WHERE IS MACH FOR DUMMIES??

[millman52]

This is just to satisfy curosity......

When I set up my plasma table Mack Kernel Speed is set to 25000Hz & was told to leave that alone.

When, What, Why are the higher kernel speeds used ?

[ger21]

If the kernel frequency is limiting your top speed, then you use a faster one. For example, if you use a 10 turn/inch screw, and a 10 microstep drive, you need 20,000 steps per inch. At 25KHz, you get 25,000 steps/second, which will limit you to 75 ipm. If you want to go faster, you need a higher kernel speed.

[millman52]

I really wasn't having a problem. I was set at 25000 Kernel Speed & have apx 450 IPM rapids at that.

I just re set to 35000. I was able to ease the rapids on to 550 IPM. The steppers seem much happier there too. I tried speeds just above 600 IPM but but began to loose steps. I'm sure I was trying to out run my processor. The gantry would accelerate fine but I could hear it every now & then glitch a bit. Then when returning home & referencing the gantry I could see it take just a bit of twist out.

Set the speeds back down a bit & paced the gantry through about a 10 min. program at 200 IPM simulated cut speeds without a glitch. Motor seem to be even quieter at low speeds around 20IPM too.

I was afraid to try it without asking for fear of overheating my drives etc.