Messages

1

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Tool Crib use in Mach 3 and Cam for drill bits

« on: October 19, 2015, 08:22:40 AM »

That makes sense. I believe I was obsessing over the tool holders more so than the tools in trying to use one tool holder for all the drills for a job. As you have described I can use one holder for each drill and just worry about the individual drills being designated by tool number.
Thanks

Greg

2

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Tool Crib use in Mach 3 and Cam for drill bits

« on: October 18, 2015, 02:45:43 PM »

I have  questions about the best way to use the tool cribs in Mach 3 and my CAM program when using several different sized drill bits in a G-Code program.
  Originally I thought that I would use the same tool number, T11, for any drill bit and then, because I use automatic measurement of each tool in a non repeatable holder, NRH, provided for in MSM, it would give me the correct TLO each time even though the tool number is the same.  However, the program needs to know the diameter of the bit and this is held in the Mach 3 table for T11 and that is not measured by the MSM Auto Tool measurement. So I don't see any way to address the drill bit change issue except to create a separate tool # in Mach 3 and the Cam tool crib for each drill that I use in machining.  With all the different drill bits this seems like an awful lot of work and source for errors.

Bottom line question:  does any one have a better suggestion as to how to manage drill bit changes in Mach 3 Cribs and with Cam Cribs?

Thanks,
Greg

3

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: tool library Mach3 vs CAM

« on: October 18, 2015, 02:40:32 PM »

I have had similar questions about this as well and this series of explanations has helped me understand better exactly what is going on.  however, I am wondering what is a good way to handle drill bits in a tool crib in either the CAM crib or Mach 3 Crib?  Originally I thought that I would use the same tool number, T11, for any drill bit and then, because I use automatic measurement of each tool in a non repeatable holder, NRH, provided for in MSM, it would give me the correct TLO each time even though the tool number is the same.  However, the program needs to know the diameter of the bit and then is held in the Mach 3 table for T11 and that is not measured by the MSM Auto Tool measurement. So I don't see any way to address the drill bit change issue except to create a separate tool # in Mach 3 and the Cam tool crib for each drill that I use in machining.

Bottom line question:  does any one have a better suggestion as to how to manage drill bit changes in Mach 3 Cribs and with Cam Cribs?

Thanks,
Greg

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool offsets being turned off when programs run

« on: July 28, 2015, 10:02:58 PM »

I tried setting the z offset in the way described and running the program.  The result I got this time when I ran the program was that when program got to line 08 the z axis drove all the way up to the z homing switch and tripped it and stopped.  I still have the abnormal yellow light and I have checked the settings for the switches and they are all set correctly.  So I am at a loss. 

Is there any service that you know of that could go through my setup on the phone for a fee?  I really don't know where to go from here.

Greg

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool offsets being turned off when programs run

« on: July 27, 2015, 08:13:52 PM »

Haven't had a chance to try your suggestion yet TP as I had a wire break on a homing switch and got tied up fixing that and making sure everything homed properly.  I have a new problem as well.  I now have a yellow abnormal light that comes on in the Program Run Screen when the z axis home switch is triggered when homing.  The light goes from green "Normal" to yellow "abnormal" when the z switch is hit.  The homing all proceeds correctly with all axis zeroed.  The pop out window that appears when I cursor over the yellow abnormal light says "Axis not refer to normal condition". When I switch to the MDI screen and select "de-ref all axis" the yellow abnormal light turns to green and says normal.  

Any one have any idea why thi is occurring?

Thanks
Greg

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool offsets being turned off when programs run

« on: July 27, 2015, 03:20:49 PM »

I'll go out. Right now and give that a try.  Can you explain to me why after following the method I have outlined, that I can put a new tool in the spindle, insert its tool number and the new tool will go to the zeroed corner using the new tool offset numbers?

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool offsets being turned off when programs run

« on: July 27, 2015, 12:39:12 PM »

Here is a copy of a very simple hockey puck program which crashes as described in my posts above .  In other words tool offsets get turned off somehow.

(BEGIN PREDATOR NC HEADER)
(MACH_FILE=HAAS - 3XVMILL.MCH)
(MTOOL T1 S1 D.375 C0. A0. H4.)
(SBOX X0. Y0. Z-1.15 L3.48 W3.068 H1.15)
(END PREDATOR NC HEADER)

%
O100
(PROGRAM NUMBER)
(PROGRAM NAME - TEST PART 1 CAD.NC)
(POST -  MACH 3 MILL NO ATC)
(DATE - MON. 07/27/2015)
(TIME - 12:27PM)

N01 G20 G40 G49 G54 G80 G90 G91.1
;N02 G53 Z0.

