Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: skartalov on September 27, 2008, 02:34:02 AM
-
Hi,
I have tired to manually find the zero point, when I change the tool on the spindle of my CNC Mill.
What I need is: when MACH3 stops and say CHANGE THE TOOL, I will put the new tool, but insted to continue the work, I want MACH3 to go to specific position over tool touch probe, then to lower slowly and when the tool touches the probe, to set Z=0, than to go back and continue the job.
Can some one help me please with this MACRO?
Any ideas of how the touch probe must be made, will also be appresiated! :-)
Thanks guys!
-
Here's a pretty thorough explanation.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36099
-
The probe function on Mach 3 is fairly straight forward.
The tool is earthed, and when the function is called, the Z axis moves down until the tool contacts a pad, (connected to the "probe" input) and then it stops.
Tool change facility, and the system for writing scripts to control it is subject of a video - see "scripting" . This shows you how to write your own script to make the tool do what you want when you call a tool change.
What you clearly need is to write a script that moves the tool to a position for you to change it, then wait til you change, then move to the pad and drop the tool to get a reading, then change the DRO to a set figure, and move back to where you were.
It sounds a lot, but when you get into it , it is relatively simple. The problem is that everybody 's tool change is different so it is a problem to write one to suit all.
-
For myself, I built a touch probe for my tool setter. It is in a fixed position beside the table. My macro ask Mach3 to go to that specific position and automatically measure the tool height. If I need 4 tools to do my job, I measure them all before beginning the work. When Mach3 ask for a tool change, I simply manually change the tool and hit cycle start. Tool number in the program must match the ones you have in the tool offset table in Mach3. Work great for me.
Jeff
-
Here's a pretty thorough explanation.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36099
That really helps a lot. I ran that script, and it works, exept I need MACH3 to WAIT for me to change the tool until I hit button ALT-S to go on. I am into trouble making MACH3 to WAIT. Not sure exactly how.
Thanks.
-
Normally, if your program include a tool change, Mach3 will stop and the led beside tool change in the program Run screen will be yellow flashing. It will be on until you hit Cycle Start to continue your program.
Your program must include a M6 T(number of the tool)
-
Here's a pretty thorough explanation.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36099
Go to Config->General Config. Near the top-left is a box labelled "Tool Change". Check "Stop Spindle, Wait For Cycle Start".
That really helps a lot. I ran that script, and it works, exept I need MACH3 to WAIT for me to change the tool until I hit button ALT-S to go on. I am into trouble making MACH3 to WAIT. Not sure exactly how.
Thanks.
-
Yes, i know that, but MACH3 will wait After the macro has executed, which is not correct, because I need the program to wait Before make the measurement of the tool heigh, so wait cycle must be included in the body of the script.
I have tried something like this:
while DoOemButton(1000)=1
wend
Where 1000 is OEM code for start button (ALT-S), but unfortunatelly this doesn't work!
Normally, if your program include a tool change, Mach3 will stop and the led beside tool change in the program Run screen will be yellow flashing. It will be on until you hit Cycle Start to continue your program.
Your program must include a M6 T(number of the tool)
-
Why not change tools FIRST, then call the auto zero macro?
-
I dont know if this might be of any help but what I do so set my tools is I just use one tool as my tool setter that tool will always touch the work piece and of that tool I set my other tools I just add some drill stops that way when my program says tool change all I do is tell it to go to a certain height take that tool of then just put the next tool in and press start and it works fine.
-
Josh,
Have you measured the repeatability of the tool positioning doing it that way?
Regards,
Ray L.
-
hey ray
dont know what you mean by(measured the repeatability) but the way I do my part is basically I use one tool to set my X,Y, AND Z and that tool sets all my other tools
thats because I set them all up to the same Z as my first tool setter, (first tool) and basically when I run my program and I use multiple tools it works very acurate , but I must say I never move or losen the drills stops they are set pemanatly. even though I can readjust them if I had to.
-
Josh,
Nice setup but I think Ray is asking about how precise in repeatability we're talinkg here. Plus or minus ? tolerance ?
Thanks for sharing- :)
Dave
-
hey fellos sorry for not understanding the question to good I am just a newbe
but as far as a can tell on the tolerance as long as I set all the tools to the same hight with the drill stop attached. and also when you are doing a tool change and you are taking one tool off then mounting the other tool on just make sure theres no burrs and the next tool is but it up against the collet holder. the tollerance is pretty precise I would say plus minus .001 to .002 .
the reason I decided to go with the drill stops was because it was the cheapest way and fastess way to do a tool change and also all the drills would be set to the exact height
where I dont have to do a tool hieght offset every time I would run a program.
hope that helped.
-
Hello Newbie here, I have been using Mach3 for only about 6 months and find it user friendly for my purposes. But I would like to know more about the zero touch probe. I want to set one up on my machine but cannot find any information in them. I would like to zero after tool changes without manually adjusting the z axis. Can anyone lead me in the right direction for a touch probe? Thanks in advance for any help.
-
Hi there and welcome :)
Here's an excellent thread about just this very subject- ;)
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?p=436904
Dave
-
Thanks for the good information and quick response. This will come in handy, and a time saver for me.
Thanks Again,
Mike
-
:)
-
I hope this is in the right thread, but I was wondering about the CV settings in Mach. What would be the best settings, I am running a 3 axis Xylotex system on a home built machine. Also how far should the "read ahead" should be set? Thanks to all in advance.
Thanks,
Mike
-
Mike, there is a great post in the members docs board on CV settings.
Brett
-
Trying to install mach 3 screenset {manual}. when I start the auto zero z moves down hits the plate and goes in emergency stop. I have to up plug my plate and ground and reset ?
where do I start looking
Thanks I