Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Greolt on September 09, 2009, 11:29:51 PM
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I have been doing rotary toolpaths in Mach for a while but have never figured out how to get the toolpath display to show them in correct scale.
Played around with all sorts of different numbers in the "Rotation Diameters" on the settings page. Including negative numbers.
The same toolpaths show nicely to scale in NCplot. See Pics of NCplot (white wireframe) and Mach3 (blue wireframe). Exact same gcode.
This example has a diameter of about 80mm and a length (of the cylinder) of 120mm. In NCplot that is represented about right. In Mach it never gets close.
Any clues?
Greg
EDIT: The mach pic has the cylinder standing upright and the NCplot has it lying on it's side.
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i get exactly the opposite, my Mach display works great and ncplot gives me my entire rotary path squashed into one quadrant.. unfortunately turning on machs toolpath display with rotary tool paths is instant death for my job lol...
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I think that is because you are setting Z zero at the job circumference in CAM.
Set it to be the axis centre and NCplot will display it correctly.
Greg
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nope
Z zero is at rotary centre ?
i got ver 1.2, the free one, maybe it cant do rotary?
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just rechecked. not actually in one quadrants at all, was the angle threw me off.. all the code is on the same line .. kinda like no rotary code is being processed at all...
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Looks like you need to do the "setup machine configuration"
Specifically 4th axis setup.
Greg
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Ok looks like I was wrong.
The free version does not have 4th axis capability.
I have the full version and I had to install the free version to have a look.
Sorry to mislead.
Greg
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no worries :)
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Here is another view of the toolpath window in Mach. Same as above.
They are a bit hard to see what is what when you cant 3D pan.
It should look just like the NCplot one (white wire frame)
As you can see the Mach view has the diameter scaled wrong.
Greg
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Greg, the Diameter DRO is actually the Radius, I think. Try entering the radius.
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Greg, the Diameter DRO is actually the Radius, I think. Try entering the radius.
Gerry
Yes I have tried all sorts of numbers in the "Rotation Diameters"
I can make the distortion worse but can not make it appear anything near correct.
Greg
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i just noticed something in my mach
if all my axis's are not zeroed when i load the path the path comes up skewed like yours, my y was at 103mm and it scaled out the whole ring over Y.. if i zero out XYZA then regenerate its fine again.
maybe try that?
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No that makes no improvement for me.
I did another toolpath to show it a little better.
As is shown iin NCplot (white wireframe) is correct and in proportion. In Mach it is otherwise.
An interesting anomaly if you can see it is in the side view in Mach.
Look carefully and you can see the cuts paths are layed on their side. I don't know how better to explain it.
The basic problem is it should look exactly like the NCplot view but it doesn't and I don't know how to make it do so.
I am concluding, rightly or wrongly, that this is a bug in the Mach toolpath view.
I would love to be shown that I am just doing something silly. ;D
Greg
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no idea? which version you using? besides the scaling bug i just found i have never really paid attention to the toolpath display as it sucks me dry, but generally if i do look at ti to verify something ti seems to be in proportion and accurate.
im on 04020
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Looks like I fixed it.
Uninstalled and did a clean out and fresh install.
Same Version R3.042.027 as before.
Put back my same XML so that was not causing it.
Must have been something not right in the program.
Anyway see the pic. It now looks fairly much like it should.
Greg
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good on you...
i got call from my wife today saying she turned on mill pc and it said #%$^^@$%^%^PffffffffffrtgttttttttttzzzzzzzzzzzzzshnaaaaaaaaaaazlllllZAPPPPPPP!!!
such is my life.....
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all ok.. was just a loose pci card. All up n running again.
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Hi to all.
Assuming Chris hasn't designed and made this himself, does anyone know where I can find the screenset he shows earlier in this thread (reply #11)?
I really like the look of it, as it's much simpler and easier on the eyes than the standard one.
Thanks for any help.
Martin.
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I think Chris has designed it, might be worth a PM to him though as he may share it with you.
If not then making a simple screen up to suit your needs wouldnt take too long, the screen editing programmes are fairly easy to get to grips with.
Hood
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Will take a look, Hood.
Thanks for your help.
Martin.
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Hi Martin.
the Original screenset is supplied by minitech, I downloaded MachScreen and spruced it up a little.. added some snap crackle and pop as it were ;)
contact Jack Heald at www.minitech.com for this screenset? He may oblige you? I think however quite a few of the functions in the screenset are related to macros written for probing and homing.
but im only vaguely familiar with these things so i speak under correction :)
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Those rotary patterns are cool. I assume they're mostly for jewelry (rings) you guys are doing?
I'd love to get some simple g-code to play with if any of you are willing to post. I just want to run it through my g-code simulator and play with changing the codes.
Cheers,
BW
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Hi Chris.
Thanks for the reply. I didn't consider the option that it might be proprietry, so I'm not going to put them on the spot by asking for a copy - I couldn't face the rejection :'( .
Shame about that though. I'll give the Aqua screenset a trial run 'cos it's a bit cooler on the eyes than the standard offering.
Thanks again.
Martin.