Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Chet on November 13, 2010, 03:53:00 PM

Title: X-Axis Motor Doesn't Start After Tool Change...
Post by: Chet on November 13, 2010, 03:53:00 PM
Rough cut goes smoothly until program reaches tool change pause.
After tool is changed, I press Cycle Start...
The screen in the upper right of Mach 3 indicates the tool is moving and the numbers in the X, Y, Z axis change,
BUT the X-axis motor does not move.
I've tried to reset to a previous position with the Run From Here command, but the machine also seems to have forgotten where it was.
I'm using a HobbyCNC driver board.
This is a new problem for me...
Any thoughts, suggestions???
Chet
Title: Re: X-Axis Motor Doesn't Start After Tool Change...
Post by: Hood on November 13, 2010, 04:37:25 PM
Do you move to a certain position when doing a toolchange? If you do try and move there via MDI and see if the problem exists when you try and move away again.


Hood
Title: Re: X-Axis Motor Doesn't Start After Tool Change...
Post by: angel tech on November 13, 2010, 04:41:24 PM
is the toolchanger driven by the x axis drive via switching, or by it's own driver.
Title: Re: X-Axis Motor Doesn't Start After Tool Change...
Post by: angel tech on November 13, 2010, 04:44:01 PM
that's assuming it's an auto-toolchanger?
Title: Re: X-Axis Motor Doesn't Start After Tool Change...
Post by: angel tech on November 13, 2010, 04:47:25 PM
scratch that, i see you're using cycle start to resume your program , so it must be a manual change.
Title: Re: X-Axis Motor Doesn't Start After Tool Change...
Post by: Chet on November 13, 2010, 08:07:22 PM
Thanks for replies...
I've designed a very small test program to try tomorrow.
The software that converts the bitmap into code sets up the tool change, I'm not actually writing the code.
(btw the bitmap to g-code software is the Acme Profiler)
Chet
Title: Re: X-Axis Motor Doesn't Start After Tool Change...
Post by: Chet on November 14, 2010, 03:56:34 PM
Happy Days! - The system is working again!
I first wrote a little program that would require a tool change.
But, most important, I also remembered that for some reason Mach3 XML programs can sometimes become corrupted.
So before running my new test code, I changed to a different version of the XML program I'd been using.
Bingo!  Test program ran correctly, as did the main program when it was loaded.
The advice to make back-up XML's is good advice indeed!
However, I also did one other thing differently - I used keyboard commands rather than the mouse...
I share that info just in case it can help someone else with mysterious problems...
Chet