Question about Cue Monstor set up?
- Thread starter Mc2
- Start date
the lead screws are kerk motion lead screws and are 1/2 x 10tpi
Thanks for the information Joe, can you tell me if the Cue moster uses any kink of micro stepping? Is it selectable? What is the standard setting?
Thanks for any information, Jim.
I dont know about that one. All I know are the factory settings in desk NC. Are you trying to set up mach 3? Jim Sickles of Unique products once told me that they were going to set up a cue monster with mach. I dont know if they ever did or not but your best bet would be to give Jim a call. I'm sure that he can anwser any and all of you questions on the cue monster (812) 376-8887
You are correct Joe, I am interested in setting up a Cue Monster for Mach3. I think this would be a natural progresion even for Unique Products. Has anyone out there done this correctly? Can anyone post the correct motor output settings including steps per inch for motor tunning?
Thanks, Jim.
Thanks, Jim.
I am currently setting up a CueMonster with Mach 3. With a lead screw of 10 TPI and 1.8 degree motors, the steps per inch should be 2000. (360/1.8 * 10) However, when I use that setting, parts cut much smaller than designed, 1/2 or 1/4 scale in fact. When I go to 20,000 steps per inch the scale is then correct, so I can only conclude that there is a 10:1 gear between the motor and the screw??? It seems unlikely because I don't see one, but 20,000 steps per unit is what works. I have left Unique several phone messages asking about this, but haven't received one return call...
I would be interested to know how to implement micro-stepping though, as the motors on the CueMonster do support 9 degree steps as well.
Mr H
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If you're using the DOS based DeskNC, you would probably be happier moving to the Windows based Mach3. It's easy to use, and you don't have to reboot your computer to go from Windows to DOS every time you re-post and want to cut, assuming that you draw on the same computer that you cut. Mach3 is free to use for G Code of 500 lines or less, and only $150 if you buy the license through Lee M.
Mr H
I have migrated a CM from NC to Mach3. During the process I found the information at
http://www.machsupport.com/documentation.php
and the mach forum at
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=7
very helpful.
walt.z
http://www.machsupport.com/documentation.php
and the mach forum at
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=7
very helpful.
walt.z
I am using the DOS based DeskNC and I do draw on the same computer that I cut with. I just dont use the laptop that came with the machine. So I dont have the problem of having to reboot my computer when going from windows to DeskNC. And on another note I have my computer setup to where I dont have to use those floppy disk's either..
Mr. H, if 20,000 steps works for you then that tells me that your controller is set to 10 micro steps. What that means is that ten pulses need to be sent from the printer port to the controller to make a full step of the stepper motor. This micro stepping is used to smooth out the stepping of the motor. Just for grins and gigles though I will tell you that I use the Mach3 loader. The cue monster can be used as a mill or a lathe. If you set up profiles for both it will be easier for you to cut shafts or hadles. What I mean by this is that the axis that feeds into the side of the part should be based on center line of the spindle. If you cut say a dowl of 1" diameter then the DRO (digital read out) will display 1.000 on Mach 3's screen for that axis. You can get an acurate cut by adjusting the dro to your just finished cut of a dowl. The trick comes in here. You would set the pulses required to move that axis one inch to 10,000. This is why you would want a seperate profile for a lathe mode.
Have fun, Jim.
That must be the reason then. I knew there was some kind of voo-doo going on in there.
We only use the CM for inlay work now, so mill mode is all we use. We used to cut tapered shafts and v-grooves with it, but now have dedicated machines for both of those functions.
Thanks for the help!
Mr H
That must be the reason then. I knew there was some kind of voo-doo going on in there.
We only use the CM for inlay work now, so mill mode is all we use. We used to cut tapered shafts and v-grooves with it, but now have dedicated machines for both of those functions.
Thanks for the help!
Mr H
Mr. H. send me an e-mail and I will send ou a program to check out for cutting points. You don't have to use it if you don't want. Just interesting on how I programmed it.
Jim.
Sounds like you're all set up. If you have some time though, Mach3 is free to try, and the set up is quite easy. The interface is MUCH nicer than DeskNC, and you can use a mouse. You can always go back to DeskNC with no trouble at all. I would be glad to help you if needed.
Mr H
I found the Mach supportforum very helpful as well. Thanks! Time to power your "greenies" up!
Wow, from 1 greenie to full in 1 rep! I should probably start breaking my vitamins in half from now on...
Mr H
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Joey, use the Mach3 loader program and clone your mill profile. Call it Lathe mode or what ever. Load that profile witch will diplay in lower left corner of Mach3. In the motor tunning area cut the steps per inch in half. That way when y is commanded to move one inch it will only move .5 inches. You can also change the direction y moves for plus or minus but I don't recomend for advious reasons.
Jim.
What stepper drives are used on the cue monster. The formula for configuring your steps would be 200( for 1.8 deg motor)x 10 (tpi)x number of steps of your drive(probably10 in your case)= 20,000 I do know that the most desireable reslution for a microstepper drive is 10, which is what gecko 201's are set at from the factory.
I've built a few cnc controllers and machines, I'm pretty familiar with mach3 also, if you need some more help, I'd be glad if i can.
So you have 200 x 10 x 10 = 20,000