CNC Quilting forum

[lmlamb]

Hey guys,

Glad to hear your projects are going so well. It makes me feel very good to know that I have been able to stimulate your thinking about the work you are doing. I wish I could say that I am making progress, however, my recent surgery has kept me a bit off kilter. I have found that my memory was affected by the extremely long time under anesthesia.
I am in the process of trying to find information regarding using the quilter itself to determine the length of a given area on the quilt. This appears to be a rather difficult thing. If anyone should have any ideas please feel free to chime in. Well, gotta go and take my evening meds. I'll be around if anyone needs me or has any ideas we can all use.


Best regards,

Larry

[WindRidge]

lmlamb: I am new to this forum but I have been working on automating my wife's quilter since last February (You were th inspiration). I have written an extensive software system using Mach3 basic scripts for computing the placement of quilting patterns. I might be able to help. I need a little more information about what you are trying to accomplish.
Dan

[lmlamb]

Originally Posted by WindRidge lmlamb: I am new to this forum but I have been working on automating my wife's quilter since last February (You were th inspiration). I have written an extensive software system using Mach3 basic scripts for computing the placement of quilting patterns. I might be able to help. I need a little more information about what you are trying to accomplish. Dan

Hi Dan,

Welcome to the CNC-Quilter forum. Thank you for the great comments. I like to think that if I can help anyone with their project then I have accomplished one of the goals that I set for myself. My needs are a bit complicated in that what I envision is the ability to move from one location length wise to another loction and record the distance moved, and then calculate the number of repeats that can go into the area measured. I was thinking that if there was a way to place a button that will record the starting point (a location of zero) and then to the right side location of xxxx, then ask for input of the length of the patter from the Gcode (last line x-axis position) to calculate the number of repeats.


again, welcome and above all, have a great time.


Larry

[lmlamb]

Originally Posted by trickey Hi guys I have a problem sorting out the the cruise control switch to operate through the gecko G540 I plan to use m8 (coolant on) to turn the cruise control on and the m9 to turn the cruise control off should work .the big problem that I am facing is can I use the m7 (mist on) to turn a push solenoid on it only requires to be a very small force and only requires to be pushed for half a second then use m9 to turn both off .I thought that I would enter the M7 at the end of my g code the line prior to M9 any IDEAS . Dick

Hey Dick,

I'm using M7 to start the needle thru the cruise control, and m9 to stop it. I have found that it works just fine. You will need to set up a low voltage optical relay to hand the switching. If you like I can send you the specs on the setup. I bought a Panasonic 3 - 30 volt DC relay that can handle up to 240 volts AC at the relay end, and connected the cable of the cruise control up to it so that when the DC voltage goes HI then the relay will activate and cause a closed condition that switches the cruise control on. Man it is the best thing since sliced bread.

Larry

[WindRidge]

Larry: I have a screen that is used for quilt loading and setup. What I do is record the position of the upper left hand corner of the mounted quilt top and then I record the position of the right hand corner. This gives a reference point for where the quilt top is located. This data is stored in DROs and is used by other scripts in creating the executable pattern file. See the attached image of screen-1.

[lmlamb]

Originally Posted by WindRidge Larry: I have a screen that is used for quilt loading and setup. What I do is record the position of the upper left hand corner of the mounted quilt top and then I record the position of the right hand corner. This gives a reference point for where the quilt top is located. This data is stored in DROs and is used by other scripts in creating the executable pattern file. See the attached image of screen-1.

Hi WindRidge,

That is a pretty nice screen you have made, and I can see some practical use in it, such as the roller takeup/playout buttons. As well as the ability to measure the size of the quilt. I could use those two as practical applications in my program to assist in the upgrade of the system.

Regards,

Larry

[lmlamb]

Originally Posted by WindRidge Larry: I have a screen that is used for quilt loading and setup. What I do is record the position of the upper left hand corner of the mounted quilt top and then I record the position of the right hand corner. This gives a reference point for where the quilt top is located. This data is stored in DROs and is used by other scripts in creating the executable pattern file. See the attached image of screen-1.

Hi WindRidge,

Can you send a copy of your program to my email address at lmlamb@windmill-sbs.com? I'll look at it and see if I can use any of the programming that you have done.


Regards,


Larry

[trickey]

Hi Guys I have been going through a severe slack attack, Larry great to hear that you have had your operations and are now on the mend,I can relate to concentration after anaesthesia, I have been doing some work on Brenda's quilting frame.I did overcome the problem with turning off the machine and thread cutting by fitting relays and a small solenoid to push the thread-cutter button operated through the G540 works well safer than playing with the electronics of the sewing machine but can still operate them them manually using switches on the handlebars
very interested in the positioning of the quilt and the screen
wishing you all a happy Christmas and a rewarding new year
Dick

[trickey]

Hi Larry since last we touched base, we have both had stints in hospitals, it would appear that we are on the mend,have you been working on the take up roller,have you got it working properly yet, I have trouble with concentration and tiredness caused by med.been told that will dissipate with time shortly. have not got around to completing the t/u roller using steppers but have been thinking on them.

Dick

[ec_buss]

Sorry to hear you guys are all having medical problems. Guess we all have to do it--getting old sux!

My machine is working well, cranking out a quilt every couple of days. I've got a few tweaks yet to do. I have an old machine, so am working on a broken thread indicator that will trip the machine off. I plan on using an optical encoder with a pulley which the top thread will wind around (after going through a pretensioner). When the encoder stops sending signals, the digital chip monitoring it will trip the reset. Really need this modification so I can leave the machine and do other things while it takes care of business by itself.

I've been thinking about the needle up issue also, Dick. I think an optical sensor on the bobbin shaft (or for that matter, on the balance wheel if you don't mind looking at it) could do the job. May have to set it 20 degrees ahead of full up position to compensate for momentum, but I think it will work. After I get the broken thread issue done, I'll tackle that one, but if you beat me to it, please let me know how you resolved the problem.

Have a Great Holiday! Ed

[trickey]

Hi great to hear from you ,I don't have a problem with needle up as Brenda's machine has a button that cuts the bobbin and top thread and raises the needle simultaneously but it was in a very awkward spot and she could not reach the button comfortably so I fabricated an angle and fitted a small push solidnoid and relay which operate through the G540 and can be programmed (I used a M61) but if the need arises she can operate it through a push button switch and a similar system operates the cruise control in case of thread break ect ect they work a treat and She does not know how she managed before it was fitted
I still suck as far as programming goes and rely heavily on some friends in Melbourne
But I will have to give myself a good talking to and remove my digit
Dick

[trickey]

To you all a happy and rewarding new year,I'm sure that between us we can achieve many things in the next twelve.

regards Dick