(Machine Setup - 1  Profile Rough)
(FEATURE 2 AXIS)

;N03 T1 M6
N04 S5174 M03
N05 G00 G90 G54 X3.0675 Y1.534
;N06 G43 H1 Z1. M08
N07 Z.2
N08 Z.1
N09 G01 Z-.25 F59.5061
N10 G17 G03 X.4125 Y1.534 I-1.3275 J0. F119.0122
N11 X3.0675 Y1.534 I1.3275 J0.
N12 G00 Z.2
N13 Z-.15
N14 G01 Z-.5 F59.5061
N15 G03 X.4125 Y1.534 I-1.3275 J0. F119.0122
N16 X3.0675 Y1.534 I1.3275 J0.
N17 G00 Z.2
N18 Z1.

(Machine Setup - 1  Profile Finish)
(FEATURE 2 AXIS)

N19 S5174
N20 X3.3025 Y1.534
N21 Z.2
N22 Z.1
N23 G01 Z-.25 F29.7531
N24 Y1.284 F59.5061
N25 G02 X3.0525 Y1.534 I0. J.25
N26 G03 X.4275 Y1.534 I-1.3125 J0.
N27 X3.0525 Y1.534 I1.3125 J0.
N28 X3.0515 Y1.584 I-1.3125 J0.
N29 G02 X3.2918 Y1.8433 I.2498 J.0095
N30 G01 X3.3014 Y1.5935
N31 G00 Z.2
N32 X3.3025 Y1.534
N33 Z-.15
N34 G01 Z-.5 F29.7531
N35 Y1.284 F59.5061
N36 G02 X3.0525 Y1.534 I0. J.25
N37 G03 X.4275 Y1.534 I-1.3125 J0.
N38 X3.0525 Y1.534 I1.3125 J0.
N39 X3.0515 Y1.584 I-1.3125 J0.
N40 G02 X3.2918 Y1.8433 I.2498 J.0095
N41 G01 X3.3014 Y1.5935
N42 G00 Z.2
N43 Z1.
N44 M09
N45 M05
;N46 G53 Z0.
;N47 G53 Y0.
N48 M30

(END OF PROGRAM)
%

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool offsets being turned off when programs run

« on: July 27, 2015, 12:11:28 PM »

Thank you for your response.  The mill is fitted with a Tormach Tool System and I use the 3d probe as tool 99 to Zero x,y and z of the material corner.  Tool 99 is set in the table with height measurements taken from a vertical measurement scale on a granite block with a hole in it so the tool holder registers on the granite in the same plane as does the TTS spindle.  I use that same method to measure all the tools that are in the tool table.  So I would think that the machine now knows exactly where each tool is in relation to the material since tool 99 (the probe) was used to zero the material and establish the zeroed corner as work offset 1.  So it seems like all the information is ther for the machine to use to account for the proper tool offset for the tool selected.  By the way it all works properly going to zero for the work offset  1 when changing tools and inserting the tool number manually into the DRO.
I will send a copy of a program that I have tried to run that seems to be canceling work offsets entirely.  However as stated before, the folks at BobCad say the code is fine and that it must be something in Mach causing this.

Thanks for you help

Greg

9

General Mach Discussion / Tool offsets being turned off when programs run

« on: July 27, 2015, 08:35:05 AM »

I am running Mach 3 on a CNC converted Precision Matthews PM-30 mill.  Only have three tools set up in tool table so pretty simple.  I use a 3D probe to establish work offset of material for G54. I home the machine, then establish the work offset for the material with the 3d probe I save that work offset and the to insure the G54 offset works I jog the x,y and axis to other locations and the click "go to zero" and the machine goes right to the corner of the material.  To further insure correct operation I change from the probe tool of 99 to tool 1 from my tool table, a .375 EM that is about 3.25 shorter than the probe from a length offset standpoint.  I enter the tool and insure that it has taken in the window when I hit enter.  Now I check to make sure the tool offset is working with the work offset by clicking on "go to zero" again.  Machine takes the tool to exactly where it should be at the zeroed corner of the material.  So this all tells me that I have tools set up correctly in tool table and that my probe and use of it are working correctly. 

My problem is when I run a simple program ( wizard or BobCad/cam created) that involves a tool change, the system ( either the code or Mach3) is turning off tool offset entirely.  What this looks like is when a z move is commanded the machine acts like it is going to the max z position.  When I look at Mach screen, tool offset button has been turned off by something.

I have discussed the issue with BobCad support and they have looked at the code produced from their program and say that it is not happening from their code.  I sent a copy of that program with a previous post on thi same forum. 

I have looked at my Mach settings but cannot figure out why this us happening.  By the way I am using the Mach post processor w/o act.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Greg

10

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: July 27, 2015, 08:06:49 AM »

Thank you for your response Tweakie.  I will do as you have suggested and post on the General Section as a new topic. Thanks

Greg