Planning - Bridgeport Interact 1 linuxCNC Retrofit

I got this error:


This is listed under jog-speed in the "show hal configuration menu"

I commented out a line in hal that had one thing to do with jog-speed. Now I can set it, look like 100 is what I would like.

I replaced the commented line above with "setp halui.jog-speed 100"

Its working now. Once I get familiar with the hal layout I'll clean it up.

No there was nothing listed in my INI file for it, or in the HAL. I just did a quick and dirty fix for it. I would like to know how it should have went. I guess the Pnc Wizard left something out, or I messed something up!

Thanks Andy! You came to the rescue... Now just have to finish wiring up the z axis.

Tonight I experimented with inverse deadband. It clearly makes things worse. Looking at the servo output I could see that it was doing what it was suppose to do, create a bump at the start of movement, but the result was worse following errors. I tried very small (0.001) to moderate amount values (0.1) and the amount of error just got smaller as I reduced the amount value and 0 was the best.

While I was at it I made another pass at tuning the servos. I had been tuning with velocities between 40-60 IPM. It was interesting and telling to tune using 10-15 IPM. The following error is smaller and it was easier to see what was going on. In particular the effect of FF1 was easier to see. I was able to get considerably smaller following errors at low speed and just as good at higher speeds. Since most machining is going to be done near 15 IPM it makes sense to tune for that speed. I still get fairly big spikes (about 0.0005") at the begin and end of movement. But during movement I am now staying within 0.0001. I wish there was a solution for the spikes.

Thanks for the explanation Andy,
Concerning the HAL and INI settings. I did try to "clean it up" but I must be doing it incorrectly. So I will have to try once I get this machine buttoned up, and can wrap my head around the HAL and INI syntax.

csbrady,
I have around 0.0005 [up to 0.00078] spikes as well. However, I am around .0002/3 or so following error during movement. I still have some tuning to do.

I wonder what the factory settings are for this machine? I think around 300ipm was the design of the machine. [Fast JOG speed??] I think around 60-80IPM is sufficient for the milling capabilities. Anyone want to chime in as to what they believe would be acceptable for max speed? To be clear, I only want to set the machine up to factory capabilities.

I also wonder what others are achieving for their max following errors, and start movement / stop movement errors. Just wanting to know what is achievable with others. I have given thought to replacing with 750w AC servos and changing the AMPS but that will be down the road if I go that route. Selling the existing servo's and amps would finance the purchase of the AC system - at least, it would make a huge dent, I'm thinking.

Thanks for posting your result in reverse deadband. You saved me some time again! Too bad it wont help our situation.

Here is my current state of the machine:

I have the original velocity parameters for the Machine that were set in the TNC 151.
Rapid Trav X,Y 197
Rapid Trav Z 157
Man Feed XYZ 20

I set my max velocity a little less than these, 190 and 150. No need to stress the machine. I could not find any indication of what the original max acceleration was. Having used the machine a lot I suspect that it was around 8. My setting of 4 is clearly more sluggish. The default of 20 was much higher than the original and made the machine jerky and sounded bad.

Here are a few more parameters that you may find useful:
Backlash Comp X 0.000472
Backlash Comp Y 00.00098
Backlash Comp Z 0
X Range + -17.75587
Y Range + -11.708638
Z Range + -4.665345
X Range - 0.240157
Y Range - 0.303149
Z Range - 0.259842

I readjusted all of these but it was nice to have a starting place.

I doubt the factory precision of the machine was much if any better than that.

Todd, I agree this is probably as good and possibly better than the factory precision. It's also better than I actually need since neither my skills or projects are "high precision". But that does not keep me from a neurotic quest to make it better. I am a hobbyist after all.

csbrady,

Would you mind posting your final INI and HAL files for me to look at? I would like to see how you linked everything together with your panel ect.

Reading yours helps me understand the links between each file/pin.

Also I like comparing yours to mine.