Machsupport Forum

G-Code, CAD, and CAM => G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions => Topic started by: cncman on March 15, 2017, 10:30:08 AM

Title: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: cncman on March 15, 2017, 10:30:08 AM
Hi guys
Vasili here!
I face a problem with Mach3 and i explain: I recently rebuilt a ISEL CPM 4030 milling center ( setting the soft limits in X 38.00 Y 30.00 Z 16.00 ) with new 5 axis breakout board, drivers and so. Setting up Mach3 whas a little bit trickie while the motor connection of the actual milling center was CHAOS! I had to isolate so many cables to make it work! Anyway, it work perfectly and accurately but in reading G code file!!!!! It reads in CM instead of MM and it moves beyond its machine coordinates. Even the soft limits setting are in CM!!!!
This is the reason i'm asking for your help!!!!!!!!
I use Freemill as a CAM.
Any suggestion would be very appreciate!
Thank you all in advance
Vasili.
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on March 15, 2017, 11:11:53 AM
Sounds like your axis steps per unit are set incorrectly.

Try the Axis Calibration feature on the Settings (Alt-6) page.

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: cncman on March 15, 2017, 11:38:06 AM
Thanks for your quick reply Tweaky!
The axises move accurately.
If i set 10, it moves 10 Centimetres accurately! This is not the main problem!
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: RICH on March 15, 2017, 12:53:51 PM
Set your steps per unit to mm, so if you command a move of10 mm it moves 10 mm and not 10 cm.
You can also use the axis calibration feature in the flyout ( lower left corner on the screen) after using the Alt 6 tab.
 
Don't know anything about Freemill, but, if it matters, draw /create in the units that Mach is configured for.

RICH
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: cncman on March 15, 2017, 01:29:55 PM
Rich and Tweaky !!!!!!!!!!!!! You're absolutely right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When i typed 10 in axis calibration and the axis moved to 10, it was actually 100 mm's! I couldn'd figured out that was 100 mm and not 10 cm's!
Thank you very much!
But tell me something else please: When i put G0 X10 in MDI , then it moves 9 mm's and not 10! What's going on here?
Thanks for the reply :)  :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: cncman on March 15, 2017, 02:19:43 PM
I solve this too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you guys for helping me! I really appreciate!
Vasili
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on March 16, 2017, 02:41:30 AM
Excellent  ;)

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: keithstanley on March 11, 2018, 03:50:46 PM
I am having the very same problem - instead of moving 1mm my machine moves 1cm.

I know how to change between mm and inches but I don't know how to make it mm instead of cm.

It is set to mm already....

Do I need to re-calibrate my machine again?
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: joeaverage on March 11, 2018, 06:33:59 PM
Hi,
yes, there is no 'cm' setting in Mach, what it means is your 'Steps per Unit' value in the motor tuning pages is out
by a factor of 10.

Try getting this info:
1) The lead screw pitch, needs to be accurate, 'about 1/4 per turn is NOT good enough, real accurate,from manufactuers
     documentation preferred.
2) Belt or gear reduction ratio, if fitted, between the stepper and the lead screw.
3) Your microstep setting of your stepper drivers
4) I assume standard two phase stepper of 200 step per revolution?

Craig
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on March 12, 2018, 02:41:23 AM
Re-calibrate your machine.

Use the Set Steps per Unit calibration feature (Settings page) - follow the on-screen instructions using the largest measurement distances you can.

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: keithstanley on March 12, 2018, 04:31:36 AM
I will be re-calibrating either tonight or tomorrow and I will post the results.

Thanks for the advice!!!
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: joeaverage on March 12, 2018, 06:00:30 AM
Hi,
or provide the correct and accurate data and calculate the correct answer...no guess work....no measuring...

