Z axis does not move when threading

[fuzzbuzzuk]

hi people I'm having problems trying to cut threads on my orac lathe, recently converted to run from mach3. I did have some problems at first calibrating the spindle speed and have now over come this. the problem Ive got is when trying to cut a thread the Z axis does not move. The spindle starts, the tool moves into start position and then just sits there and does nothing. I have been using the wizard to generate the Gcode G76 Ive played around with all i can think of and nothing seems to work. When using turn diagnostics plug-in it reads the rpm OK but everything else has 1.#INF

[RICH]

Disable the plug in. Do not use it as it no longer works.
What is your index debounce set at?
What version of Mach are you using?
The Z axis will not start the threading cycle until Mach see's the index signal. The higher the index the more times Mach must verify that what it is seeing is the index and not noise. Try 10, 5 , 1 , or even 0.

RICH

[fuzzbuzzuk]

ok i will turn it off.
i have set index debounce to 0 and tryed up to 100.
im using version R3.042.040
ive got a 90mm disc with a 3mm slot. is that alrite?

[RICH]

ive got a 90mm disc with a 3mm slot. is that alrite?

The slot width is calculated per section 4.8 Spindle Index Pulse  as discussed in the Mach 3 Turn Manual.
It should be a single slot and can be wider than calculated, but, no need to do that if the rpm DRO shows the
whole range of your spindle rpm.

Have a look at section 7.1 Configuration in the Threading On The Lathe - Mach 3 Turn write up.
Make sure you have checked....... Use Spindle Feeedback in Sync Mode checked.
Also see section 3.5 Triggering Test on page 9.

RICH

[fuzzbuzzuk]

hi thanks for that but I'm still not getting any results. mach reads the spindle speed fine. Ive been through the write up on threading and the Z axis still sits there and does nothing. the only other thing i can think of is maybe there is some kind of conflict mach and the computer I'm using. i am completely lost on this and starting to find it a bit frustrating. Ive tryed using g32 threading with no result.

[RICH]

Try this:
Go to diagnostics screen, see what mode you are in, ie; G94 or G95. ( green light will be on by it)
Now open the wizard and generate a G32 threading code, when you run it, there will have an initial move and then the green light will change to G95 which means Mach is waiting for the index. If you were to dry run the code, you would see the intial moves, the G32  tells Mach that you are going to thread and starts looking for the index.....no index to Mach..... then the Z will just sit there.

RICH

[RICH]

Attach your xml for the lathe.
Threading  dosen't work if mach is a demo and thus not licensed.

RICH

[fuzzbuzzuk]

ah well that's made me feel like a bit of a ...............!!! i thought that mach was fully functional up to 500 lines including threading. Out with the credit card and will let you know how i get on :-)

[fuzzbuzzuk]

ah ta rich. i got my self a full licence and threading seems to work fine, Ive just done some dry runs haven't cut anything yet but it all looks good so far. now i will get on with tiding all the wires up and finishing the lathe. Happy days!!!! :-)

[Fritz]

Hi, bought a plasma table two months ago, finally got it to work after a week! Still having issues with it! Unexpectedly, after having a few days of running, the "z" axis wants to dive below zero, causing the torch on our plasma table to drag! Also having other issues other than that I hope to resolve. Fritz