I'm at work right now Ed but I'll try to remember to look at what I have my machine set at.

In reference to the motor tuning, my wife rested her hand on the motors while I made the adjustments at the Gecko. She said she could feel whether it was rough or smooth. We didn't listen for anything. You'll need help for this because you can't reach your motors when you're inside the control box. That's why Gerald recommends doing the kitchen table setup.

Okay thanks Doug.

Shows how little I know, I guess I missed the thread on tuning the motors at the geckos but I do see the adjustment screw in the upper left corner. I will adjust those to where the motor feels the smoothest while they are turning.

If you could check to see what your set at on the mach 3 motor tuning that would be a big help also.

I did a little video of drawing the roadrunner. My ink pen kept flexing so the final picture was a little off but it was a good enough test to see that things are going to work. My pause, resume, and estop buttons work great. I haven't set up the limit switches in mach 3 yet (not exactly sure how yet) but the circut I built for the sensors is working correctly.
http://www.pueblopipesteel.com/ornamental3.html
if you go to this page and scroll down and click on the video. Sorry but it loads kinda slow. I need to figure out how to lower the video quality so the files are smaller.

Ed,

I think your link is bad.

not sure what is wrong it works when I click on it from this site.

try going to www.pueblopipesteel.com then to the last page

Doesn't work for me either Ed.

hmmmmm now I can't get it to work either, it is taking me to someone elses website with my web address???? I will have to call my web host tommorow and find out what happened. sorry

Ed,

I believe the Gecko instructions tell you how to tune the motors. I don't have them handy but I seem to recall that you set the RPMs to an extremely slow rate. Like 1/2 rev per minute or so when you are tuning them.

Your step rate must be calculated based on the size of the pinions you are using and your gear box ratio. Somewhere on this forum is a table that Gerald posted which will calculate the step rate after you have plugged in the appropriate values.

The acceleration rate I used was 25 for the X and Y axis and 10 for the Z axis. I don't remember now why they are different. You should play with this after you get it running. I had to lower mine when it locked up during rapid traverses of the X axis. Oh yeah, I remember why I slowed the accel on the Z axis and it was an experiment. I need to reset to 25 or faster. I think the Z and Y axis can be set much higher than 25.

Velocity was set at 1030.8 for each axis. It think this is the max rate I could get.

Good luck and holler if you need any more info.

I found the table. It's in the section about selecting the proper gear. Hopefully the link below will work.

http://www.mechmate.com/forums/attac...0&d=1207125382

Ed,

Did you pay your website bill? I am sure it is a server problem.

Thanks Doug, I will check that link out. I got the router mount installed and the holes that you use for the dust collector housing slide makes a perfect pen holder haha. Guess I need to watch more of the tutorials now.



Still don't know whats up with my website it was working earlier today they auto charge me on my cc so I know that is not it. Probably just a hickup on their server.

Ed, I know what is wrong with your website. Read the PM I sent you!!!!!!!!!!!!

My website will be down a few days, so I put it up at photobucket.
You can see it here now. Kindof a shot of the whole area at the start.
I have a little lead dress to do and mounting the router, and then should be done.

http://s148.photobucket.com/albums/s...rstdrawing.flv

WOW Greeeeat Road Runner

Hey Doug, I couldn't open the zip file on my computer but I found the page where Doug explains what I was asking, it is here

http://www.mechmate.com/forums/showthread.php?t=239

I am using inches for my native units in Mach 3 since that is the most common here.

I have 20/20 pinion so if I did the math correct, it would be:

1 revolution of the motor gearbox output shaft makes 3.1416" of travel .
or 1 x pi = 3.1416"
2000 pulses from computer will turn the motor one turn. Motor must turn 7.1times for one revolution of gearbox output shaft.
7.1 gearbox would make 14,200 pulses for one turn of the output shaft.

divide the pulses from computer by inch travel:

14200/3.1416= 4519.98

So if I did this correct using inches as my native units in mach 3
4519.98 pulses should give one inch of travel. So I will enter this number in the steps per box on the motor tuning page of mach 3.

ED,
Don't you have the 7.2 gearboxes, not 7.1? :confused:

I came up with 4583.6625 ....... just a ballpark.

OOps your right heath, i keep getting 7.1 stuck in my head for some reason, I will refigure that angain, probably is what JR has there

thanks for reminding me

Just rechecked and I am getting the same as JR, it would be 14,400 pulses per rev rather than 14,200.

The roadrunner drawing is larger and to scale now.

Much much better, this thing is awesome. haha. Can't wait to make some sawdust.

I had to reverse the x axis direction it was going the wrong direction but the other two axis were okay.

few pictures...

#1 geckos, fan, power supply
#2 air filter and fan set up
#3 poor man's XLR's
#4 first attempt to cutt wood......with a dull bit while waiting for new bits to arrive.

Bravo! Well done!

Ed,
Looking good. Congratulations. Keep the pics coming for the rest of us. :)

Very Nice Ed !!!

nice work. Congratulations. ...feels great the first time the bit throws a little dust your way!

Geralds going to have to start adding pages to the forum. Were getting close to double digits on complete machines.

Beautiful Ed. Congrats.

I don't want to offend any MM diehards but that red looks great .:D However, I will follow the rules and do mine in Ford blue. Way to go Ed:)

I also like the red. Looks great. Congratulation on completing.

Thanks guys couldn't have done it with out all the support and encouragement here from Gerald and you guys.

I have my website back up and posted a thanks to Gerald and everyone at the website next to the little short video.
Guess now I need to study software so I don't wreck my MechMate.

Ed, maybe I missed it, but, have you posted a link to your website ? Or maybe just post the address.

Paul