Craig
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: keithstanley on March 14, 2018, 05:30:28 AM
Sorry for the delay in replying to everyone,

I ran the calibration cycle again repeatedly last night and found out where the fault was... ME!!! ::)

I was making a mistake between MM and CM, DOH!!!!  ::)

Once I got the Z working perfectly going up and down 10mm, (the safe height), whenever I ran a file to cut a 10mm square I realised that if one of three axis worked correctly I must have been doing something wrong.  So I started over again on the X and Y axis and got it right.  By the time I finished it was travelling 2000mm on the X axis repeatedly and 1000mm on the Y axis repeatedly.  :)

Before I had to replace the PC the X and Y 'steps per unit' was set to 710 now it is around 29.  I wanted to be accurate when I posted the new value so I went back to the machine to check and now every time I start MACH3 the machine crashes!!!! Not something one wants just before bed!!!  :(

I am running a 64Bit PC with 8GB RAM with Windows 7 (32bit) installed and as I said it was running fine for a few days...

The PC is not new but it was only used for about 3 months before I put it on my CNC machine last week...

There is always another problem isn't there? Any ideas please?




Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on March 14, 2018, 05:59:03 AM
Just an idea...

I would make a secure backup copy of my Mach3 folder.
Delete the existing Mach3 folder from drive C: then re-install Mach3 (version 0.62).
Copy my old <profile> .xml file from the backup to the new install. (if you have any special screens or macro's then copy them over as well).

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: keithstanley on March 14, 2018, 07:10:09 AM
Thanks Tweakie!

I will do it tonight and I will post the results.
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: keithstanley on March 14, 2018, 04:59:25 PM
Hello again,

Sadly that hasn't fixed the problem  :(  >:(

Do I need to do a complete reinstall of the PC?  It is odd that is was working fine for a few days and now it won't start MACH3...

Any suggestions please?  ???
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on March 15, 2018, 02:44:51 AM
Sorry to hear that it didn't work.

I don't use win7 so can't really suggest anything other than Mach3 may need to be installed and run as Administrator and given the required privileges within any antivirus software etc.

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: keithstanley on March 15, 2018, 05:00:21 AM
Tweakie you running Windows XP then? With or without connecting to the internet?

I am very happy to install Win XP if that is going to solve this problem...
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on March 15, 2018, 05:27:52 AM
Yes, I run WinXP but on a 32 bit PC and not connected to the net. I transfer all Gcode files (created using win10) with a memory stick.

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: keithstanley on March 15, 2018, 05:46:23 AM
Do you think that using a 32bit PC is important?
Shall I get an old DELL box then?
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: keithstanley on March 15, 2018, 05:51:31 AM
Tweakie can I ask your opinion on this PC please:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Dell-Optiplex-Dual-Core-4gb-RAM-160gb-HDD-Windows-XP-Desktop-PC-Computer/1189152134?iid=262402395364&_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D49919%26meid%3D8b552f3e85944139b940cbf6d8ca3032%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D262839936634%26itm%3D262402395364&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Dell-Optiplex-Dual-Core-4gb-RAM-160gb-HDD-Windows-XP-Desktop-PC-Computer/1189152134?iid=262402395364&_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D49919%26meid%3D8b552f3e85944139b940cbf6d8ca3032%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D262839936634%26itm%3D262402395364&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851)
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on March 15, 2018, 06:25:23 AM
I have no idea what is best, I just use WinXP on a 32 bit PC.

That Dell Optiplex looks just fine to me (but I have never used one so cannot say one way or the other).
 
Tweakie.
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: TPS on March 15, 2018, 06:42:36 AM
i would start with

-a fresh install of M3
-a new blanc Profile

and do the steup (manually) again, takes maybe half a hour.
there is no reason that it should not run on a 32Bit Win7

just a thought.
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: keithstanley on March 15, 2018, 06:54:29 AM
OK thanks Tweakie,

I will try to clean the PC as much as I can then a fresh install of M3 and a manual setup, I have my notes.
I will do this on my 64BIT PC running WIN7
and then I will report back...

thanks for the help and advice  :)
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: RICH on March 15, 2018, 07:20:58 AM
You may have a problem with the Dell OptiPlex.  Most of the ones I have tried to use  had bad pulse signals
and the pulse rates really varied for the PP .  May need to use an external motion device.

