new to using cnc router , need help using dsp controller and vcarve pro

[dannymcic]

i have bought for the first time a router kit with er 25 spindle . it has a dsp 501 controller with usb flash disk . i also bought the vectric vcarve pro 6. i set up the table and the axis and directions all works perfectly well but im facing problems with the following

when i try to place z zero on surface top , it will show the cut portion as - number since z up is + direction. i make the drawings and convert it to g code mm.tap . when i place the file in the dsp controller and try to process the file , it will give me z- over limit and doesnt process the file , it will only process the file when z 0 is from table top and that is a problem and its very important to have it from surface top

another problem is im not being able to see the spindle rpm and im trying to figure out how to adjust the spindle speed while processing . the spindle is connected to a delta inverter and for some reason i cant put on/off the spindle from the dsp controller even though there is an on/off on the dsp .

i need to know how ti work around these problems and if someone could also tell me what rpm should i set for hard material like thin steel sheet and plywood

[lsces]

This group may not be the right place to ask, since all of your problems seem to relate to the controller? I use Mach3, and the limits in that are controlled in the setup of Mach3, so I would expect you have a setting in the 501 which needs changing. *I* certainly work with the top surface as '0' and machine down below that, so VCarve is working correctly

Spindle speed is very much a problem for the controller. The first thing I would be looking for is what connection is giving a speed pulse back from the spindle. Probably a question that only your supplier can answer quickly.

Machining speeds can be a bit of black art, and depend on the actual cutters you are using. The data on the cutters will provide some information on cutting speeds, but the first selection is material ... I would not expect to be using a cutter designed for ply in steel.

[kiwichris]

Hi.

I'm using a DSP based controller with Vcarve so might be able to help...

Some questions...

Can you jog the full distance of 'Z' travel, and do you have home and limit switches on 'Z' or just a home switch at the top?

What's the travel of your table? I can create some test g-code here with my setup and then we can see if it's your table or V-carve config that is not working for you...

Cheers, Chris H.

[dannymcic]

thanks for the feedbacks , i can take z axis in negative directions sometimes in manual mode , i have home limit switches only at top side. my table size is 3800mm in x direction , 18000mm in y direction and 300mm in z. is there a way to see the rpm of the spindle using the controller and is there a way to adjust speeds from the controller ? i can see speed grade being one before processing and i dont know what speed it is and if i can change it

[kiwichris]

Hi,

The spindle speed is shown on the Inverter control, mine by default shows the frequency but you can change the display to RPM.

If it's been wired up you can control the spindle speed from the DSP, but not using the 'S' parameter in the G-code.

The speed shown when you start to run the program is the motion speeds...

Check out my video I posted which shows the DSP in use on my small machine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh-HuCsdtyk]Quick-CNC K6100a usage demo. - YouTube

That might explain some of the general usage a bit quicker than me typing it all in!

That's a big table to learn on, you've obviously got a much bigger shed that me.

Cheers, Chris H.

[dannymcic]

hi chris

thank you for the video , it helped me . i finally got z sorted out and the rpm . i did a test today and unfortunately ended up breaking 3 solid carbide bits which is not funny and sooo expensive . i am attachind some pics of the work pieces that im doing i would like to know what do you think is the right process speed , rpm , travel speed etc for cutting through 0.5mm 2 sided foam panel. its thin steel and i need to make pockets 50 x 50mm so its a long process is using thin bits . i also have a 20mm solid carbide , but dont know how to fit it to the er25 spindle , any suggestions ?
can you cross check the feed rate , etc on the .crv file and tell me if anything looks wrong ...i really appreciate your help its just im very lost and its all new to me.
i need your email since i cant upload files other then pics