the same distance from the foundry I use.
[18:09:31] <pfred1> yeah they're not around the corner so much anymore are they?
[18:09:39] <Xfriend> t6560 Chinese?
[18:09:57] <pfred1> TB6560?
[18:10:09] <andypugh> There are much closer ones to me, but I have a friend with a good relationship with the one in Dudley.
[18:10:35] <pfred1> TH6560AHQ to be precise
[18:10:49] <Xfriend> TB6560 Chinese?
[18:10:52] <pfred1> TB even
[18:11:18] <pfred1> Xfriend do you mean Chinese stepper driver boards?
[18:11:39] <Xfriend> pfred1, yes...!!!
[18:12:02] <andypugh> Can you phrase your question in the form of a question?
[18:12:47] <Xfriend> my z axis is like stuck and run
[18:13:17] <Xfriend> but it doesnt moves at all
[18:14:38] <andypugh> Try inverting the "step" pin in stepconf
[18:15:09] <pfred1> make sure the step space is 5000ns
[18:15:23] <pfred1> those chips need a long step duration
[18:15:52] <pfred1> under 5000ns mine wouldn't run at all
[18:18:39] <Xfriend> pfred1, dude I'm rookie I don't know how to configure
[18:18:40] <pfred1> Xfriend do not ever under any circumstance disconnect or connect the motor leads to the board while the board is under power
[18:19:04] <pfred1> you will smoke those chips for sure
[18:19:35] <pfred1> stepconf I think it the command
[18:20:45] <pfred1> yeah step space I think that is the one that has to be 5000ns
[18:21:07] <pfred1> although I think step time can be reduced I'm not sure
[18:21:42] <Xfriend> pfred1, I have to home the axis ?
[18:22:12] <pfred1> Xfriend are you just trying to get the motors to run?
[18:22:25] <Xfriend> no
[18:22:43] <Xfriend> just I'm trying to do what you told me
[18:23:06] <pfred1> oh you're in Axis?
[18:23:16] <Xfriend> but the program is telling me I need to home
[18:23:21] <pfred1> yes you configure your machine with stepconf
[18:23:32] <pfred1> you have to configure before you run
[18:24:00] <Xfriend> I install rf -30 and I can home any axis
[18:24:34] <Xfriend> but if I run tb6560 I can home axis but motor wont work
[18:24:40] <pfred1> you have an RF-30 with TB6560 drivers on it?
[18:24:48] <Xfriend> yes
[18:24:54] <pfred1> seems a bit marginal
[18:25:27] <Xfriend> i dont download it from the website
[18:25:38] <pfred1> LinuxCNC?
[18:25:43] <Xfriend> yes
[18:26:04] <pfred1> is what you are using Mach3?
[18:26:16] <Xfriend> http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?TB6560 <<< the upload
[18:26:43] <pfred1> I think some of those chinese driver boards come wiht bootleg copies of mach3
[18:26:56] <pfred1> well I guess the demo
[18:27:24] <pfred1> restricted to 2000 lines of gcode
[18:29:13] <Xfriend> pfred1, so what I can do ?
[18:29:23] <Xfriend> to fix that problem ?
[18:29:30] <pfred1> Xfriend I don't even know what you are doing now
[18:30:10] <Xfriend> waiting for you to see if you give any idea how to fix this problem?
[18:30:11] <Xfriend> waiting for you to see if you give any idea how to fix this problem
[18:30:31] <pfred1> are you running LinuxCNC?
[18:30:42] <Xfriend> yes
[18:31:37] <pfred1> so you are using a supplied configuration file?
[18:32:22] <pfred1> one that came with your board?
[18:32:24] <Xfriend> Yes I downloaded from
http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?TB6560
[18:33:02] <pfred1> Xfriend OK have you run stepconf with that configuration to test it out?
[18:33:29] <Xfriend> I wrote on MDI stepconf
[18:33:35] <Xfriend> and I get a error
[18:33:51] <Xfriend> unknown command
[18:33:51] <pfred1> well that is an issue with using axis
[18:35:14] <Xfriend> well....!!
[18:37:33] <pfred1> hey who can i send wiki proofreading suggestions to?
[18:39:13] <Xfriend> what board do recommend ?
[18:39:33] <pfred1> for an RF-30 gecko drives
[18:39:54] <pfred1> TB6560 are kind of weak
[18:40:32] <Xfriend> dont said that I fell like an ass hole
[18:40:48] <Xfriend> lol
[18:41:19] <pfred1> well they are on the low end of stepper drivers mostly because they are limited to their input voltage
[18:41:45] <Xfriend> how much will cost RF-30 gecko ??
[18:42:47] <pfred1> http://www.geckodrive.com/
[18:47:23] <Xfriend> pfred1, what driver should i select on driver type
[18:48:38] <pfred1> anything would be better than a TB6560
[18:49:06] <pfred1> mariss' drivers go up to 80V I think
[18:49:40] <Xfriend> it too much for this board
[18:52:41] <pfred1> I have an RF-32 and I couldn't see running it with TB6560 motor drivers on it
[18:53:24] <pfred1> I have an X axis power feed on it which is much more powerful than a TG6560 and it has a time moving the table
[18:53:58] <pfred1> TB6560 even
[18:55:20] <pfred1> Xfriend does your machine have ball screw lead screw conversion?
[18:56:43] <Xfriend> no
[18:57:24] <Xfriend> have like switches on and off
[18:57:41] <pfred1> the spindle switch
[18:58:26] <Xfriend> yes
[18:59:40] <pfred1> Xfriend your machine look like this?
http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/8026/millpic.jpg
[19:00:09] <Xfriend> http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-CNC-TB6560-3-Axis-3-5A-Stepper-Motor-Driver-Board-Controller-With-Cable-/200931985414?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec87ac806
[19:01:05] <pfred1> yes i have seen chinese TB6560 boards
[19:02:01] <Xfriend> have you see any of this guy working perfect ?