My experience with them, and as usual, your 's may turn out to be different!

RICH
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: keithstanley on March 15, 2018, 08:39:47 AM
Thanks RICH.
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: keithstanley on March 15, 2018, 10:16:09 AM
OK so I tried a new install of MACH3 and I did not add the old xml file.

When I clicked on MACH3 to open it to begin configuration the pc crashed!!!   >:(  :(  :o  ???  :'( 

I can open every other program on the PC except MACH3. :)

Unless anyone has a better suggestion I think it is time to reload the PC back to 'factory fresh' and then start again.... ???  ???  ???
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: TPS on March 15, 2018, 10:39:37 AM
are you starting Mach3 as Admin ?
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: keithstanley on March 15, 2018, 11:15:01 AM
I haven't since I set this machine up, should that make a difference?
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: TPS on March 15, 2018, 11:59:30 AM
maybe, who knows.
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: keithstanley on March 15, 2018, 12:51:59 PM
UPDATE TIME!!!   :) :) :)

I tried running MACH3 as Administrator and sadly that didn't work either...  :(

I am happy to report that I am almost 100% certain the problem was caused by either a Microsoft Security update OR a MICROSOFT .NET update.  >:(

I was suspicious of the updates because of what was happening on the PC, it took me a while to notice it....

I always pin the icon of a program I use often on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen and for some reason the MACH3 icon had vanished when I first went to it to try to read the values , that is another question I have but I will come back to it after I solve this problem...

I looked at my updates and there were 4 updates that happened on Tuesday 13th March and that was when the problem appeared.  So I removed all 4 of them, I know I should have taken them out 1 at a time to identify the culprit but I rushed ahead and removed them all.  Now MACH3 will run without crashing but it looks a bit 'messed up' - it won't show me the Motor Tunings window so I have just removed everything and I am trying to 'clean everything up' so I can do a fresh install of MACH3, I will use the version you recommended Tweakie.

I will update later once I have reloaded MACH3. I just might be lucky enough to not have to perfomr a full machine reload  :) :) :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: keithstanley on March 15, 2018, 01:33:53 PM
OK  :) :) :) :) :)

Another update, Everything seems to be OK now except the XBOX 306 controller.  So tonight I will get that operational again.

I have set the machine to warn me about updates and not to automatically install them so I will see which 4 are the ones I deleted and then I will ask around to see if anyone else has had trouble with them.

I want to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who gave me some of their time and read these postings and made suggestions. Without all of you I would still be flondering, you advice kept me on the correct path to solving the problem so

THANK YOU ALL!!!!!  :) :) :) :)

I do however now have the question I intended to ask you all before this problem occured....

With my old ACER PC, (Sorry I thought it had been a Dell but when I checked I see I was wrong),my 'steps per unit' were X-711, Y-711 & Z-1600 and the machine ran fine and very accurately.

Now with the new PC the 'steps per unit' were X-28, Y-28 & Z-63

Does anyone have any ideas why these numbers vary so much, was I simply setting every wrong before and now that I am using the MACH3 calibration system the settings are right or should I be looking at another setting to adjust?

Perhaps a setting on the Stepper driver?

Again a big THANK YOU to you all!!!!!




Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: joeaverage on March 15, 2018, 01:50:54 PM
Hi,
the difference between the two is 711/28= 25.4

Just happens to be the conversion factor between mm and inches. What are your native units?

Craig
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: keithstanley on March 15, 2018, 02:19:23 PM
Craig, I just checked. I wanted MACH3 set to mm and it is....

So I previously must have had it set to inches even though Vcarve was set to mm, hmmmm.... Not to worry though it ran fine before.

Hopefully I will get time to run the machine tomorrow, I am busy all day already!!!!

Thanks again!!!
Title: Re: Mach3 reads in cm and not in mm in Gcode file...
Post by: TPS on March 15, 2018, 03:52:51 PM
Hi,
the difference between the two is 711/28= 25.4

Just happens to be the conversion factor between mm and inches. What are your native units?

Craig

that was brilliant. 100% onto the point