Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: cdewen on December 15, 2010, 09:01:24 AM

Title: Error msg loading G-code
Post by: cdewen on December 15, 2010, 09:01:24 AM
Pardon the newbie question, but I can't figure out why I get the error msg, "Tool Radius greater than approachLine 1", when I load this G-code:

G91.1  G17  G41 P0.250 F10
G1 Z1.0000
M30

I presume I'm being warned of a collision problem, but I can't figure out why.

TIA

Charley
Title: Re: Error msg loading G-code
Post by: Graham Waterworth on December 15, 2010, 09:07:01 AM
You have to apply the G41 on a feed line e.g. G01 G41 X10. P.25

Graham
Title: Re: Error msg loading G-code
Post by: cdewen on December 15, 2010, 10:09:16 AM
Graham:

I've been enlightened  ;D
Thanks!

Charley
Title: Re: Error msg loading G-code
Post by: cdewen on December 15, 2010, 11:09:10 AM
I wonder if I can't get a little more education.  With the tool at X0 Y0, this works fine:

G01 G41 X-1 P.25

but this produces the tool radius error message again:

G01 G41 X-2 P.25

Charley
Title: Re: Error msg loading G-code
Post by: Graham Waterworth on December 15, 2010, 05:50:25 PM
what are you trying to do, using G41/42 is not a simple one line command there is more to it than that.  Post a sketch of what you want to machine then we can tell you how to proceed.

Graham
Title: Re: Error msg loading G-code
Post by: ger21 on December 15, 2010, 06:19:55 PM
As Graham stated, you need at least two lines of g-code to use G41. And that's before you even start to cut your part. You should be moving to a specified position before calling the G41. The comp is applied during the move from that point to the next one.
Title: Re: Error msg loading G-code
Post by: cdewen on December 16, 2010, 02:05:24 PM
I appreciate the offers of assistance.

I'm trying to make a fairly simple part - cutting a roughly 2"x3" rectangle (more or less) out of sheet brass.  One side has rounded corners, and the other is completely round.  Top and bottom are straight.  I'm frustrated at the results, not just with the error msg.

Here's one of many versions of G-code that I've tried:

N010  G91.1  G17
N020  G1  G41 X0.1  P0.125
N030  G1  Z+0.0500
N040  G1  X+0.0000  Y+1.1111
N050  G1  Z-0.0050
N060  G2  X+0.0000  Y-1.1111  I0     J-1.1111
N070  G1  Z+0.0500
N080  G1  X+1.0000  Y-0.9675
N090  G1  Z-0.0050
N100  G1  X-1.7500  Y-0.9675
N110  G2  X-2.0000  Y-0.7175    I0     J0.25
N120  G1  X-2.0000  Y+0.7175
N130  G2  X-1.7500  Y+0.9675  I0.25  J0
N140  G1  X+1.0000  Y+0.9675
N150  G1  Z+0.0500
N160  M30

Line N020 is a dummy that I've had to throw in to get rid of the error msg.

I don't know where the top and bottom intersect the arc, so I try to cut them separately.  Mach3 doesn't seem to want to do this.  When I run this code, it cuts the N040-N060 arc, but then goes to X-500 somewhere, rather than X+1.000.  It cuts the rest of the bottom, side and corners correctly, but then stops on the top in the X_500 area.  I'm sure it's trying to help, but I don't understand how to control it.

Charley
Title: Re: Error msg loading G-code
Post by: Graham Waterworth on December 16, 2010, 02:15:50 PM
Here are a few help sheets I did for the chaps at work, it gives examples of how to do some basic g-code programs to do simple jobs, its all in metric but the principals are the same.

Graham
 
Title: Re: Error msg loading G-code
Post by: cdewen on December 16, 2010, 03:18:18 PM
Graham:

Thanks!  I'll be studying it in detail this evening.

Charley
Title: Re: Error msg loading G-code
Post by: ger21 on December 16, 2010, 06:20:02 PM
Not sure if you wanted that "trapezoidal" shape. I changed it to a more rectangular shape with parallel sides.
Try this.

N010  G91.1  G17
N011  G0  Z0.05
N012  G0  X-.5 Y1.3 (Move to start of lead-in)
N013  G41 P0.125
N020  G1  X-0.1 Y1.1111 Z-.05 (Ramp Down While applying comp)
N040  G1  X+0.0000  Y+1.1111
N060  G2  X+0.0000  Y-1.1111  I0     J-1.1111
N100  G1  X-1.7500  Y-1.1111
N110  G2  X-2.0000  Y-0.8611    I0     J0.25
N120  G1  X-2.0000  Y+0.8611
N130  G2  X-1.7500  Y+1.1111  I0.25  J0
N140  G1  X+1.0000  Y+1.1111
N150  G1  Z+0.0500
N155  G40
N160  M30
Title: Re: Error msg loading G-code
Post by: cdewen on December 16, 2010, 07:15:06 PM
Not sure if you wanted that "trapezoidal" shape. I changed it to a more rectangular shape with parallel sides.
Try this.
[snip]

Thanks, Gerry.  The part has to be 1.935" top to bottom, though; the only critical X axis position is that the arc must be -1.1111 from X0 Y0.  My problem here is that I don't know where the top & bottom lines (at +-0.9675) intersect the arc on the end.  I figured I could cut the straight lines and the arc separately, making the straight lines longer than necessary.  If I cut the arc first, I can't get the cutter to go to the X1 position in line N080.  For whatever reason, Mach3 executes N090 somewhere around X-.5.

Charley
Title: Re: Error msg loading G-code
Post by: ger21 on December 16, 2010, 07:48:00 PM
Quote
My problem here is that I don't know where the top & bottom lines (at +-0.9675) intersect the arc on the end.

You can't write the correct code if you don't know that. G-code just specifies coordinates. If you don't know what they are, then you can't write the code correctly. You're trying to run before you can walk. First, do an accurate drawing and calculate all your coordinates.
Title: Re: Error msg loading G-code
Post by: cdewen on December 16, 2010, 08:55:09 PM
Gerry:

Having walked for a number of months, this was to be my first run.  I've been doing cutter compensation manually, and thought it time to try doing it the right way.

I didn't consider a drawing necessary, as just cutting a straight line through the arc puts me in a waste area - no need to know exactly where to stop.  Not an economical, elegant way of doing things.

Thanks for your help.

Charley
Title: Re: Error msg loading G-code
Post by: ger21 on December 16, 2010, 09:00:23 PM
If you want to do separate moves with cutter comp, then you need to turn comp on and off for each move, and each should have it's own lead-in and lead out move. Otherwise, it won't work right.
Title: Re: Error msg loading G-code
Post by: cdewen on December 17, 2010, 12:00:10 AM
Gerry:

You got me thinking about my high school geometry.  The intersection of the straight side and the arc'd side occurs at 1 radius (1.1111") and at Y=0.9675" - that's two sides of a right triangle.  No problem.  They intersect at X=0.5463".

Thanks, again.

Charley