[19:02:21] <pfred1> Xfriend i made my own before the imported boards were popular
http://www.instructables.com/id/TB6560-Microstepping-Bipolar-Chopper-Stepper-Motor/
[19:02:53] <pfred1> Xfriend mine work pretty good
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgbeyNNBZ68
[19:03:51] <Xfriend> are u the who made that board ?
[19:04:00] <pfred1> Xfriend yes i made my own
[19:04:46] <Xfriend> I like you job
[19:04:52] <Xfriend> I like your job
[19:04:53] <pfred1> thank you
[19:05:09] <Xfriend> you are also
[19:05:11] <pfred1> today it is better to buy the boards
[19:06:00] <pfred1> but there are still some tricks to getting them to run right
[19:06:07] <Xfriend> do I have to through away ths board or I have to buy a new one ?
[19:06:30] <pfred1> it is hard for me to say sitting here
[19:06:52] <pfred1> if I had the board and could examine it I would know what was going on
[19:07:37] <pfred1> have you checked the switch settings on your board?
[19:07:54] <pfred1> like do you know what step mode you are trying to run?
[19:08:14] <pfred1> some of them are better than others
[19:08:52] <Xfriend> I have play with it right now I put it on 100%
[19:09:02] <pfred1> personally I like the highest microstepping mode a PC can generate pulses for
[19:09:33] <pfred1> I just got a new PC so I could generate more pulses for my drivers
[21:08:06] <a1cypher> Hey folks. Anybody alive?
[21:08:31] <jdh> no
[21:08:39] <a1cypher> close enough. ;-P
[21:09:03] <a1cypher> I just started having some problems with my mill. The z-axis seems to be missing steps, so I did a little bit of fiddling and have found that the z-axis has almost no holding torque. I can spin the motor with my hands no problem when it should be holding position.
[21:09:04] <Tom_itx> someone here with solidworks care to convert a file for me?
[21:09:16] <Tom_itx> my ver is too old for the file
[21:09:45] <a1cypher> If I switch the motor to a different axis, the problem follows the motor. I also checked the wiring and it seems to be good, resistance between loops seems to make sense and the motor itself does work, just missing steps and no hold torque.
[21:09:47] <a1cypher> Any ideas?
[21:10:13] <jdh> a1: might try swapping drivers with x or y and see if the problem goes with the drive. Could be bad wiring, but that's as likely to fry your drive as anything.
[21:10:30] <a1cypher> I tried switching drivers and it followed the motor.
[21:10:41] <a1cypher> wiring conductivity seems good.
[21:10:46] <a1cypher> not sure what could cause it.
[21:11:06] <a1cypher> motor sounds fine, and I cant seem to hear it missing steps, I think it may happen on reversals.
[21:12:29] <a1cypher> but the holding torque seems strange. You would think that if the motor was bad, it wouldnt work at all.
[21:14:20] <jdh> any stressed wiring? places internal strands could be broken?
[21:15:39] <a1cypher> possible. I just moved the whole machine so I could build a proper workbench for it. Then moved it back.
[21:16:35] <a1cypher> and the z-axis is the most vulnerable since the motor sticks out. Also wire could have been tugged when I was setting it back up.
[21:16:37] <a1cypher> =(
[21:16:49] <a1cypher> I wonder if I should open up the motor and take a look for any signs.
[21:17:55] <a1cypher> probably should just buy a new motor. But I was really hoping to be able to mill a circuit board.
[21:18:08] <jdh> if you open it, it will almost assuredly never be right again.
[21:29:07] <a1cypher> welp. I feel like an idiot
[21:29:23] <a1cypher> The motor was working fine, but my coupler was slipping.
[21:29:34] <jdh> that will do it.
[21:29:47] <a1cypher> so I guess on every reversal, since when I moved to linuxcnc from mach3 I guess I increased my acceleration on that axis, it started slipping
[21:30:05] <a1cypher> I wish they would hvae put a damn flat on the shaft to begin with.. nothin but trouble.
[21:30:10] <jdh> file one
[21:30:23] <a1cypher> yeah, I thought I did the first time. guess I didnt do a good enough job
[21:30:33] <jdh> next time, put the set screw *on* the flat
[21:30:45] <a1cypher> the coupler was full of metal dust and was really hard to get out.
[21:30:56] <a1cypher> and there are grooves on the shaft from the set screw
[21:30:59] <jdh> set screw chewing up the shaft
[21:31:02] <a1cypher> yup
[21:31:12] <jdh> make a bigger flat?
[21:34:18] <a1cypher> thats a plan
[21:58:06] <a1cypher> fixed. working great again
[21:58:17] <a1cypher> now I can switch back to linuxcnc. =)
[22:33:48] <Xfriend> what cheap hardware work perfectly with linuxcnc ?
[22:35:08] <skunkworks> what kind of hardware?
[22:35:15] <Xfriend> board
[22:35:50] <Xfriend> I have a tb6560 Chinese << :(
[22:35:52] <skunkworks> do you have an example?
[22:36:11] <skunkworks> so - all in one stepper/printer port interface type thing?
[22:36:54] <Xfriend> have you see a chinese board tb6560 3 axis ?
[22:37:45] <Xfriend> skunkworks,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-CNC-TB6560-3-Axis-3-5A-Stepper-Motor-Driver-Board-Controller-With-Cable-/200931985414?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec87ac806
