Mach3 Setup - Revision history

AJ Quick at 22:02, January 19, 2019

2019-01-19T22:02:09Z

AJ Quick: /* Mach3 Setup XML Files */

2015-04-05T00:01:32Z

‎Mach3 Setup XML Files

AJ Quick: /* Mach3 Setup XML Files */

2015-04-05T00:01:13Z

‎Mach3 Setup XML Files

AJ Quick at 02:14, January 29, 2014

2014-01-29T02:14:07Z

AJ Quick at 02:13, January 29, 2014

2014-01-29T02:13:57Z

AJ Quick: /* Setting up Mach3 */

2014-01-28T08:01:25Z

‎Setting up Mach3

AJ Quick: /* Setting up Mach3 */

2014-01-28T08:00:04Z

‎Setting up Mach3

AJ Quick: /* Setting Motor Velocity & Acceleration */

2014-01-28T07:56:47Z

‎Setting Motor Velocity & Acceleration

AJ Quick: /* Testing Computer Speed */

2014-01-28T07:54:03Z

‎Testing Computer Speed

AJ Quick at 07:53, January 28, 2014

2014-01-28T07:53:52Z

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 You can download a trial copy of Mach3 at http://www.MachSupport.com/.
-Fully licensed copies are available from A Quick CNC in the [http://www.aquickcnc.com/store/ store].
+Fully licensed copies are available from CNC.xyz in the [https://store.cnc.xyz/ store].
 ==Mach3 Setup XML Files==

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 For simple and straight setup, you can download these XML configuration files. They will be able to run your machine with some very simple tweaking. Please check these files regularly, as it is possible they will be updated in the future.
 ==== Current Configuration Files ====
@@ Line 16: / Line 15: @@
 Last Updated December 25, 2012
 ==== Legacy Configuration Files ====

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
-Current Configuration Files
+==== Current Configuration Files ====
+[[Media:3axiscnccontroller.xml|CNC Controller]]
 For our Unipolar CNC Controller (version 1.0.3+)
@@ Line 20: / Line 18: @@
-Legacy Configuration Files
+[[Media:Kickstartercnc.xml|Kickstarter Controller]]
 For our Kickstarter machines with the included electronics only.
 Last Updated October 30, 2011
 ==Setting up Mach3==

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 You can download a trial copy of Mach3 at http://www.MachSupport.com/.
-Fully licensed copies are available from A Quick CNC in the [[http://www.aquickcnc.com/store/ store]].
+Fully licensed copies are available from A Quick CNC in the [http://www.aquickcnc.com/store/ store].
 ==Mach3 Setup XML Files==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Mach3 is the most popular CNC control software available for hobby and professional CNC machines. It is capable of running many different kinds of CNC machinery, and is extremely stable.
+[[Mach3]] is the most popular CNC control software available for hobby and professional CNC machines. It is capable of running many different kinds of CNC machinery, and is extremely stable.
 You can download a trial copy of Mach3 at http://www.MachSupport.com/.
-Fully licensed copies are available from us at a discounted rate, please Contact Us for more information.
+Fully licensed copies are available from A Quick CNC in the [[http://www.aquickcnc.com/store/ store]].
 ==Mach3 Setup XML Files==

@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 ==Setting up Mach3==
+====Ports and Pins====
 [[File:Mach3 Ports and Pins Configuration.jpg|thumb|Mach3 Ports and Pins Configuration]]Opening the main connection configuration for the input and output using "Config > Ports and Pins" allows you to setup your controller to communicate with Mach3.
@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 {{Clear}}
 [[File:Mach3 Motor Outputs Configuration.jpg|thumb|Mach3 Motor Outputs Configuration]]
@@ Line 55: / Line 57: @@
 {{Clear}}
+====Input Signals====
 [[File:Mach3 Input Signals Configuration.jpg|thumb|Mach3 Input Signals Configuration ]]
@@ Line 61: / Line 63: @@
 {{Clear}}
+====Output Signals====
 [[File:Mach3 Output Signals Configuration.jpg|thumb|Mach3 Output Signals Configuration]]

