Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / Problems with G52 or fixture offsets, narrowed it down to this code.

« on: October 08, 2009, 12:52:59 AM »

Well I kept cutting my code down from 1300 lines to what I have shown here.  There is a problem somewhere (maybe a bug within Mach3?).  When I load this, my toolpath shown in the window shows two large sweeping arcs for parts 3 & 4.  Anything after the use of a G52 (I also tried it using fixture offsets G55, G56 etc.) causes it.  What am I doing wrong?

G0 G49 G40.1 G17
G80 G50 G90 G98 
G20 (Inch)

(***** Remove material before cutting threads part 1 *****)
(***** Reset Z zero at this time *****)
M6 T1
M03 S4000
M9
G00G43 H1 Z0.1
G00 X1.125 Y0
G41 P0.25
G01 X0.432 F15
G02 X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.025 F24
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.05
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432
X0.432 Y0 R0.432
G00 Z0.1
G40

(***** Remove material before cutting threads part 2*****)
G00 Z0.1
G00 X4.125 Y0
G41 P0.25
G01 X3.432 F15
G02 X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.025 F24
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.05
X2.568 Y0 R0.432
X3.432 Y0 R0.432
G00 Z0.1
G40

G52 X3

(***** Remove material before cutting threads part 3 *****)

G00G43 H1 Z0.1
G00 X6.125 Y0
G41 P0.25
G01 X5.432 F15
G02 X4.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.025 F24
X5.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.05
X4.568 Y0 R0.432
X5.432 Y0 R0.432
G00 Z0.1
G40

(***** Remove material before cutting threads part 4 *****)
G00 Z0.1
G00 X9.125 Y0
G41 P0.25
G01 X8.432 F15
G02 X7.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.025 F24
X8.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.05
X7.568 Y0 R0.432
X8.432 Y0 R0.432
G00 Z0.1
G40
G52 X0

M5 M9
M30

2

General Mach Discussion / Homing direction (can you change it)?

« on: October 07, 2009, 05:01:03 AM »

I never set up the homing on my mill since once I mounted a vice on the table, it would crash the back of the vise into the machine if it tried to home it.  Been manually setting it up ever time I turn on the machine.  That's getting old and I'm doing alot of the same parts over and over.

Can I change the setup so when I try to home the machine it sends the table towards me (in the negative Y direction)?  X and Z homing isn't a problem.

Or do I need to modify my limit switch?

Thanks

3

General Mach Discussion / G52 use and problems with toolpath on subsequent parts

« on: October 06, 2009, 06:41:41 AM »

I originally had my programs written to do 2 parts at a time.  Well, I bought two more vises so now I can do 6 parts at a time.  When I was modifying my programs I decided to use the G52 command so I could reuse the same gcode for parts 3 & 4 on Vise 2 and for parts 5 & 6 on vise 3.

Toolpath view on Mach 3 shows big arcs on parts 3 thru 6 that don't belong there and the machine will "sometimes" try to follow them.  However if you step thru the program the trace on the screen is fine.

Machine is in Absolute IJ mode and I don't see why it would get changed.  Is there an issue within Mach when using the G52 command?  Maybe someone can tell me whats wrong in my code possibly?  The problem seems to occur around the G03 command...

(***** Remove material before cutting threads part 1 *****)
(***** Reset Z zero at this time *****)
M6 T1
M03 S4000
M9
G00G43 H1 Z0.1
G00 X1.182 Y0.375
G41 P0.25
G01 X0.807 F5
G03 X0.432 Y0 R0.375 F5
G4 P0.5
G02 X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.025 F24
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.05
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.075
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.1
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.125
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.15
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.175
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.2
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.225
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.25
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.275
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.3
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.325
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.35
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.375
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.4
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.425
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.45
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.475
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.5
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.525
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.55
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.575
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.6
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.625
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.65
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.6625
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.675
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432
X0.432 Y0 R0.432
G00 Z0.1
G40

