Messages

111

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mill or Turn?

« on: May 05, 2019, 09:08:58 AM »

Dave,
Fanuc, Mach3, Mach4, etc all have Gcode  but individual dialects so to say. So threading cycles can vary in
G# and function. KISS is becoming more important as time moves on for me.

Mach4 / Mach3 ........ Like you,  I am also dated since  Lua is a place to drink, eat, and be happy.  No pun intended Graig. 

RICH

112

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mill or Turn?

« on: May 05, 2019, 08:35:54 AM »

I think the chamfer in Mach is degrees

That is correct Hood  ( G76  MACH 3 threading cycle  it's the "L" value ).
The “L” retract or chamfer angle is in "angle of revolution".....or a "rotational angle".
and not an actually a chamfer. L90 would retract over 1/4 of a revolution, L360 would
be  1 rev, 720, two revs and so on. Don't think you will  find that info in any of the code descriptions.
In the threading wizard the defined length "includes" the the distance of the L retract distance.
I don't know if the retract distance is included in G76, but you posted that it is not in reply #49.
Too busy / lazy to check it all out.

I have not used Fusion 360 for some time thus do not know what changes have been done.
I know that with the correct post processor it did generate correct G76 code for Mach3.

Just to avoid any confusion the above is for Mach# ver .062 and not using an external motion controller.

Most of the times for threading I use G32 output since one can monitor and pinpoint problems in
threading. The code is generated using wizards and they work great.

BTW,
How the end of the threading pass is done can vary depending on what is required as you said.
From an engineering point of view the end condition infuences a stress intensification factor which
could could reduce the loading of the thread. FWIW


RICH

113

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mill-Turn

« on: May 05, 2019, 06:21:17 AM »

Spandex,

The standard lathe screen set leaves a lot to be desired. An improved screen set can be found here:
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,13548.msg88932.html#msg88932

If you want  an updated screen set with the Y axis ( posted lset in reply #47) can be found here:
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,13548.msg234493.html#msg234493

RICH

 

114

General Mach Discussion / Re: G-Code not reading properly?..Help? LazyCam?

« on: April 28, 2019, 07:46:36 AM »

There is a manual ( written 10 years ago by me ) for Lazycam and suggest you read it if your are going to use it.
LC is what it is and one just needs to know what it is!

Cambam provides good gcode and like any program you have a learning curve.
The more complex and options provided by software the higher the learning curve.
All depends on what you want to do.
 
Suggest you use and learn a CAD program and not use etch-a-sketch for drawings.

RICH

115

General Mach Discussion / Re: mach3 turn g codes help

« on: April 19, 2019, 08:18:41 AM »

In Reply #2 I made the following comment:
Per the Turn Manual description , G73, G81, G82, G83, G83.1 I have used / and tried them all.
It's been a while since I tested them.

The above is true ..... BUT ...... let me not miss guide you!
I would need to spend time going through each canned cycle as it relates to TURN to be absolutely
definitive on their use and quirks in Mach 3 TURN.  To many irons in the fire at this time!

Just a "guess" on your G17 and G18 change:
Mach 3 Turn "may" be interperting G73 such, even though you are in lathe the G73 is for
Mill and the G17 cures the problem by saying it's in the XY plane. G83 without the G17
add works as it  may be considered face drilling. Guess only............

One can change the post processor in Fusion, and i have done it, but one needs to understand
exactly what  they are doing. Not for the thing to do for the novice in my opinion!

Route cause is actualy three fold:
- Mach 3 lathe configuration used
- Mach3 Turn canned cycle quirks
- How one uses Fusion to generate lathe code and the dialect of Gcode Fusion generates
  and post processor used.

Surely not a reply you wanted to hear from me,

RICH

116

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z-Axis gradually cutting to my set cut depth???

« on: April 18, 2019, 06:52:18 AM »

I would strongly suggest that you read / study the LazyCam Manual if you are going to use it. 

RICH

117

General Mach Discussion / Re: mach3 turn g codes help

« on: April 18, 2019, 06:42:23 AM »

the error i get from the drill cycle goes if i put g17  before the drill cycle

Why would you change the plane? G18 defines the "only relevant" plane for Turn.

RICH

118

General Mach Discussion / Re: mach3 turn g codes help

« on: April 17, 2019, 07:21:43 AM »

what canned cycles can mach3turn  use for drilling

Per the Turn Manual description , G73, G81, G82, G83, G83.1 I have used / and tried them all. Not sure if some version versions of Mach will cause problems with them.
It's been a while since I tested them.

use constant surface speed also it sometimes doesn't use f/rev

Just a few days ago there was a thread about Mach3 and CSS. Do a search for the thread.
CSS doesn't / can't work properly in Mach 3 Turn if i recall. See the thread for explainations about it.

advice on safe start g code list for start of code

Only you can define how you want to work and and what conditions would be appropriate ie; what modes and conditions should  be in place. You use an initilization macro to accomplish a generic start up condition.

RICH

119

FAQs / Re: Getting Started With Mach 3

« on: April 11, 2019, 08:08:11 PM »

If your really want to learn CNC,everything from basics to advanced, suggest you get CNC Programming Handbook by Peter Smid.

RICH

120

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mirror probing

« on: April 02, 2019, 06:03:08 AM »

Probing function is easy and  accurate. The point accuracy will only be as accurate as your set-up
and machines capability. Only you can define just how acurate the probing needs to be and how
automated you want the actual probe process to be.

I took a practical approach to the matter in that i wanted to be able to convinently and quickly
probe a piece to duplicate it or find dimensional information. If it is not easy and convient to do
you will not use it. Complex becomes a PITA also, so KISS applies, be pracatical for your intended
use.

I created a probing page / wizard for both the lathe and mill. A detachable index ring on the lathe
chucks allow for accurate indexing. As Russ replied, the barrel, for practical  purposes, is symetrical
about the  center line. If  mounted in a  lathe,you could probably take 30 probes on the top at 0 degrees,
15 probes at 90, 180, and 270.

 The probed point data is is used by CAD to actualy draw the probe profile or just just show points.
In cad you could easily compare the probing at 90, 180, and 270 for any shape variation.

I must say thanks to Terry for the point conversion into CAD. In the end I still had to read a CAD manual
to get it to work in two different programs.

In summary here is what I do and works for me:
1. Set up work on lathe, mill, what ever.
2. Acquire point data
3. Have CAD draw the point data
4. Save as a dxf file
5. Use file in CAM or whatever program to get the GCODE.

No fancy probes and only one which allows side and point contact required ( make you owne for $1).
Make a visual one for realy fast and easy point collection, look into  camera / optical techiniques.
A lot of options for doing things and YOU DON'T HAVE  TO SPEND  MUCH MONEY!

Note that electronic probing doesn't work on non- metallic material so you need options.

FWIW,

RICH