Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: MarkC on March 09, 2008, 03:37:21 PM

Title: upgrade problems
Post by: MarkC on March 09, 2008, 03:37:21 PM
I realized yesterday that I hadn't upgraded to the lasest release lockdown, so I downloaded it and applied it to my mill; this is where the fun starts. I had I believe V2.40 previously.
Even though I saved my XML file and reapplied it when I started having problems, I'm still having problems. Somehow an index value of 3000 was applied and the RPMs were way off. It took a couple of hours to find this and correct.
Now my problem is with the tool change. I don't have a tool changer so what I do is: Let the program call for a tool change, bring down the Z and touch off the tool and save tool offset. Then I move the Z up 2" or so, then single block as program moves x & y, starts spindle then moves Z down while applying the offset. It's worked for me for a couple of years. Now, I touch off and save offset, then it goes back to the X&Y where I moved it from and the Z goes to where I set the offset. What has changed?
Enclosed is the screen dump of the config page and my XML file
Title: Re: upgrade problems
Post by: jimpinder on March 10, 2008, 08:54:48 AM
You should have a look at the video tutorials.  There is one on scripting, which covers the writing of simple Vis Basic programs, and the one covered is specifically for tool changing.

Basically - depending if you have your tool table up to date, you can for an M6 call, move the axis to a suitable place to change the tool, change the tool, and then have it automatically return to the job and carry on. All offsets are taken up automatically.

I have only come to Mach3 recently, but I think in this latest lockdown, quite a few on the configurations have changed, to make them more flexible, but probably the are also more complicated to get running.
Title: Re: upgrade problems
Post by: MarkC on March 10, 2008, 04:08:25 PM
Thanks for the reply,
I'll look at the tutorials when I get home tonight, but I'm not sure that can take care of my problem.
Everything would be good as is, but I have to load the tool and touch off at each tool change. I don't have a system like the Tormach tool system that locates each tool accurately each time it's loaded.
I'll look at the scripting for the M6 and see whats there, but basically I just want it to update tool and not return to the previous position if I move it. As an aside, even if I start the program over, it still wants to return to where it was before I moved it.

Mark
Title: Re: upgrade problems
Post by: jimpinder on March 10, 2008, 04:43:33 PM
Mark - Just a quick look at your config screen, the axis want to be unticked for linear work - you are showing them ticked which is angular. That, in itself, should not make any difference, because I understand the only thing it alters is changing from inches to mms (angular doesn't change)

I cannot speak for Mach 2, I never ran it.

I am at a bit of a loss at your system. The way I mill is my X0 Y0 are at the bottom left hand corner of the table. My Z0 is with the tool tip touching the top of the work. I set all to zero and away I go.

If you are manually changing the tool, then I would ignore M6 and halt the program with command M1. Mach 3 will then allow you to jog from where ever you are to where ever you want to change the tool - and the DRO's will keep track of the movement

If you then change the tool, and touch the new tool onto the top of the work - set the Z axis to 0 again. Then lift it and move it to where ever you want to carry on, which can be where you left off, or somewhere completely new. You can either jog to a new position, or enter codes manually. Press cycle start and the program will continue.

The one thing you have to do is put in the M1 commands, otherwise Mach3 does not always start from where you think it will. Apparently - and I have no rule of logic for this, it sometimes steps back to find a place to start from - I don't know why.

Hope this helps.







Title: Re: upgrade problems
Post by: MarkC on March 10, 2008, 11:39:32 PM
Well, I got it to work without a lot of sweat. I did some looking around on this forum at lunch today at work and here's what I found will work in case anyone else has this problem.
I changed the tool change to Auto Tool Changer. Apparently this changes  the tool DRO to the commanded tool and nothing else. No movement even when the axes are moved away. This is what I wanted. After the M6 I have an M01. Then I touch off and set offset. Move Z up to a safe place and press Cycle Start. All is good
Also, not sure if this had anything to do with this, is I added a G43 to the initialization string.
The angular designation is probably better called "rotary" axes; A B and C rotate around the X Y & Z axes in the Fanuc world, which is where I reside, I'm a programmer by day.
Thank you for your ideas

Mark