Machsupport Forum

G-Code, CAD, and CAM => G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions => Topic started by: midnightmetalworks on February 15, 2012, 03:40:14 AM

Title: questions about tool changes....
Post by: midnightmetalworks on February 15, 2012, 03:40:14 AM
Ive been learning RhinoCam and Mach 3 and just have a few questions I could really use help with:

What are the codes or macro that I would enter in the rhino cam post processor, tool change tab, to get mach 3 to tell the machine to move to a safe z height, pause so I can change the tool manually, and then wait till I hit start again to go back to running the code?

When I do change the tool if the length of the tool is different from the previous one do i have to re zero the axis' or does the program assume the WCS stays in the same position and adjust the tool holder location accordingly?

Also are the coordinates relative or absolute, so for instance if I pause the program and move the tool and then start the program from that moved position will it move the tool to a xyz coordinate off the WCS or will it just move the tool the amount and direction specified by the code?

Last one, How do I program the tool to return to the CWS position at the end of the g code?

Thanks
Title: Re: questions about tool changes....
Post by: ger21 on February 15, 2012, 10:40:20 AM

I don't use RhinoCAM, so can't really help there.

You may find it's easier to modify the M6Start macro to move to your safe Z height. Mach3 can be configured to stop and wait for Cycle Start in General Config, Toolchange section.

Generally, if you don't have an ATC, or fixed length tooling, you need to re-zero the Z axis. If you have fixed length tooling, and the values entered in the tooltable, then you should use tool length offsets, G43.

Your code should specify coordinates in either machine coordinates (with G53), or in the current offset. It's up to you how you want to do it.