How do you like FlashCut?

[cncalchemy]

Sure, no problem. I'm in the middle of configuring new screws right now anyway.

Just about any system will work for 2d, for 3d it takes a while to load up the gcode if you have an old system. Once its loaded, the pc speed doesnt really affect it, the signal controller is doing all the work anyway.

A nice 2gig system with a gig of ram and a Geforce 7800GTX couldnt hurt though...

[tim168]

HI, Jeff Davis ,

Could you tell me how is the max. pulse rate generated by Flashcut. I am from China

Thanks

Tim

[CRAFTY]

I've used flash cut for several years now in a 3 axis stepper configuration. Everything has worked well for the duration. The only thing I know of is the time to complete job time is off on long files....I think the minutes really represent hours in that case, but in short jobs the timer has been correct. I think the signal generator will put out about 200khz but if I were you I would call Flashcut and ask them yourself. http://flashcutcnc.com/html/con_ssg.html (888) 883-5274

[tim168]

Hi Crafty,
Thanks for your kind reply.
1.
Concerning the Max. Pulse rate, I have consult FC last year, they told me it is 30K
I am nto sure what is realy means:
It means When 3D continously conturing? if. Yes,
How about 2D routing? and how about the pulse rate when rapid moving point to point?
Usually, when 3D contouring, 5M/Min. will be a good speed, 2D is 10M/Min. and rapid traverse is 20M/Min.(stepper) or 50M/Min.(Servo).
I wonder if FC controller can do that?
Now I use A DSP controller, my machine is stepper and can run like above. But the resolution is bit lower ie. 0.005MM around.
When I set the resolution up to 0.0025mm, the demo controller will tell me I should use other kind of signal generator, if there are many kind of signal generators for FC control system?Wht is your signal generator, standard type or other?

2.
As for Servo system, the FC controller is only half closed-loop i.e.the signal of encoder will go to the servo driver not to control system. I know I do work.

3.The Manual of FC dose not mention the hanhold keypad, how to connet the keypad?
Do you know if we can make our own keypad since Somebody in this forums say he make his own keypad? The function of FC keypad seems too simple and a bit too expansive.

In general, I would like to learn more practical experience on FC from you and any others.

Thanks in advance.

Tim

[tag1987]

You can use a conventional external PS/2 keyboard to control FC using the programmable key functions within FC.

Look at: http://www.xkeys.com/xkeys/xkdesk.php for keypads to use as a pendant. There are several mfgs of this type, usually used for games and such.

[snapman]

I love it. Love it love it love it. I had ZERO experience with CNC or machining and with Flashcut, OneCNC for CAD/CAM, and a Minitech Mini Mill 1 I was able to cut prototypes within a day. The time we have saved has paid for all of that stuff a hundred times over...

[BalchSigns]

We are very happy with Flashcut. It has worked without problem for 2 years. Someone mentioned using a USB to serial converter. Don't do it! According to their website it requires a real serial port. The USB interface does not have a realtime response so although it appears to work, it can cause problems with delayed data while windows is doing something else.
ernie

[c-fex]

if you had to choose between flashcut and microkinectics stepper machines which would you choose?

[Art Fenerty]

Hi guys:

>>Art seems to be too busy working on Mach 3 to listen to the problems Mach 2 is having. I guess most people are not creating complex Gcode like I am.

Just thought Id mention, Mach2 is no longer developed, it is quite old, and anyone with a problem such as the one desribed should be upgrading to Mach3. While Im happy to try to aid in troubles some may have with sections of Mach2, code changes that impact performance on some issues will never get done to Mach2, its like asking AutoCad to fix a bug in ACadVersion 9, they would be willing to fix the current version, but not Acad 9.0 ,.
Many changes , when done for a specific users trouble, will impact users across the baord in other ways, locked down version therefore cannot change for such a thing, so when someone has trouble with Mach2, I will attempt to see what the trouble is in case settings can fix it, but unless its a problem in Mach3, it cannot be corrected in many instances, there are too many thousands of Mach2 users who could then be impacted negatively.

Sorry for the trouble, we do try very hard to correct problems such as this that appear, and rotary axis work is known to have issues with some types of jobs in pretty much all software, from the perspective of the software, matching all situations is somethign a developer would be hard pressed to promise, I see hundreds of variations on themes every year, some of which can be problematic. Try G0Z.001A360 in EMC for example, time fo flight of angular positions in Gcode without corresponding circumferential data is vary hard to manage in the math without designing it to specific scenarios, and most programming is done to match the majority, if Mach3 issues develop , it can usually be managed by special codeing to elimite the trouble on a case by case basis, but older software cannot get that level of attention.

Sorry for the verbosity, but I thought Id try to point out the problems involved and let you know I understand the frustrations that occur, but all one can do is try to fix the trouble as best one can. The hundreds of people using A rotations in Mach3, jewlers, cue makers, cam lobe makers and such, do show that rotary axis work does function well for the majority, but some types of jobs can be problematic no matter what you do..sometimes, its a matter of a different strategy..

Thanks
Art
www.artofcnc.ca

[MAS]

I built a cnc plasma cutter using Flashcutcnc and like the other gentlemen on this thread, I am very pleased with it! Very easy to setup and run and not mention it is stable (never crashes or locks up).
I started with their first version which was 1.4 if memory serves me correct,
since then I have the latest version 2.1.4. It has some nice features that make plasma cutting alot easier.
I am patiently waiting for a plasma screen with ATHC......
Highly recommended system.

[nvenero]

If I had to choose between the microkinetics and the FC, I would go with the Flash Cut all day long. When I was searching for my system I called and talked to a college that had several MK machines. The guy wasn't really happy, said he had some problems. I couldn't tell if they were control related or machine related.
Anyway, I went with the FC. I love it. It did everything advertised and then some. I was running 4 axis stepper. I never lost a step and had great accuracy.
Not only was the product great the customer service is excellent.
I also built my own pendant using one from www.zmc.com it worked excellent. It did take a day or two to set it up right but it did work really well.

Nick

[altair]

I've been using it for 2 years now and it's just what everybody is saying: It works. Once set-up, you go into "production mode" and you never have to think about it again. (Well, figuratively speaking...)

It's NOT perfect, however.
It's too slow at something like 32K pps if you want to set the "Timing Factor" higher than 1, or if you want to increase the "Continuous Contouring Feedrate Tolerance" .
The things that I did NOT like are:
The controller box uses Molex connectors on the back, so you have to make your own cables. Fine. But Flashcut doesn't even supply the matching connectors so you have to place an order at DigiKey to get the damn connectors and pins. Thumbs down.
If you want to get the full performance from your system, you have to buy their "Lightning" chip upgrade at something like $200 or more extra, I don't remember exactly. What's the point here ? The system WITH upgrade is already quite far from "lightning speed", so why sell it with the standard chip, knowing full well that customers WILL have to upgrade...?

Flashcut, if you're reading this, please consider the above comments before marketing the next version. Use standard DB-9, DB-15 or DB-25 connectors everywhere and INCLUDE ALL the cables necessary in the kit so we don't have to loose a couple hours going into town just to get some lowly computer cables (at just a few bucks each) to complete the installation.
And drop the low-performance chip. Both chips cost you the same to program, don't they ?