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Mach Discussion => Mach4 General Discussion => Topic started by: TTalma on March 06, 2022, 03:59:07 PM

Title: changing coordinates systems during tool change
Post by: TTalma on March 06, 2022, 03:59:07 PM

My tool change scripts are writen in inches. When I have a file in MM It messes up the tool change script.

When the gcode file is using mm and switches the coordinates to mm, what  do I need to add to my tool change script to switch to inches at start of script and switch back to mm at the end of the script?

Title: Re: changing coordinates systems during tool change
Post by: Bill_O on March 07, 2022, 11:09:48 AM

It will take a little coding but this is basically what you need to do.

get current units
mcCntlGetUnitsCurrent

if G20 for inch
do tool change

if G21 for mm
set units to G20
do tool change
set units back to G21

Title: Re: changing coordinates systems during tool change
Post by: TTalma on March 07, 2022, 11:49:45 AM

Quote from: Bill_O on March 07, 2022, 11:09:48 AM

It will take a little coding but this is basically what you need to do.

get current units
mcCntlGetUnitsCurrent

if G20 for inch
do tool change

if G21 for mm
set units to G20
do tool change
set units back to G21

This is great mcCntlGetUnitsCurrent was what I was looking for.

How is this used would I just do:

local units = rc.mcCntlGetUnitsCurrent(inst)
mc.mcCntlGcodeExecuteWait(inst, "G20")
...
do tool change stuff
...
if (units = "mm") then
    mc.mcCntlGcodeExecuteWait(inst, "G21")
end

Is there any documentation of all the mc commands (mcCntlGcodeExecuteWait, mcCntlGetUnitsCurrent, etc.). I have not seen a document with them all listed. I would have expected them to be in the lua scripting manual found here: https://www.machsupport.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Mach4%20Scripting%20Manual.pdf

Title: Re: changing coordinates systems during tool change
Post by: Bill_O on March 07, 2022, 01:27:49 PM

here is where you can find all the mc calls
C:\Mach4Hobby\Docs\Mach4CoreAPI.chm

Title: Re: changing coordinates systems during tool change
Post by: Bill_O on March 07, 2022, 01:29:10 PM

also this might be helpful if you have never done code in lua
https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=45397.0