I just finished my homemade cnc mill and stepper cpntrol card. I used Kellycam4 to control my stepper. The maximum speed was about 40-60rpm

Yesterday I downloaded Mach2 demo from artsoft web page. my steppers speed doubled (almost 3 times faster than kellyware)

Is this something normal or is there a setup problem with my Kellycam software?

http://gunol.otocamlibel.com

Looks like the programmer of Mach1-Mach2 has focused optimizing stepping, timing and latencies. Probably the way it works (ring0, etc.) makes the diference.

Fer

With Kcam4 and a 1.6GHz computer I'm able to get about 140RPM.

Just for reference. Still dog slow though :)

Thanks for reply,

When I use kellycam my CPU works at 100% load. (I use Windows XP, amd athlon xp 1700mhz cpu and 512mb ram)

However while using mach2 demo, cpu load is less than 20% (even doubled speeds)

Is there anyone who knows what is limited at demo version of Mach2? I know there is a limit at g code about 1000lines. what else?

The only limitation of mach1-2 is the g-code number of lines, at least that is what at his page..

Fer

With Mach2, geckos, newer easter devices 4amp nema23 steppers, 10tpi leadscrew, and my schoos lame minitech minimill, we easily get 75IPM rapids. at this speed(750RPM!) i have seen at least 2 axis moving at this rate - all on a PIII550 with 128mb RAM. Thats with 10x microstepping... SOOO.. thats 2000steps per rev.. so.. 2000x10=20,000x2=40,000hz... Wierd. We have it set at the lowest speed, which is 35,000.. Maybe it wasnt really going 75ipm.. Our mill cant run that fast, btw, it is scary watching the ill-balanced leadscrew spin at 750rpm.. Stinking mini/mill2 POS

hard to believe we were seeing 60,000KHZ from this setup - but we must have been. Incredible. And the device was

Mach2 has two limits in the free download. The 1000 lines of code and unless he has changed it the freq is locked at 25K. Mach2 can do 25, 35 or 45k freq output. vacpress if you think the rpms are impressive wait till Mariss gets his G2002/2003 going. He has spun stepper motors at 9000 rpm!:D Can you imagine how smooth that would sound?

Mike

I just finished my homemade cnc mill and stepper cpntrol card. I used Kellycam4 to control my stepper. The maximum speed was about 40-60rpm

Part of the reason for this is that Windows can interfere with KCAM, which can affect the pulse train. Mach2 is really the only windows parallel port controller software that gets around the Windows limitations.

Kellycam updates the drawing as it moves the axis. To obtain better speed disable the screen updating and the speed increases dramatically.
I own the program and like it very much. Specially the ability to view the tool path on screen.
That ability is also its weakness. If there is tool path refreshing showing the cutting motion then the speed drops dramatically. Give it a try. You will love the results.

I tried your suggestions this morning (it is 08:30 am here) (I cancelled the tool path refreshing) result was smoother but not as smoother as (and as fast as) while using mach2.

I think I will use mach2.

last night I printed out the "mach 2 document" from artsoft web site. it contains lots of basics about cnc hobby. I suggest everyone to look at it.

you can download this documentation from http://www.artofcnc.ca/DownLoads.htm it is about 4,5 mb and 209 pages

thanks for sharing knowlages...