[irv]

I recently installed the 4th Axis on my X4, and just had some time to play with it. I don't know if I have it set up right. I set it up so one full revolution is 360 units in Mach3, and that seems to be accurate, but it is way too slow. This can't be right. I cranked the feed up to 400 and it was still way slow.

Also, I ran a program that would make a shallow(.03") helical cut along some bar stock, and right after it started to cut, the 4th axis stopped turning. Mach3 still thought it was turning, so its almost like it was slipping or something.

Do I have something set wrong? or is that normal? I hope its not normal.

Thanks for any help.
-Irv

[neilw20]

I have found on the X3 (same as X4 steppers,screws and motors etc.) that the steps setting for the 4th axis is set to the same number as the X,Y and Z axis. Mine is 1000, but it depends on the switch setting in the driver which is the correct number.

Set the speed faster, and faster, until steps are lost, and back off about 20%. same with acceleration.

Due to to the reduction ratio even if the motor spins fast it still is a crawl.
Reducing the steps, and the divide ration on the driver will decrease precision and increase maximum speed. (IMHO)

I can't remember the driver settings, but when you use the same number as XYZ and get the dip switches right then 180 will give 180 degrees.

On the config page you must select it as a rotational axis.
Not much point in setting up a homing switch.

[syil canada]

Check out this post it might help you out,

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=89936

[ger21]

Steps per unit for a rotary axis in Mach3 should be set to the # of steps per degree.

Then, go to Config>Toolpath and check "Use diameter for feedrate". And last, set the part diameter on the settings page. I think you may need to enter the radius there, as it's labeled wrong in Mach3. But that should get your speeds up.

[irv]

@ger21 - Thanks I'll have to try that.

My steps are set to 400. That was the only number that I could get to work to give me the "one full revolution = 360 units". Neil, Is that something I can change with the dip switches one the driver?

My X,Y, and Z motors are set to 10160, so there is a huge difference in the speed. I saw the solution for Syil Canada, and that will probably be what I do, but it seems like there has to be some kind of scaling function or something. It would be nice to make it so a feed of 10 in the gcode = 100 at the motor. Maybe?

This video shows a very simple program for cutting a fine tooth gear. The feed on the 4th Axis(A) is set to 100, and you can see how slow it is.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtHKUZWFt5I"]YouTube- Syil X4 4th Axis Gear Cutting[/ame]
Thanks