Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / what are rules for M89 variable & subroutine numbering in external subroutines

« on: March 16, 2018, 04:21:08 PM »

Do the variables that are used in an external subroutine (like #12 = 42) affect the variables that are used in the main program with the same name (like #12 = 37.5)?
I am aware that variables in the main program are public to the entire main/local module.
Will the variable #12, if used, in both the local program and the external subroutine interfere with each other? If they do, that means each subroutine must be uniquely constructed.
I am aware that things like G52 are not buffered and if incorrectly used, will return to the main program to an incorrect pointer.

Another item that I haven't completely explored yet. Will the local subroutine numbers (like O10, O11, etc) in the external program module interfere with the main program subroutine numbers of the same number? My G-Code generator reuses local subroutine numbers on each project build, and it is highly likely that creating a general purpose subroutine will have subroutine numbers that are identical to the numbers in the main program.

I could find no documentation that lays these rules out.
What are the rules here? 
Thanks,
Bill

2

Third party software and hardware support forums. / BOBCAD V23 does not run on Win 10 (Why not?)

« on: June 19, 2016, 01:38:40 PM »

Hi,
BOBCAD V23 will not run on windows 10.
Does anyone know why and what can be done to fix this problem? The problem is consistent on two win10 PCs (laptop and desktop).

The error message comes from Microsoft visual C++ Runtime library. It suggests that the program has requested the runtime to exit in an unusual way.
It also suggests that I contact BOBCad for help. As most people know, their only suggestion is to upgrade to V28.
I could use a solution that is more productive at a lower cost.
I have tried a wide variety (if not all) of the privilege and emulation modes.   I have many C++ libraries loaded (all forced in by other programs) they are C++ 2005, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, & 2015.
 Thanks,
Bill

3

VB and the development of wizards / macro embedded in Gcode regens toolpath at 0,0

« on: January 31, 2011, 10:06:19 PM »

I recently created a VB wizard/macro that I intend to call from G-code.

I get the current X,Y, & Z location from GETOEMDRO().
I pass the necessary pattern information through P, Q, & R parameters.

In the g-Code, I position the tool at the macro starting location and then call the macro with the appropriate runtime parameters in P, Q, & R.
When I load the program, the macro's toolpath result is generated on the toolpath screen at current DRO location instead of where it is supposed to be. Because I call it several times in the g-code, all of the cutouts appear to be on top of each other (not pretty).

When I run the code, it appears to cut and display at the proper location (This is good).

Is this normal?  If not, what can I do to correct it?

Thanks,
Bill

4

General Mach Discussion / no safe Z in local system rotated

« on: December 05, 2010, 10:44:02 AM »

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to take advantage of the LOCAL SYSTEM ROTATED feature as offered on the MDI screen. I rotated to 180 deg. To my surprise and to the breaking of a tool, both the STOP and GO-TO-ZERO functions did not use SAFE Z. After double checking the safe Z status, I confirmed that the Z axis did not change from its current position when using either of these functions.  After rotating back to 0.00  degrees, operation returned to normal. I did not try any other angle. 

Is this the correct operation? I am using the latest locked-down version (Mach3 R3.042.040)

Thanks, Bill

5

General Mach Discussion / tool force compensation

« on: December 01, 2010, 03:43:05 PM »

I get a different sized hole depending on the direction I cut it. Most of the problem lies in a machine designed for wood, which is being used to cut aluminum stock.

In every machine there is some slop, the machine will bend as the tool is forced through the material being cut.

Is there a way to compensate the path for the forces on the tool?

These forces will be 90 deg from the direction of the tool path. I am aware that that the actual force cannot easily be measured, but a nominal value could be assumed for a given material, rotary speed, tool feed rate, and depth of cut. In my case, these items are relatively constant, and one number, for each axis, may do the trick.  It may even be possible to pick up some of these values from the g-code settings.

I haven't ruled out backlash, but I have done a lot to minimize it.

Thanks, Bill

6

General Mach Discussion / Wanted: Position X & Y at the Center of a Hole Macro

« on: September 21, 2010, 12:45:10 AM »

I have seen a lot of talk about center finding and it all seems to boil down to finding the Z height and bug fixing... Is there a direct  posting of a working  macro, for Mach3, that will find the center of a drilled hole? I need to reliably find the center of a hole that has been drilled in a metal material for rework. The electric touch sensor can be positioned to fit in the hole without touching the sides as a starting point. Trying to read hundreds of pages of commentary with hundreds if external thread references is a bit much.

