Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: chadcummings on May 02, 2011, 08:25:22 PM

Title: Mach3 loses Y axis location during code
Post by: chadcummings on May 02, 2011, 08:25:22 PM
So I have ran 2 sets of gcode which cut the same pattern, just at different rates and overlap and have found at the same spot that the Yaxis loses about an inch of its orientation and starts cutting off in neverland.

I do not believe it is losing steps as it is in the same spot that it happens in and it is a consistent amount that it does it.  The area of gcode is around line 284000 so I know it is within the limits of mach3.

I also just realized I am running one of the 3.042 series code and will be updating it to the new one.

Any ideas?
Title: Re: Mach3 loses Y axis location during code
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on May 03, 2011, 01:57:20 AM
Chad,

May be an idea if you post your GCode, this way it can be established if it is the fault of the code or your setup.

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Mach3 loses Y axis location during code
Post by: chadcummings on May 03, 2011, 06:03:13 AM
the gcode is 35meg  :(
Title: Re: Mach3 loses Y axis location during code
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on May 03, 2011, 06:20:54 AM
Well, that's that then as the forum limit is 6MB.

(I regularly run code in excess of 340,000 lines which zip to less than 4MB).

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Mach3 loses Y axis location during code
Post by: BR549 on May 03, 2011, 10:44:19 AM
Just cut out the section that gives the problem and post that part in a file(;-)

What version Mach are you running? 

(;-)TP
Title: Re: Mach3 loses Y axis location during code
Post by: chadcummings on May 03, 2011, 08:20:10 PM
I realized last night I was using a 3.42 series of Mach3.

I am in the process this evening of upgrading it.

Here is the gcode.
Title: Re: Mach3 loses Y axis location during code
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on May 04, 2011, 02:23:25 AM
Chad,

I am using version R3.043.022 and I just had a problem with X position when running your code.
May be me or it may be the code or it may just be the length / size of the code, in any event it deserves further investigation. I will try it again later and see just what is going on.

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Mach3 loses Y axis location during code
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on May 04, 2011, 03:21:30 AM
Chad,

This appears to be a Mach / PC related problem in so far as the length of the GCode is concerned. I have now run your code twice and had errors on both occasions.
In my case the X axis Scale DRO is changing to -1.0000 of it’s own accord and the machine takes off to the other side of the table.

I have another PC which has the maximum RAM and I will try that just to see if it is a memory paging issue but I have examined the GCode itself and can find nothing that would cause this fault so I can only conclude that it is the size / length of the GCode which is upsetting either Mach3 or the PC.

Reworking your model to produce a number of smaller programs which could be executed concurrently may provide a practical solution and for now, be the best way to proceed.

Could anyone else perhaps try this CGode and see if they have problems also ?

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Mach3 loses Y axis location during code
Post by: Hood on May 04, 2011, 03:28:36 AM
Have you tried turning off the toolpath view?
Hood
Title: Re: Mach3 loses Y axis location during code
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on May 04, 2011, 04:01:13 AM
Hi Hood,

I just tried it with the toolpath view turned off but no difference it crashes at, more or less, exactly the same place.

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Mach3 loses Y axis location during code
Post by: chadcummings on May 04, 2011, 04:18:15 AM
I recompiled the gcode with a larger offset, less paths and shorter code.

I let that run last night and it finished with no problems.

That being said, I thought that Mach3 could handle 10mil lines of code?  The gcode I posted shows it is about 750k...if MS Word was correct but you know good ol' Microsoft is never wrong.  :)
Title: Re: Mach3 loses Y axis location during code
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on May 04, 2011, 05:03:18 AM
Chad,

It is not so much the number of lines of code as much as it is the content of the code and how the PC handles the data.

Your compiled GCode has such redundancy that I would you suggest that you check with Vectric that you are in fact running the full licensed version of their software and not the demo.

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Mach3 loses Y axis location during code
Post by: Hood on May 04, 2011, 05:13:58 AM
Tweakie, you are not kidding there, just looked at the code and picked a position from random, 40 lines of code in a row only moving the Y axis where one line would only be needed. The rest of the code looks the same, just dont see the point and if I had CAM that spat that out I would be most unhappy. I have only used Vectrics Photo V Carve and it puts out good code so I think there is something wrong with the PP being used by the OP or something worse.
Hood
Title: Re: Mach3 loses Y axis location during code
Post by: chadcummings on May 04, 2011, 05:48:09 AM
Hmm...I used a friends Vectric at his place...I noticed that as well but thought it was just how it is produced.  I am saving to buy a license for myself.

What did you use to check the code when it gave you the -1 problems?  I am interested in being able to troubleshoot my code in the future as well.

thanks,
Chad
Title: Re: Mach3 loses Y axis location during code
Post by: BR549 on May 04, 2011, 05:27:39 PM
NOW yall are talked LOST MACH SYNDROME (;-)  Mach used to have a problem with large files of micro segmented code. It would go crazy and do goofy things(corrupt the xml) and then just lock up tight alll in about the same location every time.

I have a test file (railroadTrackMan) it is a HUGE 3d releif that we used to test mach. It will lock up mach tight as a tick in about a couple hours of work.

Thought Brian had that fixed but looks like it creeped back in.

(;-) TP