Hi all,

I've been lurking for a while and didn't post much except for a couple of questions as I was trying to decide how to build my system. Now it's somewhat operational and I made my first "part" ;) so I was anxious to share my excitement with the world!

My machine is a Taig for which I got the CNC kit, 3 servos with encoders, gecko 320s, a c11 board, a 600w toroidal transformer (at the advice of someone on the board), and a case from some video switch I had laying around. I mounted the geckos on two Intel Pentium 2 heat sinks (and two geckos fit PERFECTLY on one of those), I have space for a 4th one if I decide to add a 4th axis. I used DB25 connectors for the encoders, because the case already had the cut-outs and this leaves plenty of space for limit switches (which I didn't install yet).

I have a few of questions though :
1) The Z axis is sort of whining when idling, the others don't, is that a sign that the encoder is not perfect?
2) Are mechanical limit switches accurate enough to use as reference/home switches or should I use/make optical ones (I'm an electric engineer so I would just make them, but mechanical switches are cheap and easy to install).
3) Do you see a use to bring all 3 gecko fault indicators to the front panel or just having one light for all would be enough?
4) My axis are not advancing continuously, but they obviously work as the part came out fine. By that I mean they are advancing maybe half an inch they stop, then repeat. Is this something normal, it's something in mach3 I missed?

I'm sure I'll have many more questions as this is my first cnc adventure!

Sorin

Oh me likey! Lots!!!!!

1. You may want too check your velocity speed, too high and the motor will buzz and whine (due too extra weight of the motor)

2. ME. switch are good enough for the Taig, Optical ones are easy too make, more expensive but not needed for the taig (But cool)

3. It may be wise too see the status on all three.

4. I don't use mach 3, I use EMC2, make sure that you have it set too continuous instead of increments of .1 , .01, .5 etc....In emc2 you can do that.


Cool machine, make cool enclosure and use your c11 boarcd with coolant and everything! Oh sorry for the rant lol (nuts)


-Jason

I have a few of questions though :
1) The Z axis is sort of whining when idling, the others don't, is that a sign that the encoder is not perfect?

You might want to check your servo tuning. If that doesn't do it, you might (if you can) move the encoders around to different motors and see if the problem follows the encoder.

4) My axis are not advancing continuously, but they obviously work as the part came out fine. By that I mean they are advancing maybe half an inch they stop, then repeat. Is this something normal, it's something in mach3 I missed?

In Mach click the menu item Config, then General Config, check in the middle column for Motion Mode, check Constant Velocity. If that's already checked, then something else is happening, post back.

Monte