MACH3 - Basic Setting

CNCDIY CNC MACHINE SYSTEM GROUP

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Manual Topic: MACH3 - Basic Setting for CNCDIY.ORG's CNC machines

Version 2
There are discussed the MACH3 basic setting of the CNCDIY.ORG's machines.

Step 1 Open MACH3 Software Step 2 Select the “Ports and Pins” menu
Select “MACH3Mill”, and then press “OK”! O pen the “Ports & Pins” menu under the “config” menu.

Step 3 Setting the frequency of the parallel port

Config>Ports and Pins>Motor Outputs

Select “Port Setup and Axis Selection” and set the Kernel Speed to “35000Hz”.

Note: most of cases are Port1, 0x378. For special models, please see “Device Manager” in the relevant attributes!

If the mother board of your computer does not have a on-board parallel port, please obtain either following items:

1. Optional PCMCIA laptop cards to LPT

2. Optional desktop PCI or ISA cards to LPT

Simple USB to LPT port converter does not use for engraving machine
control.

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Step 4 Select Units

Open the “Select Native Units” menu under the “config” menu.

Select the suitable units for you system and press “OK” to confirm!

Step 5 Basic Parameters Setting

According to the definition of the board parallel port, please indicate in accordance with the plans to amend the definition of the software settings.Config>Ports and Pins>Motor Outputs

A. For CB-W3-001 (WALTER series controllers)

Signal Enabled Step Pin# Dir Pin# Dir Low Active Step Low Active Step Port Dir Port
X Axis 2 3 1 1
Y Axis 4 5 1 1
Z Axis 6 7 1 1

B. For CB-W3-001 with a rotational axis part (WALTER series controllers)

Signal Enabled Step Pin# Dir Pin# Dir Low Active Step Low Active Step Port Dir Port
X Axis 0 0 1 1
Y Axis 4 5 1 1
Z Axis 6 7 1 1
A Axis 2 3 1 1

C. For CB-W4-001 control boxes (WALTER series controllers)

Signal Enabled Step Pin# Dir Pin# Dir Low Active Step Low Active Step Port Dir Port
X Axis 2 3 1 1
Y Axis 4 5 1 1
Z Axis 6 7 1 1
A Axis 8 9 1 1

D. For CB-B3-001 (BORSH series - 3 axes controller and embedded E240 DC 0.2kW Spindle controller)
Signal Enabled Step Pin# Dir Pin# Dir Low Active Step Low Active Step Port Dir Port
X Axis 2 14 1 1
Y Axis 3 16 1 1
Z Axis 4 17 1 1
Spindle 1 0 1 1

E. For CB-B4-001 (BORSH series - 4 axes controller and embedded E240 DC 0.2kW Spindle Controller)
Signal Enabled Step Pin# Dir Pin# Dir Low Active Step Low Active Step Port Dir Port
X Axis 2 3 1 1
Y Axis 4 5 1 1
Z Axis 6 7 1 1
A Axis 8 9 1 1
Spindle 17 0 1 1

D. For CB-B4-002 (BORSH series - 4 axes controller and embedded VFD 1.5kW Spindle Inverter)
Signal Enabled Step Pin# Dir Pin# Dir Low Active Step Low Active Step Port Dir Port
X Axis 3 16 1 1
Y Axis 4 17 1 1
Z Axis 7 6 1 1
A Axis 2 14 1 1
Spindle 1 0 1 1

Remarks:
Definitions Descriptions
Enabled is Enabled ; is Disabled
Step Pin# Pin number of the clock pulse of the particular signal
- Providing the speed and the angle position of the stepping motors
Dir Pin# Pin number of the direction signal of the particular signal
- Controlling the stepping to go clockwise or unit-clockwise
Dir Low Active Software direction correction
- If the motion direction of the axis is reversed, you can put a to reverse the direction.
- Example: if the you test the upward direction in the CNC interface software, the actual motion direction
of your machine is going download that the putting a can be used to reverse the direction.
Step Low Active N/A
Step Port Requested number of port pin - normal is 1 pin per each item.
Dir Port Requested number of port pin - normal is 1 pin per each item.
Remind: If you find the axis direction was reversed, please change the setting in the particular box under the "Dir LowActive". Please refer to the chapter 4.4.3 (Understanding of direction of the axis)

Step 6 Input Signals Setting

Config>Ports and Pins>Input Signals

Select the “Input Signals” columns and change the “Pin Number”.

