Machsupport Forum
Support => Downloads => Post Processors => Topic started by: Tweakie.CNC on May 13, 2019, 05:25:00 AM
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Here is the link to the Fusion 360 Post Processors for :-
Mach3 Waterjet / Plasma
Mach3 Mill
Mach3 Turn
Mach4 Mill
https://cam.autodesk.com/hsmposts
EDIT; Thanks to Chuck767 a modified Fusion 360 Post Processor intended for Laser use is available here; https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=41087.msg269709#msg269709
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Tweakie
FYI
This is the error message I got When I tried to do a laser cut Using the plasma Postprocessor
Error: The CNC does not support the required tool/process. Only plasma cutting is supported.
Error at line : 281
Error in operation: 'circle'
chuck
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Thanks for the info Chuck.
Tweakie.
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Here is the link to the Fusion 360 Post Processors for :-
Mach3 Waterjet / Plasma
Mach3 Mill
Mach3 Turn
Mach4 Mill
https://cam.autodesk.com/hsmposts
EDIT; Thanks to Chuck767 a modified Fusion 360 Post Processor intended for Laser use is available here; https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=41087.msg269709#msg269709
this might be old, but I'm stumbling through the learning curve- the mach 4 mill post processor doesnt support laser toolpaths, at least according to the error code I keep getting in Fusion. there doesnt appear to be a laser compatable mach 4 post processor in existence, should I be using the "laser compatable" mach 3 post you linked here ? with all the updates fusion has done since your post here, is that processor still valid?
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Seth at liberty machine wrote the MACH3 laser post processor.
Since the M codes are different for laser on and off in MACH4, those changes would need to be reflected in the post processor.
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Seth at liberty machine wrote the MACH3 laser post processor.
Since the M codes are different for laser on and off in MACH4, those changes would need to be reflected in the post processor.
not sure what that means, sorry. you're saying I can take the mach 3 laser file you made and edit it? or are you saying there is a mach 4 laser post processer out there that I'm not seeing? autodesk's processor files only show mach 4 milling, and that post file has no text within it regarding lasers, and will not post the toolpath in fusion when I try and post it.
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MACH 4 uses M 62P1 and M 63P1 for laser control. MACH3 uses M 10 P1 and M 11 P1.
Within the post processor these need to be changed by somebody that’s familiar with the post processor language.
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But... that's why I'm here... I have no clue how to do this stuff. You're saying mach 4 does the laser on / off, but there is no post processor that can translate fusion's laser on / off toolpath commands to M62p1 and 63? so I'd have to either take the working mach 3 one and change the processor to spit out those codes, or find someone who can alter the mach 4 processor from scratch?
This seems like an AutoDesk failure. but I'm also confused cause I CANT be the only guy out there trying to get a diode laser working on a router style CNC using mach 4 and an ethernet smooth stepper... someone is getting this done. somehow.
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Contact fusion 360 and see if they will do it.
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As a temporary ‘workaround’ until you get a post processor sorted, it is no real problem to use Notepad ‘Find and Replace’ function to automatically change every M11P1 to M62P1 and then every M10P1 to M63P1 (or whatever P#) to convert a Mach3 laser Gcode to a Mach4 laser Gcode.
Tweakie.
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As a temporary ‘workaround’ until you get a post processor sorted, it is no real problem to use Notepad ‘Find and Replace’ function to automatically change every M11P1 to M62P1 and then every M10P1 to M63P1 (or whatever P#) to convert a Mach3 laser Gcode to a Mach4 laser Gcode.
Tweakie.
I've changed my fusion post processor to the "mach 3 laser" one that was posted here, and managed to get fusion to spit out G code. first issue was it kicking me an error saying that UCCNC needs me to put "compensation in computer not in controller..." for something. I'm using an ethernet smooth stepper so... eh? the post was clearly made for UCCNC.
I got it to spit out a simple circle and square g code, and did like you said, find / replace the m11 to m62 commands and m10 to m63. that at least made it able to move and perform the toolpath, but the laser will not fire. I have a manual 5v button I have wired and confirmed that I can force the laser to fire, and I also have it set up in mach 4 with the laser screen- if I hit the TEST LASER button, I can make Mach fire it from that screen. I can also fire the laser in mach if I reassign it to something like a coolant pin output or something... anyways, mach can fire it, and I'm SO CLOSE. but I can't seem to get the g code to fire it. any ideas? M62 and m63 isnt doing anything when I run it.
thank you
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Perhaps re-trace your steps…
Go through the ESS laser set-up details here; https://www.warp9td.com/index.php/faq/faq-mach4#LaserSetup
And carefully check that you have completed each step correctly.
My original ESS / Mach4 laser test file is ‘Star Trek.tap’ located in the .zip file here; https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=18345.0
Run this Gcode and if you have set everything up according to the ESS set-up details then your laser will fire correctly.
Hope this helps.
Tweakie.
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I have edited the mach4laser.cps file to automatically enable, fire, and set the power of the laser. All of my changes to the file have comments.
You set the power of the laser (and feedrates) in the Cutting Data section of a Laser cutter tool. Create a tool for your laser and add Cutting Data for each material and thickness. The post processor uses the Cut power field (as a percent) to set the power of the laser. So, 100 is full power.
The processor sets the laser frequency to 5000 since that is what my laser needed. If you need a different frequency, search for "LASER_VECTOR_FREQUENCY=" and change the value as needed.
To-Dos:
I would eventually like it to automatically set the laser head height above the stock based on the tool Cut Height setting, but I was able to get my projects complete by manually setting the Z height.
I would also like be able to manually change the power in the 2D Profile operation, the way you can change the feedrate. But I haven't figured out how to do that yet.
It also does not do anything to turn on or off air assist. I have a separate power switch for my laser that also triggers my air assist solenoid.
It would also be nice to be able to set the number of passes necessary in the Cutting Data. Currently, I just run my file again if I need multiple passes.