Mach3 Settings

[studysession]

Hi -

I have a very hard time with terminology and and calculations. So I need a for dunnies version of some of these settings in Mach3. Hopefully someone here can dummy down the "how to" on getting this software setup right for my machine.

OK - I have a licsensed version of Mach 3 from ArtSoft. The manual says calculate this by that and divide by something else. etc... Having hard time here....

I want to start with this but as I go will most likely have more questions. But I think if I understand this the rest will get easier to understand.

From the Config menu - Motor Tuning & Setup
How do you come up with the "steps per" / "Velocity In's or mm's per min." / "Acceleration in's or mm's/sec/sec" / "G's" / "Step Pulse" / "Dir Pulse"


I am having a hard time to figure out these things. Please dummy it down for me to understand where and how I come up with these numbers?

Thanks

[ger21]

Steps per unit = (Steps per motor revolution (usually 200 for steppers)) X (number of turns per inch of your screws) X # of microsteps (10 for gecko, 8 for Xylotex, etc)

For example, a stepper driving a 1/2-10 acme screw using a Gecko drive would be 200 x 10 x 10 = 20,000 steps per inch.

As for acceleration and velocity, you need to set them using trial and error.

Set your accel fairly low and then start increasing your velocity a little at a time, testing it at each setting. You can test by jogging, or using MDI mode. When you reach a velocity where you notice it missing steps, back off the velocity about 20%.

Then start increasing the accel a little at a time, and again, when you notice missed steps, back off about 20%.

The G window displays the G-force of your acceleration settings. You don't do anything with it.

The step and dir pulse are the pulse durations, in microseconds. Your drive manufacturer should specify what these should be set to for your specific drives. Xylotex, for example, should be set to at least 2.

[studysession]

Thanks for the reply.

If I do not the number of turns per inch of the screws, where or how do I find that?

I have a SIEG Micro Mill shown in the picture below. It is CNC. Bought it a couple of years ago and cannot find my manual.

EDIT: I had this setup and working over one and half years ago in England. Brought it to the US with me and now resetting up shop. The PC was dead and do not have all the settings I previously used in Mach 3. Now I have to start from scratch again.

[studysession]

I found this at Harbor Freight - it is same mill I have but sold here is US. Still can't find where to download a manual yet though..

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=47158

[studysession]

I think this maybe the documentation to the mill I have. Now need to see if it has the number of turns per inch of my screws used.

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/Inf...UsersGuide.pdf

EDIT:
- Nope, not it.

[Kipper]

Take a look at page 10 then count the number of divisions...hth

[studysession]

I found a site that says this about the screws and not sure what is exactly what....
*8 microsteps X 200 steps/rev X 20 thread/inch lead screw = 32,000 steps/inch.

The picture looked like mine - this is what he ised for calculating his and not sure what is what exactly.

[Kipper]

I'd like to help you but if it were mine I'd measure how far the table travelled for one revolution of the handwheel and then I'd know what the turns per unit (metric only for me...I dont work in old money ) There is a feature within Mach for you to set the turns per unit.... I'll look and get back in 5 minutes

[Kipper]

Go to your settings screen in Mach (alt6) and just above the estop you'll see "set steps per unit" hit that and get your measure out..ie tell it to move x by 2" (I assume you work in Olde English ) then measure what it actually moves and add that figure into the requisite box when Mach asks for it. hth

[studysession]

Thanks for the help.
Most things I do are in metric. Only my Z-Axis still has the dial with the numbers on it. Because the CNC Unit was already installed it was removed from my X & Y Axis. The one on my Z-Axiz is only one left on.

I think measuring the table travel like you said is a great idea.

[studysession]

Originally Posted by Kipper Go to your settings screen in Mach (alt6) and just above the estop you'll see "set steps per unit" hit that and get your measure out..ie tell it to move x by 2" (I assume you work in Olde English ) then measure what it actually moves and add that figure into the requisite box when Mach asks for it. hth

I will do that - thanks.

[Kipper]

Go for it matey. It's a case of expected versus actual....You'll figure it now :beer: