Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: bowber on May 10, 2015, 09:44:26 AM
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Hi
My son has a project from Collage that he can do on my mill running Mach3 because they only have the one Haas CNC mill and the whole class has to write and run their own code, because it's meant to be written and run on the Haas I was wondering if it would run on Mach3.
He's not written it yet but it's meant to make use of the canned cycles, now I suspect that these will not be compatible.
I've also already done the code using the NFS wizard to show him how I'd do it on my mill but this may not satisfy the assignment criteria (took all of 2 minutes)
The project is to do one side of a cube with circular pockets getting smaller and deeper, this would normally be repeated on all 6 sides and also have holes in the corners.
Is there a pocketing canned cycle in Mach that could be used so he's met the canned cycle criteria?
Just thought there is the drilling cycle so that could be used to drill the deep hole first.
Any ideas would be appreciated as I'm no Gcode wizard, I just get by using CAM and the supplied wizards with a little hand coding to fill in the gaps sometimes.
Regards
Steve
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Steve,
whole class has to write and run their own code, because it's meant to be written and run on the Haas I was wondering if it would run on Mach3.
There is a difference in gcode and the only way to find the differences is to compare gcode of Haas to Mach. This also includes
the canned cycles as you will find that the coding is different or the cycle is not even supported.
RICH
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Most of the normal Haas Gcode will be compatible. Some of the Canned cycles will also be compatible. BUT if the Test is about Haas and his writing of a program for a HAAS then he needs to do it all on a Haas. Else he could get a lower grade for NOT complying with the test parameters.
(;-) TP
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The one canned cycle that you really need, Circular pockets does not exist in mach3.
He could also download a back plotter and practice that way. Also could be that Haas has a student version control simulator. They are pretty big in the school arena.
Just a thought, (;-) TP
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The module is about Gcode and is not particular to the Haas, it's just the CNC mill they have is a Haas. his worksheet says to use canned cycles were appropriate and add comments to the code. He's been told he can use our mill to make the part as long as he videos the cutting and screen.
I'm sure the drill canned cycle will cover the part about canned cycles as Mach doesn't use G12 the same as the Haas, they also use K & Q (I think) to do pocketing, Mach just uses i to set the radius and doesn't use cutter comp.
Steve
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I think somewhere I have a canned Mcode that uses the Mach3 G12/13 to do circular pocketing. I can look if you are interested.
(;-) TP
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That may be handy TP, just got to get him to write the code, I'm refusing to do it for him as he's the one doing the course not me ;-)
Steve
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AW SHUCKS PAW, Can't ya just help me?? :D Attaboy POP stand your ground. You are correct it IS his job. When my kids were growing up it was HARD to resist helping them out, ALL the way into college for their masters :o
I will look for the Mcode, (;-)TP
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Thanks
He's doing the Haas specific code at the moment. I wonder if they have an online backplotter to check it? We'll have to look into that.
Steve
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You may want to try http://cncsimulator.info/ It is free and should be able to simulate a Haas.
(;-) TP
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Do we get to take a PEEK at his code? I like to see new minds working.
(;-) TP
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you'll have to wait, I've not even had chance to look at it properly yet ;D
He's going to have to load it onto the Haas at Collage to check it'll run and looks right CNCSimulator doesn't seem to like or recognise G13 so it didn't show properly, I alway did find it a bit flacky but good for a free program.
He's then going to have to re write it for the Mach3, He's doing a turners cube by the way, with some additional holes drilled in the corners.
Steve
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What about a NFS circular pocket then repeat it how ever many times you want just decrease the xy scale and increase the z each loop. Uses variables , loops and scaling all in one. When done, tool change to drill and canned cycle drill as required.
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Good reminder to update this.
It turned out that only 2 people on the course had even tried to write the code, my son being one of them, so those two got to check and alter their code on the Haas and then cut it in Aluminium on the machine. The rest had to do the code but will not be able to achieve full marks for the assignment.
As is usual with a 17 year old son he din't bring the code used back for me to see.
Steve
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Yea but NOW he is a coder and you are still just POPs. What do you know?
It gets worse until they reach about 35-40 then all of a sudden you turn into a flipping GENIOUS.
Been there, (;-) TP
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Probebly right there, but I can say I've forgotten more than he's learnt, mainly because I forget everything these days :D
Steve