Hi, I am a new commer from China and quite interested in Flashcut controller,
I have built and big machine with steel, I want to find a good controller for it.
Flashcut give me good impression.

I wonder waht is the max pulse rate of Flashcut?

how about the quality of the sinal generator since I am in China. I am afraid of the after-sale service in case defaults in signal generator.

May machine size is 3000X2000 and dual X axis drived.

it will be a great help for me if Flashcutcan be available in China.

Could anyone tell me?

Thanks
Tim

Hi,

THe reason I raised the question here is:
-Max Pulse rate
I have contacted Flashcut they tell me the max. pulse rate is 30khz per second, I wonder what is the practical max. pulse rate at this level the control the motion is stable and smoothly? it is very important to the resolution of machine.
i.e. if 0.005mm/microstep and 30KHz pulse rate, the max. speed is 150mm/s i.e 9000mm/min.
-The above max. speed is 3D contuoring speed? if yes, how about 2D speed?
-How about rapid traverse speed?
-Any one use the function of rack ATC, is it possible to change to rotary ATC with 8 tools?
-If using the controller to drive dual X axises, is it possible to use macro to check the position of each axis with promisity sensor?
-As for the handdeld kepad, it is seems too expensive and not up to industry standard
such as withour ESTOP and dust protected. is it possible to made by our own.
-how about the quality of the signal generator.
-Othe pratical using experience and advice for this controller.

I hope can hear from you. Thak you very much.

Tim

30Khz is pretty slow for a hardware pulse generator. You might want to look into using Mach4 with a Gecko G100 (to be released in about 2 weeks). Mach4 is in alpha testing right now, but should be fully functional in a few months. The alpha version can be downloaded at www.machsupport.com.

The G100 can output 4Mhz per axis pulse rate.

If your motors have enough power at the Max pulse rate of the Flashcut controller, then you should be able to cut that fast. Whether you can do 3D contouring that fast would depend somewhat on FLashcut's lookahead anc constant velocity. Lots of short straight segments may limit your speed, but it may not. I've never seen a flashcut system running, so I can't answer your other questions, but Mach4 and the G100 can do everything you ask, but you'll have to do most of it yourself.

Mach4 can do tool changes, but you may need to make some hardware and you'll have to write your own macros to do it.
Mach4 can also slave the two X axis' and home them seperately using each axis' own switch.
Many people make their own pendants for use with Mach3/4.
The G100 pulse generator is supposedly VERY good.

You might want to join two Yahoo groups for more info. Mach1Mach2CNC and Geckodrive.

Hi Gerry,

Thanks to your kind reply.
Before I have test Mach2 and Mach3 demo version, it give impression is:
1.The display is not so good seems very complicated, compared to Flashcut, which is quite simple and clear.
2. It seems setting the parameters is so complicated and not complete.
3.The control fully bases on windows, which is not real time system.I wonder if it is stable or not. if we use G100, it may have a lot of setting should be done.
it means we hsould take a lot of time to setting up the system at the beginning.

I like Flashcut simple clear and real time control, but I am not sure the actual max. pluse rate. do you know extratech (www.extratech.com) and Fawoo (www.fawoo.kr)
Extratech is standalone CNC controller, real time, max. pulse rate up to 500K ;it work well, but they are not willing to sell to anyone.
Fawoo, is quite similar to Flashcut, but is windows baseed USB controller, I guese it pulse rate would up to 100K. it woks well in China but the price quite high.

Any advice, please post for me. Thanks

Tim

Hi Gerry,

Thanks to your kind reply.
Before I have test Mach2 and Mach3 demo version, it give impression is:
1.The display is not so good seems very complicated, compared to Flashcut, which is quite simple and clear.
2. It seems setting the parameters is so complicated and not complete.
3.The control fully bases on windows, which is not real time system.I wonder if it is stable or not. if we use G100, it may have a lot of setting should be done.
it means we hsould take a lot of time to setting up the system at the beginning.

I like Flashcut simple clear and real time control, but I am not sure the actual max. pluse rate. do you know extratech (www.extratech.com) and Fawoo (www.fawoo.kr)
Extratech is standalone CNC controller, real time, max. pulse rate up to 500K ;it work well, but they are not willing to sell to anyone.
Fawoo, is quite similar to Flashcut, but is windows baseed USB controller, I guese it pulse rate would up to 100K. it woks well in China but the price quite high.

Any advice, please post for me. Thanks

Tim

Xtratech will be more trouble to set up then anything else in this world! Trust me. flashcut has usb version too. what kind of machine is this. You know you can change the setup of the screen in mach if you want too right?