(***** Remove material before cutting threads part 2*****)
G00 Z0.1
G00 X4.182 Y0.375
G41 P0.25
G01 X3.807 F5
G03 X3.432 Y0 R0.375 F5
G4 P0.5
G02 X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.025 F24
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.05
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.075
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.1
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.125
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.15
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.175
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.2
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.225
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.25
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.275
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.3
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.325
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.35
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.375
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.4
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.425
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.45
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.475
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.5
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.525
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.55
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.575
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.6
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.625
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.65
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.6625
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.675
X2.568 Y0 R0.432
X3.432 Y0 R0.432
G00 Z0.1
G40

G52 X9.388

(***** Remove material before cutting threads part 3 *****)

G00G43 H1 Z0.1
G00 X1.182 Y0.375
G41 P0.25
G01 X0.807 F5
G03 X0.432 Y0 R0.375 F5
G4 P0.5
G02 X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.025 F24
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.05
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.075
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.1
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.125
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.15
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.175
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.2
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.225
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.25
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.275
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.3
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.325
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.35
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.375
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.4
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.425
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.45
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.475
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.5
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.525
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.55
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.575
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.6
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.625
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.65
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.6625
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.675
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432
X0.432 Y0 R0.432
G00 Z0.1
G40

(***** Remove material before cutting threads part 4*****)
G00 Z0.1
G00 X4.182 Y0.375
G41 P0.25
G01 X3.807 F5
G03 X3.432 Y0 R0.375 F5
G4 P0.5
G02 X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.025 F24
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.05
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.075
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.1
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.125
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.15
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.175
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.2
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.225
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.25
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.275
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.3
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.325
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.35
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.375
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.4
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.425
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.45
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.475
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.5
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.525
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.55
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.575
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.6
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.625
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.65
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.6625
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.675
X2.568 Y0 R0.432
X3.432 Y0 R0.432
G00 Z0.1
G40

G52 X18.27

(***** Remove material before cutting threads part 5 *****)
G00G43 H1 Z0.1
G00 X1.182 Y0.375
G41 P0.25
G01 X0.807 F5
G03 X0.432 Y0 R0.375 F5
G4 P0.5
G02 X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.025 F24
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.05
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.075
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.1
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.125
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.15
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.175
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.2
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.225
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.25
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.275
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.3
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.325
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.35
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.375
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.4
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.425
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.45
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.475
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.5
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.525
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.55
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.575
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.6
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.625
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.65
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.6625
X0.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.675
X-0.432 Y0 R0.432
X0.432 Y0 R0.432
G00 Z0.1
G40

(***** Remove material before cutting threads part 6 *****)
G00 Z0.1
G00 X4.182 Y0.375
G41 P0.25
G01 X3.807 F5
G03 X3.432 Y0 R0.375 F5
G4 P0.5
G02 X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.025 F24
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.05
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.075
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.1
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.125
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.15
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.175
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.2
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.225
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.25
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.275
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.3
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.325
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.35
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.375
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.4
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.425
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.45
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.475
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.5
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.525
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.55
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.575
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.6
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.625
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.65
X2.568 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.6625
X3.432 Y0 R0.432 Z-0.675
X2.568 Y0 R0.432
X3.432 Y0 R0.432
G00 Z0.1
G40

G52 X0

G00 X-2 Y0

4

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Tool pauses at X axis while cutting circles or threading?

« on: May 23, 2009, 11:52:27 AM »

While cutting a circle (0.86" diameter, 1" deep, spiraling downward toolpath) the tool moves along great except it pauses very briefly each time it crosses the X axis.  Why does it do this?  It does the same thing when I am cutting external threads on the same part.

I'm using the NFS wizards to create the toolpaths (2.83 I think) and version 3.042 of Mach 3.

5

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Cut circle wizard always cuts the exact diameter (not accounting for tool dia)

« on: May 22, 2009, 06:21:40 PM »

Not sure what is going on?  I upgraded to the latest version 2.83 (from 2.79) and tried it again.  Same results.

