Newbie Setup Help

[shockflyer48]

I have finally completed my CNC Machine. I am using KCAm as the software and when I setup the timing the max IPM I get 3. I have the following hardware:

Slo-Syn M09-FD08 Rated @ 3volts 4 amps 200 oz torque and 200 steps
per rotation. The motors are 6 wire but currently have them configured as 4 wire. Each pair of leads measures 2.1-2.8 ohms.

I am using 5/16 all thread for all 3 axis which I have measured and get 18 full rotations per inch.

24 VDC Twin FLy P1-150-24

Xylotex 3 Axis board with the VREFs at 2.98volts

KCam Software.

Computer is a P2 733

Cutting size is 33" by 22"

What am I doing wrong to only get 3 IPM?

[Rance]

Given your specs, you're running 3600Hz step rate, that seems reasonable, or maybe on the high end (check this with an expert). However, your 18tpi is one area that is killing your feed rate. With 200oz torque, seems you could go a lot faster. At least change your threads per inch on your leadscrew. 1/2-10 would give you almost twice the rate. You could probably go faster than that. I'm still a newbie so I can't recommend more than that.

Rance

[sol]

I'm sorry I cannot be of more help here other than to say that one of my machines uses 200 oz.in. steppers with 5/16-18 threaded rod and it can rapid at 45 IPM, and cuts easily at 25 to 30 IPM.. . . so anyway the problem is not with the leadscrews . . . .

[shockflyer48]

Could the problem be the timing. I am running XP on a PII. On KCam you have to set up the timing and it will give you actual feed rate and it will not climb over 3.6. Could it be the software I am using or could it be that XP is putting a strain on the PII?

Thanks for all the response.

[ger21]

Depending on how those 6 wire motors are wired (and rated), you may only have about 150 oz-in of torque with a Xylotex. But I would think you should be able to get around 15ipm, though.

Easiest thing to do, is download TurboCNC and try that. DON"T run it from a DOS window in Windows, though. Boot from a DOS bootdisk and run it. http://www.dakeng.com

You could also try running Mach3, http://www.artofcnc.ca It's a little more complicated than TurboCNC (imo), but runs in XP. I just checked, and KCAM recommends Win98, and not XP. That could be the problem.

I just reread your last message, and looked at the Demo of KCAM I have installed. With the default settings, I thought I could get 30ipm on my PIII 550. But when I set up the steps per unit to 28,800, I only got 4ipm. So the problem is definately KCAM.

I'd try running Mach3. Download it, and watch the installation videos at http://www.machsupport.com They should get you u[ and running somewhat painlessly.

[shockflyer48]

Thanks for all the input. Ger21, I have downloaded turbocnc and not having any luck on the setup. There are allot of variables that I do not understand. I could not use Mach 3 because it requires XP and I am running 98SE on a PII, XP would just slow it back down. I did hook it up to my laptop which is a Mobile Pentium 4 and with KCAM the timing was much better and it was trying to cut at 28 IPM which is allot better than 6 IPM. The problem I had with that is the motors jittered and would not turnat all. They sat there and made a high pitch noise. I reconnected my motors to 4 wire series where you use one leg and the center tap instead of both legs. No luck. Is there anything that I am doing wrong now that it is not the timing?

[ger21]

Try lowering your accelration.

[shockflyer48]

Ger21, I lowered the ramping speed and there was no luck. That seems like the only place to change it. Is there anybody that could help me set up turbocnc with the equipment listed in the first post? Like set it up and save the ini file then send it to me? Or is there a TurboCNC for Dummies website? I think turbocnc will do better than KCam but I just dont know what I am doing. Any help on this would be great.

[ger21]

If you can ask specific questions about TurboCNC, I can try to steer you in the right direction. I'll try to give a detailed explanation tonight.

[shockflyer48]

Ger21,

I think what is giving me a hard time is the HZ. I dont know what to put it at. Along with the HZ is all the different things like velocity, fast jog, slow jog and so on. I have messed around alittle with it and I change a few thing here and there and I hear noise from the motors like it wants to move but it just doent.

Joe

[ger21]

Hz is steps/second. Usually, if the motors make noise but don't move, the acceleration is too high. Try lowering it to about 500 and see if that helps. If not, lower the start speed to around 50.

The Start speed is the speed the motors will be spinning at instantly when you try to move them. Since it's impossible to go from 0 to a high speed instantly, you may have to set this pretty low. But, usually the lower the start speed, the higher acceleration you can use. A higher start speed can make the transition from point to point a bit smoother, if your motors can handle it. It's really all trial and error. Set everything low, then slowly increase your max speed. When you notice missed steps, back it off 20%. Then you can increase start speed a little at a time, and again back it off. Then set the accel the same way. But you may want to play around with higher start/lower accel vs lower start/ higher accel to find what works best for you.

[shockflyer48]

Ger21,

I will try that tonight. Thanks for all the help. I might have a couple more questions a little later on.

Joe