Messages

561

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: January 28, 2018, 06:59:44 AM »

Probably digging myself in deeper here but could it be how i have my tool table setup?

I measure all my tools in a height-setter which feeds the result straight back to Mach TT, all tools have a height including the Haimer probe.

Now, i just went back and put the probe back in the spindle, and the Z was off by exactly the height of the probe - this is why it crashes.

BUT why only in code and not manual - it works perfectly in manual.

So confused now.

562

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: January 28, 2018, 06:26:37 AM »

Nope, failed again

I manually ran through my whole tool rack, 20+ tools using MDI TxxM6 G0Z0 and every time it worked perfectly 100% tool on the TOM.

Loaded up the code, soft limit on Z Min warning, bypass, crash(e-stopped to avoid) The Z axis just dives.

Here is the screen after i stopped - the Z axis is at +85 and the code is calling for Z2 ??


The Offsets screen...


The Z of 186mm is about right - i had the z at about +30 when zeroing with the Haimer which is about 150mm long.

So, i'm stuck again - it works well in manual but can't run code


Have attached the exact code file below.

563

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: January 28, 2018, 05:57:09 AM »

Ok, i'm getting closer

It seems if i call all tools my the MDI it works, but will verify this with a repeat TC code program in a minute.
When you call a tool by MDI using M6T100 the Z DRO does NOT change.

Now, before i always set my Haimer probe by typing 100 in "Current Tool" DRO on the 2010 screen-set - do this and the Z DRO gets TLC applied to it - this is the cause of my issues i think, looks like the "Current Tool" DRO runs G43 H********* when you press enter on it - thus the cause of my lost Z travel.

I'm off to run some more tests but it feels like I will have to remove the "Current tool" DRO for safety reasons and do it all MDI, no biggy.

564

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: January 27, 2018, 09:22:23 AM »

I also cant see why it works ok in manual calls with no code loaded (see video) but fails when in code mode?

565

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: January 27, 2018, 09:19:30 AM »

Its not G54.

Something somewhere is modifying the z axis.

I called T100, set the probe, zeroed my Z axis and the knee ref
Then checked the G54 and that had the correct offset in it for the z zero
Next i called T11 which is shorter, the knee lifted correctly to compensate
Then pressed start (no tool fitted) and the z plunged happily off the scale and i hit stop.
Look back at current tool pro and it showed T11 correctly but the Z axis was about 100mm off - the code was calling Z2.0 but Z2 is way off below where it can go as the numbers are so way off.

Now, i am only using #var 179 and i don't think that is connected with Z DRO at all, calling button 1010 in my Z zero macro seems to set things correctly.

I'm at a  loss now as to what is going wrong, is it possible the T11 M06 call is applying tool offset internally somehow even though i have deleted ALL G43 lines from the code???

Something is messing with the Z dro I think,

Stuck now.


Edit...
No it didn't, just thinking here, G54 in Z zero would be the distance from Z machine zero to the work zero??
Well its not, G54 was reading something like 190mm when the actual distance was something like 40mm

Does setting Z zero internally apply TLC to the G54 offset??
That might explain it if it did??

566

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: January 27, 2018, 09:15:37 AM »

Its not G54.

Something somewhere is modifying the z axis.

I called T100, set the probe, zeroed my Z axis and the knee ref
Then checked the G54 and that had the correct offset in it for the z zero
Next i called T11 which is shorter, the knee lifted correctly to compensate
Then pressed start (no tool fitted) and the z plunged happily off the scale and i hit stop.
Look back at current tool pro and it showed T11 correctly but the Z axis was about 100mm off - the code was calling Z2.0 but Z2 is way off below where it can go as the numbers are so way off.

Now, i am only using #var 179 and i don't think that is connected with Z DRO at all, calling button 1010 in my Z zero macro seems to set things correctly.

I'm at a  loss now as to what is going wrong, is it possible the T11 M06 call is applying tool offset internally somehow even though i have deleted ALL G43 lines from the code???

Something is messing with the Z dro I think,

Stuck now.

567

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: January 27, 2018, 08:49:04 AM »

I think i have found the culprit - G54 work offset.

I modified the "Zero Z" button from a system function of "Zero Z" to a macro call.

In the macro i have used DoOEMButton(1010) which i presumed was the zero call, it does zero the DRO but leaves the G54... values in place.

Anyone know what button call would zero ALL the Z axis work offsets?? I always use the probe to set Z zero and never apply a work offset to that axis.

568

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: January 27, 2018, 08:44:44 AM »

Hi this is the 2010 screen set from Ger21 on here.

569

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: January 27, 2018, 08:24:14 AM »

Ok now the first issue....

works ok manually as in the video and my trials this morning.

I put a code file on it, the front plate for my knee axis drive, nice simple job, 4 tools.

Set my Haimer probe in the Current tool box as before, set tool 100, set my references to zero.

Run code and get "Softlimit warning" on Z min, presumed it was confused with the new knee offsets maybe so chose to override the warning and with hand over e-stop watched as the knee lifted nicely, motor started then the Z axis ploughed happily into the work, e-stopped in time to stop damage apart from a scratch where the collet chuck touched the surface.

So, clearly I have goofed up and my first thoughts are the G43's in the file. I am confused here as to exactly what is needed - I first thought that having TC/G43 in the file will apply TC AS WELL as the knee having moved = crash or miss completely.

Now I have it set as G43 H0 as i read that H0 was the same as not having G43 so should be safe - Am i wrong??

The post was modified to output H0 regardless.

I cant think of any other reason for the tool to plunge to the work way past the Z call depth which was Z25 and i e-stopped at Z-170 odd.

Heres the code start...

Code: [Select]

(KNEE MOUNT FRONT PLATE)
(T3  D=6. CR=0. TAPER=90DEG - ZMIN=-2. - CENTER DRILL)
(T10  D=6.1 CR=0. TAPER=118DEG - ZMIN=-12. - DRILL)
(T11  D=8. CR=0. - ZMIN=-11. - FLAT END MILL)
(T15  D=10. CR=0. TAPER=45DEG - ZMIN=-1.5 - CHAMFER MILL)
N10 G90 G94 G91.1 G40 G49 G17
N15 G21
N20 G53 G0 Z0.
N25 G90

(END FACING)
N30 M5
N35 M9
N40 T11 M6
N45 S3000 M3
N50 G54
N55 M7
N65 G0 X-1.02 Y-4.706
N70 G43 Z25. H0
N75 Z2.
N80 G1 Z-10.2 F500.
H0 can only be zero right?
Really confused now - any ideas??

I'm gonna nip out and try deleting the G43 line altogether...

570

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: January 27, 2018, 07:39:51 AM »

The new macro works nicely, i went with a #var in the end (179) as i believe the low numbers 100-199 are not persistent?

Some rough videos...

Messing with tools...
https://youtu.be/npuQk2Ao7UY

Z axis repeat homing...
https://youtu.be/sGrpzJVhkSk

Y axis repeat homing...
https://youtu.be/fLXJXyGhipw

X axis repeat homing...
https://youtu.be/SUt1NiHZYIg

C axis repeat homing...
https://youtu.be/55VjHRgzt9s

Can't really ask for better i think from an old manual Bridgeport converted to CNC