Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Sheldon Dingwall on August 29, 2008, 12:25:20 PM
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I'm having some intermittent problems with my Dual Z setup.
The heads always swap when commanded, but the offsets don't. Sometimes Z1 will start routing using the Z2 XY offsets and vice versa.
Some files are worse than others. Some files run flawlessly. I'm assuming it is a problem with the Custom XML file that came with the controller, but I have no way of knowing.
The controller is an Ascension Revision 4. The company is no longer in business.
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Not familiar with these machines at all, can you post a few pics, the xml and maybe some code that you have that works and doesnt work.
Hood
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Thanks Hood,
The Machine is a Shopbot PRT Gantry style router. The Ascension is a controller using a Jim Cullins designed board with 5 G202s (2/X, 1/Y, 1/Z1, 1/Z2).
I'll have to run some more files to figure out which ones are solid and which ones are buggy.
For now, here's the xml file. Hopefully the problem lies there.
The commands for swapping heads are M101 (Z), M102 (Z2). The commands for turning the heads on are M7 (Z1), M8 (Z2), M9 (off). I don't see those in the xml file, but have no understanding of this system.
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Sheldon, post some code your haveing trouble with. Notes at points it gives trouble would be nice as well.
Brett
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This is the last file I ran that was making me nuts.
It starts with a Z2 move. Consistently it would start routing using the Z1 offsets.
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Sheldon, also look in the macro folder then in your profiles folder and attache the M101, M102, M7,8 and 9
Hood
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Thanks Hood. The M7, 8 & 9 are just output triggers. They are working fine.
Here's the M101, 102 macros.
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Sheldon
will also need your screenset :)
Hood
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We're getting close, I can feel it ;) Thanks for the help with this.
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Well I have run this quite a few times and so far its swapped the XY offsets each time. What version Mach are you running, I will load that and see if I can repeat your problems. Its after midnight here so it will probably be tomorrow before I try again, if I dont respond bump the thread to jog my memory ;)
Hood
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Have run again this evening about 20 or so times and each time the X and Y offsets change. What version of Mach are you running?
Hood
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I'm a little embarrassed. My manual said version 1.84, but when I hovered my pointer over the Mach 3 file it said Version 1.0.0.1. I installed Version 2.63 yesterday and will be running some dual Z files today. I'll post the results.
On the plus side, I've been holding off upgrading due to still being a bit overwhelmed with the new system. Not having a step by step upgrade guide had me a little apprehensive, but the upgrade process went smooth as silk.
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The easiest way to see what version you are running just go to the Help menu in Mach and then the About Mach3 CNC Control, a window will pop up with the revision and whether you are licenced or a demo.
Hood
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More ruined parts today. The problem seems to come and go.
What I noticed today is that if there's going to be a problem, it happens when Mach first loads the part file and runs through the code. Randomly it will not switch completely back to the main Z head even though there was an M101 command at the end of the file. I've tried inserting pauses in case it's a timing issue, but no luck.
Here's a small file for verifying center. It's working fine now, but when I first used it today, I had a Z swapping issue and crashed into the part. Re-set everything, tried an air cut and it worked fine, mounted a part and had another crash. >:(
M101
G0 X0Y0
M102
M8
N10 G00 X117.839 Y10.975 Z45.000
N11 X117.839 Y10.975 Z38.000
N12 X117.839 Y10.975 Z114.000
M9
M101
G0 X-700