Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: sawduststeve on March 13, 2011, 05:52:56 PM

Title: How do I repeat the cut of the same part?
Post by: sawduststeve on March 13, 2011, 05:52:56 PM

On my prior controller software it had a screen for "mass production" where you could tell it to repeat the code a given number of times with offsets for X and Y axis.  No nesting or checking for overlap of parts.

How can I accomplish this with Mach3?  What do I need to read up on?  Is this what a macro is good for?

I did search, but didn't find anything which could be due to the search words I used. 

Links or references to the manual are welcome.  (an example would be great)

Steve.

Title: Re: How do I repeat the cut of the same part?
Post by: Hood on March 13, 2011, 06:18:18 PM

Quote from: sawduststeve on March 13, 2011, 05:52:56 PM

  No nesting or checking for overlap of parts.

Not sure what you mean by that?

Have a look at the nesting wizard and see if thats what you want, but with what you said above I am not sure.
Hood

Title: Re: How do I repeat the cut of the same part?
Post by: sawduststeve on March 13, 2011, 06:29:53 PM

I want to draw a part, create g-code for the single part and then cut multiples of it out of a piece of flat stock. 

My quantity can vary depending on the size of flat stock or order size, so I don't want to draw and create g-code for the multiple quantity.

Images attached are an example.

Steve.

Title: Re: How do I repeat the cut of the same part?
Post by: Hood on March 13, 2011, 06:33:15 PM

Nesting wizard should be what you want then :) Check it out and see.
Hood

Title: Re: How do I repeat the cut of the same part?
Post by: sawduststeve on March 15, 2011, 10:28:29 AM

I must be dense.  The nesting wizard is excactly what I want to use, but I cannot get it to work.

My Mach3 is licensed.  I have Version R3.043.022 installed.

When I select the wizard it comes up with my part on the screen.  If I change a value, such as number or repeats on X, and then click anywhere else the value goes back to 1.

In trying the "multipass" wizard I get the same problem.

Steve.

Title: Re: How do I repeat the cut of the same part?
Post by: Hood on March 15, 2011, 10:31:36 AM

Have you replaced the M30 with a M99 at the end of your original code? You need to do that for the nesting wizard.
Hood

Title: Re: How do I repeat the cut of the same part?
Post by: Overloaded on March 15, 2011, 10:37:34 AM

Be sure to hit the ENTER key after each DRO change.

Title: Re: How do I repeat the cut of the same part?
Post by: sawduststeve on March 15, 2011, 10:46:12 AM

Quote from: Overloaded on March 15, 2011, 10:37:34 AM

Be sure to hit the ENTER key after each DRO change.

Simple is as simple does!!!   Now it works.

Thanks,
Steve.

Title: Re: How do I repeat the cut of the same part?
Post by: Overloaded on March 15, 2011, 10:47:21 AM

That one gets many of us early on.
I'm guilty too.
Russ

Title: Re: How do I repeat the cut of the same part?
Post by: sawduststeve on March 15, 2011, 10:48:26 AM

Quote from: Hood on March 15, 2011, 10:31:36 AM

Have you replaced the M30 with a M99 at the end of your original code? You need to do that for the nesting wizard.
Hood

I did that, at first there was an M30.  It was the blasted ENTER key that was my final problem.

Steve.

Title: Re: How do I repeat the cut of the same part?
Post by: sawduststeve on March 15, 2011, 11:26:20 AM

I am really impressed now that I learned about the enter key.  I used the multipass wizard to cut the Z depth in steps and then used the nesting wizard to repeat the part over the material size.

Steve.

Title: Re: How do I repeat the cut of the same part?
Post by: derekbpcnc on March 15, 2011, 03:16:49 PM

I've only been using Mach for about 3 or 4 years.....

where is the nesting wizard? :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[

ATB
Derek :-[

Title: Re: How do I repeat the cut of the same part?
Post by: Overloaded on March 15, 2011, 03:21:24 PM

 :)

Title: Re: How do I repeat the cut of the same part?
Post by: derekbpcnc on March 15, 2011, 03:28:22 PM

Jeez !

I've been down that list about a billion times !
Normally straight to the Write text wizard.

Well at least thats my "dumb question of the week" out of the way LOL

Quote from: Overloaded on March 15, 2011, 03:21:24 PM

:)

Title: Re: How do I repeat the cut of the same part?
Post by: Overloaded on March 15, 2011, 03:44:09 PM

Quote from: derekbpcnc on March 15, 2011, 03:28:22 PM

I've been down that list about a billion times !

:D
Me too ... and still finding something new there on occasion. ;D

Title: Re: How do I repeat the cut of the same part?
Post by: Toymanf on March 21, 2011, 12:18:40 AM

You can also use G52 to offset the axis you want.
G52 X5Y5 creates an offset in the x and y of 5 inches(in inch mode).
You must remember to cancel any such offset with a G52 X0Y0Z0 or call out the new desired offset.

This is probably well known, but I was happy to find it a while back and it has come in handy.

Frank