Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Jimvuy on August 13, 2023, 12:15:57 PM

Title: Help please! Z axis not cutting the correct depth
Post by: Jimvuy on August 13, 2023, 12:15:57 PM
I need some help in where I am going wrong please.
The depth of cut is set at 9mm in vcarve program, material thickness is 12mm
I touch the top surface of the wood with cutter and zero z axis.
When I run the program it only cuts a depth of 3mm but shows -9mm
The z axis movement is calibrated corrected

Any advice on how to fix appreciated
Title: Re: Help please! Z axis not cutting the correct depth
Post by: Graham Waterworth on August 13, 2023, 06:47:09 PM
It looks like you have the datum on the bottom face in Vcarve.
Title: Re: Help please! Z axis not cutting the correct depth
Post by: Jimvuy on August 20, 2023, 04:51:57 PM
Datum is set to the top surface in vectoring
The depth looks fine at 9mm in the tool path preview
When the g code is imported into mach3 the cutting tool path appears 3mm from top surface?
When the program rums the z height shows -9mm

I’ve spent days looking to see where I’m going wrong!!
Any comments / ideas appreciated
Title: Re: Help please! Z axis not cutting the correct depth
Post by: Graham Waterworth on August 20, 2023, 08:21:02 PM
When you look at the tool offset (lower centre of program run screen in pink) has it got a value in it?

What tool number (T??) and is in the first few lines of g-code?

Is there a G43 H?? value in the g-code?

When you set your tool did you have G54 selected in the offsets page?

Some pictures and the first 20 lines of your g-code would help.

Title: Re: Help please! Z axis not cutting the correct depth
Post by: Jimvuy on August 21, 2023, 09:06:48 AM
The Tool Information box in the Program Run Screen shows 0 in all 4 pink boxes.
g-code shows T1M6
There is no G43 H value showing in the G code that I can see
please see attachments


Title: Re: Help please! Z axis not cutting the correct depth
Post by: Jimvuy on August 21, 2023, 09:21:10 AM
showing tool path in Vectric Cut2D
and Mach3

I must have a setting wrong somewhere??

thanks for any areas to investigate
Title: Re: Help please! Z axis not cutting the correct depth
Post by: Graham Waterworth on August 21, 2023, 05:23:21 PM
Mach3 is set to use tool 0 but the g-code is using tool 1 at line 3 (T1 M6).  Remove this line and try again.
Title: Re: Help please! Z axis not cutting the correct depth
Post by: Jimvuy on August 22, 2023, 01:11:02 PM
I removed the line but this has not fixed the problem.
Title: Re: Help please! Z axis not cutting the correct depth
Post by: Graham Waterworth on August 22, 2023, 01:57:43 PM
Move your spindle clear of any material and turn the rapids right down then enter this into MDI

G54 G00 G49 G90 Z5.

Check that the tool is 5mm above your material.


Title: Re: Help please! Z axis not cutting the correct depth
Post by: Jimvuy on August 23, 2023, 06:05:51 AM
Tool goes to 10mm above the material surface, the MDI shows Z at +5.00

Is the problem coming from the vectric tool path - Material Set up?
This is showing -
Rapid Z Gap above material  - Clearance Z1 =5.0mm
Home Start Position - Z gao above Material = 5.01mm

I cannot change these values, as it always defaults back to these dims?
Title: Re: Help please! Z axis not cutting the correct depth
Post by: Graham Waterworth on August 23, 2023, 12:53:36 PM
Follow this :-

1. Home your machine.

2. On the program page click in the pink tool DRO and enter 1, press enter.

3. Click in the pink Dia DRO and enter zero, press enter.

4. Click in the pink H DRO and enter zero, press enter.

5. Click OFFSETS page.

6. Click Fixture 1 (G54) button under active work offset.

7. Move machine over material in X & Y.

8. Bring Z axis down until it just touches, use a feeler gauge or a bit of paper to feel it in.

9. On OFFSETS page click Zero Z.  This should now show Zero.

10. Home the machine.

11. Move over the material in X & Y, turn rapids right down.

12. In MDI page enter G00 G90 G49 Z5.  Check position is 5mm above material.

If you then try different Z heights and they are wrong your calibration is out or machine is loosing steps.


Title: Re: Help please! Z axis not cutting the correct depth
Post by: Jimvuy on August 24, 2023, 11:29:14 AM
Problem fixed
Many thanks for the time you have spent sorting this out and the expert knowledge shared.