Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Gerry Sweetland on February 25, 2015, 01:13:44 PM

Title: How do I set the tool change location in Mach3 Turn
Post by: Gerry Sweetland on February 25, 2015, 01:13:44 PM

Do I need to do it in Mach3 Mill, settings page and somehow copy it over to Turn?
Right now some tools are not clearing the stock for a tool change.  It seems to just go to the last position of the last cut?
Thanks,
Gerry

Title: Re: How do I set the tool change location in Mach3 Turn
Post by: Hood on February 25, 2015, 04:24:12 PM

Mach will only move where it is told to go. Normally your code will define the toolchange position on a lathe, this is because it is tool dependent as to where the best position would be and on a lathe with a turret the axes do not have to be in any specific position for you to do the toolchange, unlike a lot of milling machines.

If you prefer to  have a set toolchange position then you can write that into your M6start macro or you could even have the macro look at a couple of User DROs which you use to enter a toolchange position.
 The only problem you may have with these methods is that, as mentioned, on a lathe it is tool dependent as to where the safest position would be, also getting to that position may well be tool dependent.
 For example on a mill it is almost always safe to raise the Z fully then move X and Y, on a lathe it may be X has to move first then Z or maybe Z first then X or maybe it will be possible to move both at the same time, it will depend on the current tool and also the next one that will be presented.


Hood

Title: Re: How do I set the tool change location in Mach3 Turn
Post by: RICH on February 25, 2015, 05:52:25 PM

I use my  home position as the tool change position for my work on the lathe.
Don't use switches here, so I reference the machine / create home and use a work offset for part location.
The work offset includes distance for some movement and the longest tool length.
Since I use a quick tool changer, my program code includes a safe retract position ( can be added in CAM) before a G53 or G28 move to home,
a G4 Px dwell is added to allow time to change the tool. Just a click of the Cycle Start and the program continues runnning.

Use a different screen set than the original which makes the above easy / quick to do.

FWIW,
RICH

Title: Re: How do I set the tool change location in Mach3 Turn
Post by: Gerry Sweetland on February 26, 2015, 06:58:08 AM

Thanks fellas,
Gerry