Thanks for the advice Danilom. A lot to learn.

Question? What is the CV you speak of?

constant velocity

Thanks Tom. I checked out what it meant on Mach 3.
So much to learn yet.

George is ready for a #
 

Logos are now installed.
He sure looks pretty.

Nice going Pete and Tony! Looks terrific and very official! It's diploma time! :)

Vacuum manifold and filter
 

We got our vacuum system set up. Built a filter box using a small filter sandwiched into a box.
Boy does it suck down.

Nice job, Pete.
Ready for a new build thread title yet? Something like " Thank you Darren for hounding me to get off my duff and get this thing done." :)

We could shorten it to "Thank you Darren!!" if you'd like.

Did the first full sample set of the dovetail on a 45 deg corner. George is amazing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a36Nj3SR9cU

Works for me.:p

Nice Drawers! I did a few boxes today, not as impressive though. What vacuum motor or pump did you end up with? I really need to "get off my duff" and get a vacuum system together.

I bought the Amtek Lamb motors. https://www.grainger.com/product/AME...Code=P2IDP2PCP. I ended up buying them from a company in Texas for around $330 each. I have 2 hooked up to the MM and a 3rd one for my loader. I need to wire them to separate circuits though as the draw 14 amps.
On 5/8 ply , one motor holds well but on 1/4" I need the second motor kicked in.

A little MM etiquette....

http://mechmate.com/forums/showthread.php?t=816

Pete, do you have the motors seperated with some sort of one way check valve, where the first motor isnt drawing through the second when its off?

Yes.

Sorry.

Somehow Pete, I thought for sure you would quote me....

BTW, I'm proud of what you've done there. As time goes on, you'll find more and more uses.

It's impressive that someone who remembers the invention of the telephone has embraced technology as much as you have. :)

Happy Easter.

It was the invention of dirt that really excited me.

Someone will pop in and make it official but let me be the first to offer congrats to #127 from #101.

Thanks Darren. Your persistence paid off for me and Tony. Once we got on it it went fast.
Monday, George, starts his first full day of work. We have spent the last few days moving equipment to the warehouse. Great feeling. The shop is almost wide open.

Help!!!!
 

Cutting out parts and I notice at the end of every run, about an inch long the machine suddenly makes a sideways dive. It does this even in the grooves.

Suggestions as to what I should be looking for to correct this?

Make sure your toolpaths are closed. If it does it every part, regardless of position, its software related, most likely.

It does it every cut.
So I need to debug cut2d then?

Debug? No. Make sure all your vectors are drawn correctly with no overlaps or open vectors.

These stupid machines do what you tell em to do, not what they are supposed to do.

Export your drawing as a .dxf, send it to me and I'll take a look.

Thanks Darren. Will do.

Dummy moment. I can save it as a crv. How do I convert it to dxf.

Sheez this is tough on us old guys.

File-export-selected vectors to .dxf

Pete...
There are 2 things that usually cause the issues you show.

1) Slack somewhere in the machines motion mechanics

2) Accel/decel/feed rates too high

Have you measured the parts for accuracy? Sometimes what looks like the error turns out to be the accurate dimension.

Take some scrap and cut some inside and outside circles of the same size (<6") and measure them to compare. Do one set climb and one set conventional, post results.

Thanks Gary. I will try this. So far measurements I have checked are spot on except for the gouge.
We can't find play in the machine.

Here ya go Darren
 

Darren, here is the dxf file of what I was cutting.

Are you using "cutter diameter compensation" G41 or G42 ?
If you are put a G40 at the start of the program.

N10 G40G17G80G49
N20 T1 M6(6.35mm)
N30 G90G54
N40 M3
N50 G0X29.827Y-46.290
N60 Z30.000
N70 G0Z5.000
N80 G0Z3.000
N90 G1Z0.000F500.0

At the end of the cut retract above Z0. before applying G40.

G01 X28.85

Z0.
G40
M5
G04 P1000
N2330 G0Z40.000
N2340
N2350 M30

"Dwell" (time delay) G04 ?
Again ensure that you are above Z0.

N40920 X29.827Y-46.290
Z0.
M5
G04 P1000
N40930 G0Z50.000
N40940
N40950 M30

I'm only seeing 6 rectangles in your .dxf Pete, but they all appear to be closed vectors.
What version of software are you using?

Vectric cut 2D.

Probably a version too new for me to open. Go to the Central forum and post. Brilliant and helpful folks there.

I checked the dxf as well, only 6 outer rectangles show under Autocad 2016, 4 large squares, 2 rectangles. I suspect not all the vectors were selected prior to export

Oh, and awesome job getting the machine cutting, well done Sir. Really like the vacuum table.

Does Vector 2D have cut simulation? If you have not run it through the cut simulation, you could try that and see if the problem appears there as well. That would help with troubleshooting.
I use Aspire and I can can run a cut simulation to check for problems before cutting any material.

Full dxf
Version 8.02 on vectric.

Yes vectric has simulation. Not seeing it there.