Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: radioactive on May 11, 2009, 09:25:50 AM
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I figure this is probably something really easy I can't find...
My toolpath view in Mach3 is always upside down? If I am surfacing a material in three passes, it shows the bottom cut first, then the middle, then the top (as shown in the toolpath view), however on the part it is obviously cutting from the top down. What am I missing?
Thanks
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In machine coords when your z axis is fully up is it zero and then any move down into the work is a negative?
Hood
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In machine coords when your z axis is fully up is it zero and then any move down into the work is a negative?
Hood
Yes
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Hi, Radioactive
If your not setting the "cut depth" to a neg. value (-#.####) In your G Code this will/can happen.
Chip
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I've been setting the cut depth negative, however does the peck depth or step depth need to be negative as well?
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Hi, Radioactive
Hard to say, What are you using to generate the G Code file.?
Chip
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NFS wizards... Last night I was drilling some holes (used the linear hole wizard). All the toolpaths show it moving to the correct X and Y location, then traveling upwards on the screen to do the drilling. In reality the drill bit is traveling downwards into the material and my Z is getting more negative as it drills downwards.
I figured I must have something configured incorrectly somewhere. It's like the toolpath view has a configuration somewhere to select whether Z is normally pointing upwards or downwards (for positive values). My small X,Y,Z indicator shows that Z is pointing straight down.
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can you post an example of the code that you are having problems with?
Hood
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I'm currently at work so this version of Mach 3 isn't setup the same as my one at home. Isn't there a file I can copy from my home pc to this one that will bring all the settings with it?
Regardless, here is a screen shot that shows the simple code and a view of the toolpath. HOWEVER, this one is shown correct. My machine PC would show the Z movement flipped.
I guess I can't attach an image. It appears as though I must post a link to a hosting site, which I can't do from work.
Here's the code:
(Code by Newfangled Wizard, 5/13/2009)
(Program Posted for Aluminum )
G0 G49 G40.1 G17
G80 G50 G90 G98
G20 (Inch)
(***** Linear Hole Pattern *****)
M6 T1
M03 S4000
M7 (Mist On)
G00G43 H1 Z0.2
G73 X1 Y1 Z-1 Q0.05 R0.2 F7.9
G91 X1 Y0 L1
G80
G90
M5 M9
M30
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This problem isn't normal right? I mean, typically on a milling machine with the quill up all the way, that is considered zero and any movement downward is negative. Correct?
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Yes thats correct for machine coords. You can however have positive Z moves in your work offsets though. For work offsets the top of thge stock is normally zero so an inch above is +1 and an inch below is -1.
If it works fine on the machine then look in the Mach3 folder and copy the xml for the profile you use and then paste it into the Mach3 folder of your desktop computer. If you are using the standard mill profile the file you are looking for is Mach3Mill.xml
Hood
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Yes thats correct for machine coords. You can however have positive Z moves in your work offsets though. For work offsets the top of thge stock is normally zero so an inch above is +1 and an inch below is -1.
That's what I thought and the way I've been doing it.
Yes, it does machine the parts correctly, just that the toolpath view doesn't look right on the machine PC. I'll pay more attention tonight and see which code flips the Z axis around.