Mach 3 doing wierd things

[ranchak]

I have a BP Series 1 retorfitted with G203s, PMDX-122 board and running the original motors. My computer is running XP, never hooked to the internet. I use Vcarve Pro for my CAM program. Up until Friday I was using a Smootstepper but I'm tired of  getting the error that SS lost data. I got a parallel board and am running this now. I have noticed that Mach will not be consistent in what it does all of the time. When I load a new program or close a program and load a new program the Reset button will need to be pushed sometimes, but not everytime. Also when I close a program and load a new program X and Y axis will not be set at 0,0 like they were prior to loading the new program. Another problem is when I use the Auto Tool Zero, Mach will somehow have a new X,Y home, the machine doesn't move and the readout on the screenset stays where it was prior to the tool change, but when you hit Cycle Start the machine moves to where it thinks the proper coordinates are. Now these problems have happened with both the SS and parallel port board. I am cutting the same parts over and over and I noticed that one of the parts that I cut is cut incorrectly. The toolpath is running at .006" depth using a 1/4" TiN end mill in aluminum. The part is .500 thick and the edge is smooth, meaning that the machine is capable of repetition.  I use this machine daily and I need to have reliability. What can I do or where should I start looking.

[Hood]

Sounds like your code may well be calling work and tool offsets.
Hood

[ranchak]

Same program running over and over, I'll try recalculating my toolpaths and saving a fresh copy. What is the latest release of Mach 3? Are there any updates that maybe I don't have?

[ranchak]

I found that I do not have the latest version, if I install the latest version will it keep all of my current settings or do I have to start over? I am trying a fresh copy of my program today and I will see if I have the same problems as before and if they occur at the same time or step in the program.

[Hood]

Copy your xml to a safe location just in case but you shouldnt have a problem if you just install Mach over the top of the old version.
Hood

[ranchak]

I can't seem to reply to this post

[Hood]

I can't seem to reply to this post

You just have

From your PM I would definitely suspect the tool setting routine as from what I gather it is only after running the routine that your X and Y position changes.

Hood

[ranchak]

Here we go again! Today I did not use the ATZ feature and manually set the tool height, same @$#% thing, the origin X,Y is reset. I wondered if there is something in the code, I looked at it and I didn't see where the origin was reset. Here is the part of code where the problem occured:

N16840G00X-2.6515Y-0.6475Z0.2500
N16850T201M6
N16860 (Tool: End Mill {0.125 inches})
N16870G43H201
N16880S2500M03
(Profile .125 End Mill)
()
N16910G00X-2.6515Y-0.7100Z0.2500
N16920G1X-2.6515Y-0.7100Z-0.0059F10.0
N16930G1X2.6515Y-0.7100Z-0.0059F40.0
N16940G3X2.7140Y-0.6475I0.0000J0.0625


This not the only place where this problem has occured.

[Hood]

You said the DRO for X and Y dont change but when you do a Go To Zero the position has changed, I cant see how that is possible, are you sure you are not loosing steps?
Hood

[ranchak]

Hood, I sent you a copy of my XML file. Here is what is happening:

Change Tool
Manually Set Tool Height
Look at DROs, nothing has changed except the Z axis
Push Cycle Start
Mill takes off in the wrong direction
Hit Stop
DROs read what is in code
Push Go To Zero
Machine is definately not at the original X,Y 0,0 point

??
The DRO now reads  0,0,0