Trying to cut a circle 1.08" diameter with a 0.5" tool at X=0 Y=0 (center of work piece is already drilled out).  Regardless of whether I select inside or outside the tool path always runs thru x=0.54 and x=-0.54 (like it thinks the tool has a diameter of zero)?  What's going on?

6

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / G73 retract amount vs. Mach configuration for G73 pullback

« on: May 13, 2009, 11:06:46 AM »

What takes precedence? 

Using the NFS wizards for drilling some holes, it didn't seem to matter what R value I entered, it always wanted to retract 0.1".  Do I need to go the the "Mill Options" and "General Options" and adjust this value to change what Mach 3 is going to use?

7

General Mach Discussion / very simple manual tool change question

« on: May 13, 2009, 10:55:41 AM »

I'm using the NFS wizards to create some parts and have about 9 different wizard gcodes output into the same file.  This includes using three different tools.  Currently, I have it setup to ignore tool changes (because I didn't know any better), however once I change this to "Stop spindle, wait for Cyclestart", I would like to also move the tool away from the work piece so I can physically change it.  I don't mind manually placing the code into each file as needed.  What all do I need to include?


M6 (tool change) - should stop the spindle?
G0 Z1.0 (Raise it up)
G0 X6 Y0 (move the tool to the right of the work piece)
(Perform the tool change here)
(Press cycle start at this point and it should start the spindle again and begin the next section of Gcode)

My X, Y, and Z values would be different for each piece I'm working on.

8

General Mach Discussion / Toolpath screen in Mach3 is upside down?

« on: May 11, 2009, 09:25:50 AM »

I figure this is probably something really easy I can't find...

My toolpath view in Mach3 is always upside down?  If I am surfacing a material in three passes, it shows the bottom cut first, then the middle, then the top (as shown in the toolpath view), however on the part it is obviously cutting from the top down.  What am I missing?

Thanks

9

General Mach Discussion / Need some help with new build... Reset Gecko G320 fault causes Y axis to move?

« on: April 03, 2009, 11:55:54 AM »

Finally finished up my wiring last night, or early this morning actually.  Using a smooth stepper with a PMDX-122 on port 1 and a rogersmachine encoder board on port 2.  Can't get the outputs to work on the rogersmachine board, but that is a topic for another thread.

Using G320's to drive the servo's.  I just hooked up the encoders on the servo's and powered them up for the first time last night.  I don't have an oscilloscope for setup of the G320's, is it really required?  I powered it all up and the Gecko's were all faulted like normal when they first power up.  I reset my E-stop switch (actual switch) then pressed my Gecko reset button to clear the power up fault.  The manual says to hold it for 5 secs, at about second number 2, the Y axis ran inwards until my Vise contacted the machine and a fuse blew.  

Not sure why it would do this?  I haven't started to setup the motor tuning or made any adjustments on the Gecko's yet.  I thought I had to have it powered in order to do that.  

I was able to replace the fuse and try it again.  It is repeatable.  Once I reset the Gecko's, the Y axis moves quickly and I can Push my Gecko Stop button (Grounds the ERR pin on the Gecko's) to halt it.  

Any ideas?

10

General Mach Discussion / Port addressing when using a smooth stepper?

« on: March 27, 2009, 09:55:43 PM »

He everyone, I'm trying to get my setup up and running.  I have a few issues that I think may be related to my port address's used in Mach 3.

I am running a smooth stepper (USB connection to PC) with a PMDX-122 on Port 1 and a Sound Logic Encoder Interface board on Port 2.  I understand how to input the port address's when you use a printer port connection but how do you find the correct address to use when using a smooth stepper board?

Do you still go to Control Panel/system/hardware/device manager/ then where? 

Currently it's just using the default address's that came up when I installed Mach 3.  Port 1 listed as 0x378 and Port 2 is 0x278 in Mach 3 now.