Loseing steps?

[danny]

Hi. I've been loosing steps ( I think) if it is a big file It will start a new cut about 1/8th" or 1/16th" from where it should be. I'm sure you guy's have a name for this but i don't know what to call it. Anyway what could be the cause, I've cut the same file 6 times and it dose it in a different place. so i broke the file down to 6 layers and tried to cut it in layers, worked great till the last one( of coarse ) so i cut a couple different smaller files, perfect . Then I try a different larger one that i had cut before, and it did it again.

I'm wondering if this could be computer, break out board TB 6560 ,motors. I dont think it's binding cause it seems to mess up after a while of cutting like something getting hot ( or tired )lol. I do still have my PC hooked up to the internet and usually have Q cad and sheet cam running while I'm cutting could this be the problem. I do have another PC that I'm planning to dedicate to plasma but haven't gotten to it, and not quite sure what all to take off of it and how to set it up

Thanks in advance,
Danny

[dgeorgester]

Is the problem always happening a the same axis or is it on both X and Y?

[danny]

dgeorgester, Thanks for the reply
I'm pretty sure it's on the x axis but not totally convinced. Because it's periodic and I thought it was more operator error than anything. and am not quite sure how to narrow it down I've checked the motor steps In alt-6, Put a scribe on the Z and ran it down to the steel to mark it and they seem to be wright.Any other advice would sure be appreciated.

Thanks again,
Danny

[Stout]

What plasma system are you using? If it has a hi frequency start then it may be causing errors on the encoders/amps/system. A good way to check is run the system in trial mode to see if the problem occurs. Just go back to the start position, when done, and check to make sure it lines up. If no errors, then the plasma is inducing them somewhere.

The CNC should have an error counter or diagnostic tool to help locate the cause of the errant motor movement.

[sodfarmer]

I would try using a different computer. I had a problem like that awhile ago and it was the computer. I know with mach 3 that you don't want anything else running, even virus protection software. It seems to mess with mach 3.

John

[dgeorgester]

I doubt it would be a software problem. If you could determine on which access the problem occurs, it would then be easy to swap parts between X and Y axis. First swap the stepper motors, if the problems changes axis from X and Y then you know for sure its the motor.

After swapping the motors, if the problem remains on the same axis, move on to swap the drives.

It's an easy way to pinpoint the problem by the process of elimination.

Hope this helps,
Geoges

[danny]

What plasma system are you using? If it has a hi frequency start then it may be causing errors on the encoders/amps/system. A good way to check is run the system in trial mode to see if the problem occurs. Just go back to the start position, when done, and check to make sure it lines up. If no errors, then the plasma is inducing them somewhere.

The CNC should have an error counter or diagnostic tool to help locate the cause of the errant motor movement.

It' a Thermal dynamics cut master 52 no high frequency

dgeorgester,
I'm going to do some cutting this weekend and hopefully " It will do it" ( That just sounds so wrong) so i can figure it out.
that is a good idea on swapping the axis.

will keep youns posted thanks again

[danny]

Well cut all day yesterday never missed a beat. I did close everything but mach3 and am pretty convinced that knowing better just had to much crap running. That being said dose anyone have any advice on setting up a dedicated computer for the plasma. I.E. which programs to remove get a pci card any and all advice would be help full. or maybe just point me to previous thread's I've searched BUT me and the search tool don't get along.


thanks again,
Danny

[dgeorgester]

Antivirus use a lot of resources. If you're not connected to the internet, I would start by removing or at least disabling any running antivirus.

Secondly, turn off Windows updates.

Regards,
Georges

[sodfarmer]

I would run just Mach 3 only on the computer, nothing else. Like dgeorgester said turn off Windows updates and don't have it hooked up to the Interent. I have found that the less on the computer the better.

[danny]

that sounds like a good start, dose any one know how much ram I should have to run mach3 i wouldn't think is should need more than 512 would it.

[Largemouthlou]

512 works..

[danny]

Thank, largemouthlou