Messages

1

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / Re: PMDX-424 Gantry squaring (master AND slave drive limit switches)

« on: April 08, 2019, 11:04:13 PM »

Hi,

I am wondering if this feature is something that is likely to be included soon? There seems to be no easy way of doing this from Mach4, but would be absolutely fantastic if the PMDX-416 could handle optionally auto-squaring an axis if it has a slave motor with it's own associated limit switch. Would help me out a tonne! My machine uses Clearpath servos which 'jiggle' when you initially power them, so every time I boot the machine up I have to mess around trying to square the gantry axis.

I'd even be willing to pay for the development of this feature. Any chance??

Phill

2

General Discussion / Re: Creep in Z axis PMDX-416 with Clearpath Servos + Mach4

« on: August 09, 2017, 04:09:16 PM »

Mystery solved.
Looks like the collet was not being tightened up enough on the spindle. Over time and as the tool heated up + vibration + deeper cutting, the collet was loosening and causing the bit to pull itself into the job slowly compounding the issue. Nice tight collet, no 'creep' problems.

Simple!!

3

General Discussion / Creep in Z axis PMDX-416 with Clearpath Servos + Mach4

« on: August 07, 2017, 11:26:32 PM »

Hi,

I have a very bizarre issue with Z axis creeping with Mach 4. It seems to happen after say 10mins of routing. Mach 4 does not ask the Z axis to move while routing on the same plane, but all of a sudden, the Z axis starts to creep into the job. It initially starts creeping .1mm per pass until it is trying to chomp 2-3mm per pass. Mach 4 reports no change in Z height, but the servo is being asked to descend into the job when it shouldn't. For small jobs there is no problem, but as soon as this 'creep' issue starts to occur it compounds and ruins a job within about 20sec when things start to go wrong.

The X and Y axis seem to have no problems and they are the exact same setup.

Has anyone else come across this issue? I've ruined about 4 jobs now and its starting to get a bit old...

Would love to know how to fix it!