More Problems with Chinese 6040

[Rye]

Instead of just attempting a re-wire, I'm thinking I'm best putting together a new box entirely with better parts. Would a Gecko G540 be sufficient or overkill. Also, would it be best to replace my current stepper motors (57 two-phase 3A 150N.cm) for something a little better. And if so, what? I'm not interested in crazy fast cutting speeds. Just need to be able to cut wood, acrylic, ACM and aluminium reasonably well with the 6040 frame(until I can get something better built.) I also want to keep using the SMC4-4-16A16B - and maybe add some sort of switch to an external parallel to connect to a PC if need be. What would you recommend?

[komatias]

Rye,

Unless you get a used G540 in the UK then it will be cheaper to get individual drives and a breakout board. I like my g540 and have used it on my 3040 cnc ever since I found that the original drive sucked.

What you refer to as an external parallel port is in fact called a motion controller. These do a bit more than just replicate the parallel port. Whichever brand you do go for, we generally agree that the ethernet type is more reliable.

As for the motors, don't bother, with the right drives they will do just fine.

[Rye]

Hi Komatias. Yes. That's what I meant. Be good to have the option to use the SMC or to connect to a PC via a motion controller. After having a chat with Jazz though, I'm not going to bother with a new box. I'll just try get it working again without spending much and save for a more robust machine. Be best in the long-run. Cheers for the help and reply though. It's appreciated mate. Thanks.

[transistor]

Hi, I was wondering if the members of this thread might be able to advise me about the smc4-4-16a16b "standalone controller", please?
I have hooked it up to a home built (MDF kit) router and would like to know which Profile to use in my CAM software? Does the smc4-4-16a16b
"look like" a eg. Fanuc to the software?
I hope I have explained properly? I do the Drawing in CAD make the DFX then go to my Dolphin CAM software to do the tool paths and make the G-code.
But it needs to make the G-Code according to the target machine?
Hope you can advise me, many thanks.

[Rye]

Hey transistor, I've only used V-Carve software and my experience with anything beyond that is limited or next to zero. That said, with V-Carve I just export the g-code using a standard or generic profile that's not machine specific: g-code (mm).tap

[Neale]

As Rye suggests, use a fairly basic post-proc and you will probably be fine. Fanuc and some of the more sophisticated controllers are more likely to use their own gcode extensions. Stick to a generic post-proc, like Mach3 or EMC/LinuxCNC, and you will just be generating "standard" gcode (whatever that is!). I would start with something like "Mach3 mm arcs", or "Mach3 mm arcs ATC" if your controller can handle M6 tool change commands and you are using different tools on one job.

[transistor]

Hi Rye and Neale, many thanks for the replies, I was probably worrying about it un-necessarily.
I'm still trying to get up to speed on the CAM, so want to keep it simple to minimise my mistakes...
thanks again, Roger.

[magicniner]

Fanuc and some of the more sophisticated controllers are more likely to use their own gcode extensions.

Isn't Mach3 essentially a basic Fanuc controller?

http://www.machsupport.com/software/...st-processors/

Scroll down to find that Newfangled solutions recommend a basic Fanuc POST should work if you don't have a CAM specific post processor, this was the case when Art Fennerty still ran the show so it's not just smoke from the slackers who bought him out and broke the product ;-)
I so bet Art is crying and laughing his socks off at the same time, the Chinese stand alone controllers are giving MACH4 What For and look like being a better bet! :D