Signal Enabled Port# Pin number Active low Emulated HotKey

E-Stop 1 10 0

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Step 7 Output Signals Setting (For BORSH Series only)

Select the “Output Signals” columns and change the parameter as below:

Config>Ports and Pins>Output Signals

Select the “Output Signals” columns and change the “Pin Number”.

A. For (BORSH series - 3 axes controller and embedded E240 DC 0.2kW Spindle)

Control Box Signal Enabled Port# Pin number Active low

CB-B3-001 - 0.2 kW spindle Enable 1 1 5
CB-B4-001 - 0.2 kW spindle Enable 1 1 16
CB-B4-002 - VFD Enable 1 1 5

Step 8 Engine Configuration (For BORSH Series only)

A. For CB-B3-001 (BORSH series - 3 axes controller and embedded E240 DC 0.2kW Spindle Controller)

B. For CB-B4-001 (BORSH series - 4 axes controller and embedded E240 DC 0.2kW Spindle Controller)

C. For CB-B4-002 (BORSH series - 4 axes controller and embedded VFD 1.5kW Spindle Inverter)

Different values for different type of control box, Other setting should be same as the above figure.

CB-B3-001 CB-B4-001 CB-B4-002

Motor Control
- PWMBase Freq. 200 10 10
- Minimum 10% 10% 10%
Pulley Ratios
- Pulley Ratio #4 2000 / 9000 1000 - 25500 1000 - 25500

Select “OK” to confirm

Step 9 Open the Motor setting dialog

Select the “Motor Tuning” under the “Config” menu.

Step 10 Parameters of stepping motor

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Microstepping of different control box

Control Box (A) Microstepping

CB-W3-001 (WALTER series controllers) 1/16
CB-W4-001 (WALTER series controllers) 1/8
CB-B3-001 (BORSH series - 3 axes controller and embedded E240 DC 0.2kW Spindle Controller) 1/8
CB-B4-001 (BORSH series - 4 axes controller and embedded E240 DC 0.2kW Spindle Controller) 1/8
CB-B4-002 (BORSH series - 4 axes controller and embedded VFD 1.5kW Spindle Inverter) 1/8
Assumption:
1. The step angles are 1.8 degrees of the stepping motors
2. Selected a screw with 5mm pitch and the stepping motor is connected to the screw directly.
3. Selected gear ratio of 1:60 rotational part. (1:60 = Driver:Chuck)

1. Steps Per - Please refer to the specification of the machine for finding the step angle data.

A. For X, Y ,Z Axes

A1. For millimeter unit use

1. Pulses per revolution = 360 degrees/1.8 degrees = 200 pulses / revolution

2. According to the CNC driver specification, the Microstepping (A) of the CNC driver is 1/8 steps.

So, the actual value is 200 Pulses / revolution x 8 = 1600 pulses / revolution.

3. The “Steps Per” value of metric = 1600 Pulses / revolution ÷ Pitch of the driver screw

= 1600 Pulses / revolution ÷ 5mm = 320 Pulses / revolution / mm

B. For inch unit use

Method A:

1. Using the value of the “Steps Per” value of metric (320 Pulses / revolution / mm)

2. The constant different between mm and inch is 25.4mm : 1 inch.

3. So the “Steps Per” value of english = 320 x 25.4 = 8128 Pulses / revolution / inch

Method B:

1. Pulses per revolution = 360 degrees/1.8 degrees = 200 pulses / revolution

2. According to the CNC driver specification, the prescale of the CNC driver is 1/8 steps.

So, the actual value is 200 Pulses / revolution x 8 = 1600 pulses / revolution.

