Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => Mach4 General Discussion => Topic started by: Woodjunkie4evr on February 24, 2017, 02:00:53 PM

Title: Weird. Toolpath changing when loaded to mach4
Post by: Woodjunkie4evr on February 24, 2017, 02:00:53 PM

Hi all long time for me.
I recently started using mach4 and have it running fairly well
So far.
Just a few days ago I wanted to cutout some simple squares
So I made my toolpath and loaded it to mach4 and ran it

For some reason one corner was slightly rounded. I checked my file
Shows perfect square.  Reloaded and it looks fine.
Then I  noticed as soon as I hit start the toolpath actually changes
In the toolpath window with one corner being slightly rounded and mach4 follows this path.

Check my settings over and over. Nothing. Must be missing something.
Can anyone help.

Thanks.

Title: Re: Weird. Toolpath changing when loaded to mach4
Post by: TOTALLYRC on February 26, 2017, 06:04:15 AM

Post your G-code.

Mike

Title: Re: Weird. Toolpath changing when loaded to mach4
Post by: Pedio on February 26, 2017, 05:25:22 PM

Most likely you have your machine set to constant velocity instead of exact stop. M4 will round the corners to keep the velocity. You can test this by making several squares and give each one a different velocity. This will allow you to see how M4 rounds the corners to keep the constant velocity. I ramped up the feed rate for each square by 10 ipm to see how it worked on my machine. You can either change the feed rate to something that your configuration of M4 likes better, change your motor settings (e.g., velocity, acceleration), or change M4 to exact stop.

I suggest you play with the settings to see what works best on your machine,
P

Title: Re: Weird. Toolpath changing when loaded to mach4
Post by: Woodjunkie4evr on February 27, 2017, 02:42:07 PM

Thanks for your response Pedio.
I have tried all these settings and the feed changes and alike
I have noticed that if I zoom in on the toolpath window
I can actually see the pay change as mach4 runs the program basically
Showing me the path it is exicuting I assume.
Visually I can watch this path change in response to feed changes
As well as acceleration changes.
So I guess it's not actually changing the tool path but more showing
The path it is actually taking.
I have settings now that produce a square cut corner but the display
Of the toolpath still shows mach4 varying from the toolpath in the corners
No matter the settings. It is just larger or smaller but never dissappears to follow the file
Toolpath exactly.
I wonder if anyone else experiences this.

Thanks for your help.
I'll keep playing and see if I discover anything else.

Title: Re: Weird. Toolpath changing when loaded to mach4
Post by: Pedio on March 02, 2017, 03:26:57 PM

Did you try exact stop under the motion control of Mach 4?