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 ==Setting up Mach3==
-Opening the main connection configuration for the input and output using "Config > Ports and Pins" allows you to setup your controller to communicate with Mach3.
+[[File:Mach3 Ports and Pins Configuration.jpg|thumb|Mach3 Ports and Pins Configuration]]Opening the main connection configuration for the input and output using "Config > Ports and Pins" allows you to setup your controller to communicate with Mach3.
 On the main "Port Setup and Axis Selection" screen, you will want to select a Kernel Speed of 35000 Hz. If your computer is faster, you may be able to set this higher. Use the Driver Test program (see "Testing Computer Speed" section) to test how your computer performs when you increase the Kernel speed.
-On the "Motor Outputs" screen you can enable and disable the axes. Place a checkmark in the X, Y, & Z "Enable" boxes, and apply the following pins:
+{{Clear}}
-X-Step: 3
+On the "Motor Outputs" screen you can enable and disable the axes. Place a checkmark in the X, Y, & Z "Enable" boxes, and apply the following pins:
-X-Direction: 2
+*X-Step: 3
+*Y-Step: 5
-Y-Direction: 4
+*Z-Step: 7
+*X-Direction: 2
-Z-Direction: 6
+*Y-Direction: 4
+*Z-Direction: 6
-Set the "Step" and "Dir" port as 1. If you want to reverse the directions of any of the axes, place a checkbox in the "Dir Low Active".
+{{Clear}}
-Motor Output Configuration
+[[File:Mach3 Input Signals Configuration.jpg|thumb|Mach3 Input Signals Configuration ]]
 On the "Input Signal" screen, you will want to scroll down and enable the EStop button. You will need to do this, the machine will not run without the EStop setup. Place a check mark in the Enabled box, assign the Port as #1, Pin as #13. If you do not have an EStop switch, you will need to place a check mark in the "Active Low" box. (This will simulate that the EStop button is always released.)
-Mach3 Input Signals Configuration
+{{Clear}}
 On the "Output Signals" screen. Place a check mark in the "Enabled" for the Digital Trigger. This will enable your control board when your Mach3 is running. Set the Port as #1 and Pin as #1.
-Mach3 Output Signals Configuration
+{{Clear}}
 ==Setting Motor Velocity & Acceleration==

@@ Line 77: / Line 77: @@
 There are three main settings you need to set for each motor. "Steps per", "Velocity" and "Acceleration".
-"'''Steps per'''" is the number of steps per inch, which is the number of steps the motor needs to turn in order to move the CNC one inch. It is based almost entirely on the type of leadscrews used in the machine. A formula for determining the setting can be found on the Stepper Motor Calculations page. For most of our machines, the setting is 4800 for the X & Y axis, and 9600 for the Z axis.
+"'''Steps per'''" is the number of steps per inch, which is the number of steps the motor needs to turn in order to move the CNC one inch. It is based almost entirely on the type of leadscrews used in the machine. A formula for determining the setting can be found on the [[Stepper Motor Calculations]] page. For most of our machines, the setting is 4800 for the X & Y axis, and 9600 for the Z axis.
-"'''Velocity'''" is the speed that the CNC can travel, in inches per minute. Depending on the settings of the CNC controller, power and stepper motor size, this number can range from 1 IPM to 600 IPM. For our machines 20 IPM is a good base to test movement, with higher speeds being capable through Stepper Motor Tuning.
+"'''Velocity'''" is the speed that the CNC can travel, in inches per minute. Depending on the settings of the CNC controller, power and stepper motor size, this number can range from 1 IPM to 600 IPM. For our machines 20 IPM is a good base to test movement, with higher speeds being capable through [[Stepper Motor Tuning]].
 "'''Acceleration'''" is the speed that the CNC can accelerate from a dead stop to the working velocity, in inches per second per second. Depending on the settins of the CNC controller, power and stepper motor size, this number can range from 1 IPSPS to 50 IPSPS. For our machines we start out a 1 IPSPS, with accelerations of 25+ IPSPS being achievable.
+<gallery>
 ==Testing Computer Speed==

@@ Line 91: / Line 91: @@
 Loading the program you can set your parameter control (number of pulses Mach3 will send per second, for our Kickstarter electronics we use 35KHz), and press "Start Timer". The computer will then act as if it is actively sending out commands to the CNC and will measure how many are successful. If you computer is fast enough it will say "System Excellent" if your speed is too slow (or even too fast) it will say "Pulsing Too Slow" or "Pulsing Too Fast". Always turn off all other programs when running Mach3 (and the driver test).
-−
 ==Mach3 Tweaks==
 [[File:Mach3 General Confguration.jpg|thumb|Mach3 General Configuration]]