3. The “Steps Per” value english = 1600 Pulses / revolution ÷ Pitch of the driver screw

= 1600 Pulses / revolution ÷ 5mm = 320 Pulses / revolution / mm

4. Number of revolution per 1 inch: For metric driving screw: 25.4mm ÷ Pitch of the driver screw = 5.08

For metric driving screw: 1inch ÷ Pitch of the driver screw

5. The “Steps Per” value english = 1600 Pulses / revolution x Number of revolution per 1 inch

= 1600 Pulses / revolution ÷ 5.08 = 8128 Pulses / revolution / Inch

A2. For A Axis

3. The “Steps Per” value = 1600 Pulses / revolution x gear ratio (Chuck/Driver) ÷360 degree

= 1600 Pulses / revolution x 60/1÷ 360 degree = 266.67 Pulses / revolution / degree

2. Velocity - Depending on what you want and the ability of your machine.

3. Acceleration - Depending on what you want and the ability of your machine.

4. Step Pulse and Dir Pulse - According to the CNC driver specification.

Model Step Pulse (us) Dir Pulse

CB-W3-001 5 5
CB-W4-001 10 5
CB-B3-001 2 2
CB-B4-001 2 2
CB-B4-002 2 2

After completed the setting for each axis, please press the “SAVE AXIS SETTINGS” button to save and confirm your setting.

Step 11 Save and Exit the setting

Select “OK” to save all setting and exit.

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Summary of the machine setting:
Machine models Control Box Screw Pitch Steps Per Velocity Acceleration
Unit Size (mm)
BORSH 9060 CB-B4-002 X:1605 5 320 <3000 mm's/min <200 mm's/sec^2
Y:1605 <120 in's/min <40 in's/sec^2
Z:1605
WALTER 6545 / CB-W4-001 X:1605 5 320 <3000 mm's/min <200 mm's/sec^2
CNC6040 Y:1605 <120 in's/min <40 in's/sec^2
Z:1605
BORSH 4030 CB-B4-002 X:1605 5 320 <3000 mm's/min <200 mm's/sec^2
Ball bearing Y:1605 <120 in's/min <40 in's/sec^2
Z:1605
BORSH 4030 CB-B3-001/ X:1204 4 400 <3000 mm's/min <200 mm's/sec^2
CB-B4-001 Y:1204 (1200) (400)
Z:1204 <120 in's/min <40 in's/sec^2
WALTER 2520 CB-W3-001 X:1204 4 800 <3000 mm's/min <100 mm's/sec^2
/CNC3020 / CNC2520 Y:1204 (1200) <20 in's/sec^2
Z:1204 <120 in's/min
WALTER 3040B X:1605 5 320 <3000 <200 mm's/sec^2
Y:1605 <40 in's/sec^2
Z:1605
BORSH 3020P / CB-B4-002 / X:1605 5 320 <3000 mm's/min <200 mm's/sec^2
WALTER 3018 CB-W4-001 Y:1605 (1200) (400)
Z:1605 <120 in's/min <40 in's/sec^2
Fixed Values Adjustable
A Axis models Control Box Ratio (#) Steps Per (#) Steps Per Velocity and
Unit D:C by calculation by measuring Acceleration
Walter 4AX0.25S CB-W3-001 1:60 533.33 533.33
Walter 4AX0.25M
Walter 4AX0.25S CB-W4-001 1:60 266.67 267.1686
Walter 4AX0.25M
Walter 4AX0.25S CB-B4-001 1:60 266.67 267.1686
Walter 4AX0.25M
Walter 4AX0.25S CB-B4-002 1:60 266.67 267.1686
Walter 4AX0.25M
Fixed Values Adjustable

If the stepping motor is losing step or not smooth, please adjust the values of "Velocity" and the "Acceleration"
Ratio D = Driver, C = Chuck

The velocity of Z axis is depended on the cutting speed and processing materials to define, the speed cannot fast, which will break the cutting tools!

(#) The values are just tested by actually situation, but, these values may not the perfect value for your obtained machine, therefore, please find the best value for your own system.

Step 12 Load a G code file

After completed all setting, you can open and run a G-code file into Mach 3. Step 13 Open a G code file
Select “Load G Code” under the “File” menu.

Step 14 Start running the G code

You can see the red flashing “RESET” button, and click it to stop the flashing, Step 15 Testing with CNC machine
after that please select the “Cycle Start” button or press <Alt> and <R> keys
on your key board to run the G code. Press “TAB” functional key on your keyboard, the Mach 3 will show a
manual control panel on the right side of your screen, you can test each axis
If you want to stop running, select “Stop” button or press <Alt> and <S> keys setting of direction by pressing
on your keyboard.

the
particular buttons.

Latest Update: 23 June 2011

-END-
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