steps per mm problem using kcam

[oliverthepig]

hello everyone,

Ive been playing around with some picstep controllers and have found kcam to be the easiest to setup and play with to date to get my steppers turning,

I've been using 1.8degree steppers so I set the table setup window to 200 steps per mm,

however this does move the steppers a complete revolution using the jog window set to 1mm.

is there a seperate scaling function or other setting up i'm missing, ive made sure the that the picsteps are set to 1 step mode( not micro stepping).

thanks all

dave

[jstern429]

Dave,
I also use Kcam and I also have his Max Stepper setup and it all works great. You are right it was the only sotware I was able to get to move any of my step motors I guess that's why I own a copy of it. Your step motors are 200 steps per revolution of the motor. The way I set mine up was in steps per inch. I had to figure out how many revolutions of the motor it took to move the lead screw nut 1 inch and then put that number in the box(ie: 1 revolution =200, 1.5 =300, 2=400 and so on). I am also running a belt driven gear box at 2:1 so I had to take that into concideration also. If you are just setting it up on the bench to turn the motors and they are not hooked to a lead screw I think the program comes with some basic info inputed in the windows and that should get things turning until you have the motors hooked up to a lead screw to get the correct info in the boxes. If you still have problems please go to Kcam web site and there is a support forum that will be happy to help you get it set up and running. You can also down load the owners manual for the software and it will help also. Jeff

[dpot]

I to found Kcam worked , on the setup I am no expert but I think there is only one table setup menu there is a General options menu where you can set default offset, a setup tool list where you can set up offset to
but these only have a affect on the difference between the drawing and the part that the cnc cuts
I found the best why to set my router to cut spot on was to draw a circel on cad program then dxf to Kcam cut it and then check the size I use a 20mm gage if the hole is to big then reduce the steps if it is to small then increase the steps. don't forget to set the tool offset on Kcam I use a 3mm bit so the offset is 1.5mm for a 6mm bit it would be 3mm.

It may be the jumper setings on your control most have 1/2 1/4 1/16 microstepping I do not no why but I do no that 1/8 and 1/16 may require a lot of computer process power so I use the 1/2 step on my router

[auvecu]

I agree. First you have to make an approach to your steps/mm ratio. Secondly you can try to draw (attaching a pen to the spindle) a circle as described in the previous answer. Then, if the circle is too big, adjust steps/mm ratio as needed depending upon the axle, and so on. This way you will fin you router very accurate.

[dpot]

Originally Posted by auvecu I agree. First you have to make an approach to your steps/mm ratio. Secondly you can try to draw (attaching a pen to the spindle) a circle as described in the previous answer. Then, if the circle is too big, adjust steps/mm ratio as needed depending upon the axle, and so on. This way you will fin you router very accurate.

that is ruffly what i do but i found i eraser if you first mike up a Peace of bar say 20mm then draw circle 20mm off set 3mm for 6mm cuter you can do it on the drawing or set the off set in the tool menu in kcam the later is best then rout the circle then check the hole then adjust the steps to suite

don't forget you will have to reload the dxf ever time you adjust the steps or any settings to take affect

[pacosoide]

Remember one thing. The amount of travel is going to be determined by your leadscrew. If you leadscrew is metric then it will have a value of mm per rotation. If inches the pitch will therefore be in inches. YOur step size tells you how many steps it will take to make a complete (360 degrees) revolution.
Joe.

[dpot]

that's right I have some gearing on my lead screws as well 25 to 1 so that needs to be adding as well

[chrisenamels]

The figure you are using is steps per revolution, what you need to make allowance for is the pitch of your leadscrew. If it is 1mm then each revolution will advance the axis 1mm so the steps per mm is 200, if the pitch is 2mm then each revolution will advance the axis 2mm the steps per mm is 100, and so on. You also need to allow for any gearing you have between steppers and leadscrew. Once you have translated steps per revolution into steps per mm you can then fine tune as per the oter replies.

Chris