Thanks,
Bill

7

Feature Requests / Z grid to prevent work from separating from the stock

« on: July 30, 2010, 02:57:25 PM »

I would like to see a built in grid that can be set with a Z depth and grid spacing (as well as on and off).
Purpose: When cutting flat stock there is the problem of the part being cut free from the stock and it bouncing into the tool, both damaging the part and breaking the tool. This problem could be minimized by setting up a grid that the tool will not cut into as it is cutting out the part. Currently, to prevent the part from coming loose from the stock, one must stop cutting before cutting all the way through the material, and cleanup can be very difficult if the flash is too thick. One could manually program in several links between the work and the stock so that the work will not come loose and could be snapped free after the job is done. However, it is very difficult to program in such links unless very specialized software is used. However, if an internal grid existed in the CNC software, the operator would only need to set the link grid to stock thickness minus the link size as desired, and would proceed to cut the part out to full depth. The CNC software would then automatically step over the grid while cutting the part to the desired depth.

I think that the link should be some shape (perhaps half circle or ramp) that would allow for smooth tool travel while cutting over the link. By setting a grid spacing, one can control how many links will hold the work to the stock. The grid might be best centered on 0,0.     

If the link were a 45-deg ramp, the Z depth setting would determine the link size in the finished cut. If the link grid settings were controlled by G-CODE, even better.

Is something like this reasonably possible?

Thanks, Bill

8

Tangent Corner / eliminating taper on deep cuts

« on: June 23, 2010, 05:25:40 PM »

I have a CNC machine that is made out of mostly wood and will cut thin aluminum (0.1" or less) fairly accurately. I want to cut a piece of aluminum (T61) that is 1/2 inch thick. The cut is 2D and I need to use a 1/8" end mill. The problem is that if I cut clockwise (CW) around the piece, it is larger than I want, and if cut counter-clockwise (CCW), it is smaller than I want. To make things worse, the part is tapered toward the direction of the error, that is, the bottom of the part has more error than the top.

I am aware that this due to the lack of stiffness in the CNC machine design, and in part, to the flexibility of the small sized tool.  

I was wondering if I can resolve much of this error by first cutting each pass CW and then following with a CCW finish pass (same tool path same depth). It occurred to me that the CCW pass might not take out all of the error, and it may be beneficial to lower the tool a small amount into the material on the CCW pass to help hold the tool on course while it is finish cutting the part.  

Is there anyone who knows the best way to do this kind of cut with this kind of problem?

If I need to use a different tool path for the finish cut, is there an optimal finish tool path offset (% of tool diameter) for the CCW cut?

My primary goal is to get a part with a vertical side and around 0.010 tolerance on overall dimension.

Thanks, Bill

9

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / G-code equivalent to goto or jump

« on: September 25, 2008, 11:27:04 PM »

Is there a G-code command that will allow me to skip over a block of G-code? I want to be able to skip over subroutines embedded in the code (to keep things in a specific order) or code that will be used only once per job, like a setup routine. 
Thanks,
Bill

10

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / M3, M4, M5 have permanent pause and require a Cycle Start to continue

« on: October 01, 2007, 01:40:37 PM »

Hi,
I find that whenever I use M3, M5, S0, or S100 that The controller (Mill mode) pauses indefinitely or until I press the Cycle Start button again.
I found this when I tried to stop the spindle motor after moving to Z0.5000 and before moving to X0.0000 Y0.0000. I did this to use the going home time to replace the spindle spin-down delay. As a result, the program never starts or finishes without manual intervention. I tried a variety of G-Code combinations, none of which seem to get past the permanent pause. I have the spindle delays set to 1 sec (spin-up) and 0.1sec (spin-down).  This code snipet was my latest attempt:

N  6  G0 Z0.5000
N  7  G0 X0.0000  Y0.0000 M03 S100
N  8  G83 X0.7000 Y1.0000 Z-0.035 R0.01 Q0.025 F15 G99
...
N 49  (End of Program)
N 50  G40 (Cancel Compensation)
N 51  G43 (Cancel Tool Offset)
N 52  G80 (Cancel Canned Cycles) 
N 53  G00 Z0.5000 (UP)
N 54  G00 X0.0000 Y0.0000 M05 S0 (Go Home)
N 55  M30 (Rewind & Stop Spindle)

Any Ideas?

Bill