Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / Including files in G-code file.

« on: April 24, 2015, 08:38:32 PM »

Hi all. Back after a long absence...

I am using a system with Mach 3 as its controller.

I have developed a large library of support subroutines that I use extensively in new projects.

I've looked at the documentation and cannot find a way, but hope there is a method within Mach3 that allows you to include the text of a second file into your primary file when loaded.

I know I can cut and paste my support subroutines into any new project. But that would not incorporate improvements I make later.

Something like:

M30

INCLUDE "SUPORTSUBS.TXT"

would load the current version of the file when executed, not a snapshot as it existed when I did the current project.

Rick

2

General Mach Discussion / ATAN in G Code

« on: February 26, 2010, 04:48:30 PM »

NEVER MIND. MY ERROR>

3

General Mach Discussion / Canned Cycles and L0

« on: January 26, 2010, 08:25:45 PM »

Another short observation:

I often set up a canned cycle with an L0 to set up the cycle, but not execute, then call a subroutine with the locations.

It is very useful, for example, to use a pilot drill followed by the through drill.

However, Mach does not allow it. Actually, the manual says it is not allowed, but the code executes as expected and it sets up the cycle and does not execute. Except for one major item: it appears to ignore the provided Q value (in my case .1 Inch) and instead uses .01 regardless of the input value.

G73 G98 R.1 Z-.6 Q.1 F15. L0


Why is L0 deemed illegal?

Why does the Q value get stepped on if I try?

Thanks in advance for the help.

4

General Mach Discussion / Negatating variables in G-code.

« on: January 26, 2010, 06:38:56 PM »

Minor irritation.

I use variables to make reusable G-Code modules without using unportable Macros.

When porting them over to Mach, I have to find and edit any location that wants to use the negative of a stored variable. Literally hundreds of locations.

For example:

M98 P30
#141 = [#141-#506]
#142 = [#142-#506]
X[-#141]Y[-#142]
M98 P30

fails with the message: "No digits found where real number should be"

While:

M98 P30
#141 = [#141-#506]
#142 = [#142-#506]
X[0-#141]Y[0-#142]
M98 P30

Works.

You should be able to negate a variable without subtracting it from a real number.

5

General Mach Discussion / All axis zero when tool change complete?

« on: January 23, 2010, 05:42:13 PM »

What is happening?

I was test running some code and it was running as expected. A friend showed me something on the settings tab and I shut mach 3 down.

I later restarted it and test ran my code. It now operates differently. After a tool change and spindle start, the axis go to zero slowly, one at a time.

What did we do to change this behavior?

Thanks in advance.

6

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Misinterpretation of a relative move (G91) using G2?

« on: January 17, 2010, 11:38:51 AM »

Hi everyone. I am new to MACH 3 and I’m having a problem converting an old program.

Mach seems to be misinterpreting a relative Z move in an arc command.

I wrote a sub-program to helix into my work piece, do a couple of clean up articulations, then extract.

Here is the code of my sub-program.

O21
N1 Y.0581 F20.
N2 G2 G17 J-.0581 Z-.2 F6. L11
N3 G1Y.015 F20.
N4 G2 G17 J-.0731 F20.
N5 G1 Y.005 F20.
N6 G2 G17 J-.0781 F20.
N7 G0 Y-.0781
N8 G0 Z2.2 M99

In 2 commercial machines, the N2 line using G91 (relative) is interpreted as each articulation goes -.2 deeper into the work piece, thereby going 2.2 inches deep in the 11 iterations.
N8 then retracts the tool from the work piece and X, Y and Z are back where the sub-program started.

Under Mach, the Z move is treated as relative on the first iteration, but never goes any further into the work piece. Z started at +0.1 and after the first iteration is at -0.1, so it appears to interpret the first iteration as relative. However, the next 10 iterations are all at a Z of -0.1.

Am I doing something wrong or is Mach misinterpreting this line?

Thanks in advance!