crchisholm

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  • February 6, 2018 at 5:30 pm in reply to: TinyG and PCB mill #10806
    crchisholm
    Member

    I have been busy trying to get cncjs up and running. I have it installed on a lap top for now. I have found that it at least is aware (on some level) that the tinyG is out there because if I start cncjs without having the USB cable connected froms the laptop to the tinyG, the software runs a bit differently (can’t load gcode and there is nothing under the tinyG widget). With the cable connected, I can load gcode and see some new buttons on the tinyG portion of the widget, but still can’t do anything. I would be very happy to jog just to know that there is some meaningful communication going on, but don’t know how to make that happen. (all the jog controls are grayed-out)

    Also, I don’t see any place to enter commands to try and move the axises.

    Any help would be greatly appriciated. I know I am not always clear, so please ask me if this doesn’t make sense.

    Charlie

    • This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by crchisholm.
    • This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by crchisholm.
    December 30, 2016 at 5:40 pm in reply to: SpDir flashing after G Code file was started from Chilipeppr #10147
    crchisholm
    Member

    Curious, usually that flashing is accociated with a stop being triggered. If that were the case, and if the cause of the triggering has not been corrected before resetting, could that cause behavior like you describe?

    • This reply was modified 7 years, 10 months ago by crchisholm.
    • This reply was modified 7 years, 10 months ago by crchisholm.
    December 17, 2016 at 1:05 pm in reply to: ChiliPeppr users – Look here for help #10104
    crchisholm
    Member

    Got my cnc built and having trouble getting started actually cutting something. I created some random text in Inkscape, saved it as svg, and tried to import into chilipeppr. I have probobly over-simplified the hell out of it because I can’t get it to render or do anything else. I did change from laser to mill in chilipeppr but I have no idea where to go from there.

    Is there certain things I should be doing in Inkscape to ready the svg for import into chilipeppr?

    Are there any more detailed walk through vids aimed at complete nubs like me?

    • This reply was modified 7 years, 11 months ago by crchisholm.
    December 14, 2016 at 8:04 am in reply to: anybody using chilipeppr on chrome os? #10085
    crchisholm
    Member

    Actually, you hit my concern on the nose. My guess is that it would work great for chillipeppr but spjs would probobly render that pointless.

    My 3D printers use a Rambo controller attached to a headless RP2 that I connect to via wifi, which will probobly be the approach I take with the CNC (if I can ever get past the build issues – now it’s the spindle), but always looking to do something I have not yet done.

    December 12, 2016 at 9:34 am in reply to: tinyG flashing SpDir led #10073
    crchisholm
    Member

    Zootalaws: Alas, the spindle was part of the package deal for the CNC kit. It doesn’t have brand markings on it, but evident by the label it’s Chinese. Here’s the link…
    https://www.smw3d.com/quiet-cut-spindle/

    It’s the 400 watt version.

    Since i’m not entirely certain if the problem lies with the spindle, collet or bit, I ordered what I think is a much better quality collet and bit from ToolsToDay. The spindle I have is air cooled. The thought of going to a water cooled spindle scares me a bit. I work in a single car garage where space is at a premium and I envision much more equipment for water cooled.

    I am a hobbiest. Retired and fulfilling a life long dream of being able to design and build things to aide me in my pursuit of robotics. In other words, I make things that ONLY have importance to me.

    Yes, your descripton made sense and is very helpful.

    cmcgrath5035: thank you for that info. I knew it was something like that, but have been so wrapped up in this runout issue that I hadn’t had a chance to research.

    December 11, 2016 at 4:52 pm in reply to: tinyG flashing SpDir led #10065
    crchisholm
    Member

    Speaking of the spindle, I just got the PWM contron hooked up and working. The spindle starts up automatically when I power up the tinyG (hopefully I will be able have it not do that when I know more). I put a couple mill bits (6mm and 3mm) in with their respective collets..I’m using the 400W spindle and noticed a slight wobble. On a 3mm bit, the wobble was probably not more than a couple tenths of a mm. Not really very visible, but if I place the a piece of thin metal against the a smooth part of the shaft, it is evident by the noise. I bought the bits and collets on Amazon and admittedly, I took the best deal. My questions are…

    1) Am I being idealistic to think there should be absolutely no wobble on this type of machine?
    2) Is a wobble like this even usable?
    3) If my problem is that I got too cheap on the tool, where is a good place to buy bits and collets?. One person recommended ToolsToday.com. Are they pretty good?

    if this is not cool to expand the original question to another topic, let me know and I will post a new message.

    December 10, 2016 at 7:20 pm in reply to: tinyG flashing SpDir led #10056
    crchisholm
    Member

    Boy is my face red. You’all were right. The CNC was behaving as designed. I have a lot to learn, but maybe at the top of the list, now not to panic.

    Thanks for your import. The document link was great and I know much more to be confused by now.

    Thanks

    December 10, 2016 at 3:35 pm in reply to: tinyG flashing SpDir led #10055
    crchisholm
    Member

    Zootalaws: Thanks for the link. I will read this and try to fill the holes. From what you all are saying, the continuously flashing SpDir led and the unresponsive motors after a limit switch is triggered is NOT an indication of a problem. If that’s the case, I am very much relieved. I would defiantly rather that the problem was my not knowing what I am doing that to think the board has a problem.

    Reading now.

    December 10, 2016 at 3:28 pm in reply to: tinyG flashing SpDir led #10054
    crchisholm
    Member

    OK, then I am truly lost. I am from the world of 3D printing, and when I would home all the axis (or any of the axis), the motors stayed function. My reason for homing these was to test that the switches were working correctly and that the coordinates were z’ed out. I expected that after I did that, I could still jog the motors if I wanted to. In this case, though, the motors become unresponsive.

    I admit I don’t know what I am doing.

    Do you not home all the axis in preparation for starting the job, or am I jumping way ahead of my knowledge.

    December 10, 2016 at 1:40 pm in reply to: tinyG flashing SpDir led #10050
    crchisholm
    Member

    So, if I have wired it correctly as you say, then the board is not functioning correctly, righ? Where do I go from here?

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