Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Neplusultra on April 25, 2014, 12:27:04 PM
-
I'm wondering if there is a table somewhere, which I cannot seem to find, of the variables Mach 3 uses. I often find myself machining cast parts that will vary in thickness. As such it's difficult to machine them consistently. I've come up with a simple electronic circuit that uses the tool and G31 to sense the top of the part and then say drill a screwhole with countersink to a depth below that measured height. The fixture holding the part is insulated from the vise, the circuit uses the probe input. It works great. The code is;
G00 (to just above the part)
G31 (to touch the part, completing the circuit, about 20 microamps flows through the spindle bearing at about 6 or so volts)
#101=#2002 (transfers system variable for the Z axis height on touch to a user variable)
G01 Z[#101-0.405] (0.405 is the depth to drill a perfect screwhole)
The problem is I cannot use coolant with my current system as it conducts electricity and will give a false reading or error. I have a new situation that I must use coolant. I want to cut a slot using a sidemill into a part that also varies in thickness (Z height varies). I can manually touch off on the top and bottom of it. Slow but should give consistent results. I would like the Gcode to be able to use the current Z position in it's calculations, which of course would make it a lot easier than doing the calculations by hand and then entering them into the Gcode each time I machine a part.
The problem is that #2002 seems to only be set by a G31 function, which won't work in this situation because of the coolant. Is there a system variable that can be accessed that has the current Z value?
I'd prefer a list of all variables if there is one.
Thanks, If anyone is interested I can do a write up on my circuit. It's quite simple.
-
There is no list of all of them. The manual lists the variable for all the work offsets, but I'm not sure if any others are documented.
If you do a search here, you may find a few more.
-
There is no list of all of them. The manual lists the variable for all the work offsets, but I'm not sure if any others are documented.
If you do a search here, you may find a few more.
Thanks ger21, there must be someone some where, or some way of finding out what this variable is. Do you or anyone else know where I might find it. I'm specifically looking for the variable that is the current Z position.
It would make my life simpler if I can find it. Does Artsoft answer questions like this?
-
NO such thing that I am aware of and I HAVE searched every known variable there is in MAch3 looking for them. IF you find it please let us know. I have a search routine that gets the values of every known Gcode variable .
(;-) TP
-
NO such thing that I am aware of and I HAVE searched every known variable there is in MAch3 looking for them. IF you find it please let us know. I have a search routine that gets the values of every known Gcode variable .
(;-) TP
Can you tell me more, or provide the list? I'd be very interested.
Thanks,
-
Most that have any known meaning are listed in the Mach3 manual.
Other wise I plug in a value in a DRO somewhere and then go LOOK for it to show up in the Variable report
(;-) TP
-
Try #5023
-
Hiya Graham, Here with values in XYZA DROs the #5023 is empty Zero. Checking with both the Mach VAR monitor and my Var Report.
(;-) TP
-
Worth a try, that is where is should be, I guess it got lost in some update ;)