Topics

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Mach4 General Discussion / G31.1, G31.2, G31.3 working?

« on: April 26, 2015, 02:03:32 PM »

I've got G31 working with my probe.  When I try to use G31.1, it still uses the same probe input although I have configured Mach4 to use a different input signal for Probe 1 which I assume is actually probe 2 as referenced in the online G Code manual, page 20, under Mach 4 Manuals.

If I try G31.2 or G31.3, I get no motion or DRO changes.

BTW, the old problem of MachGui not shutting down when Mach 4 is shut down has returned.  True, I can stop it with the task manager but it's a bit of a PITA.

What is the status of G31.X in Mach 4?

Peter

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General Mach Discussion / Unprogrammed Z axis down feed

« on: July 20, 2011, 09:43:13 PM »

I've searched the forums for my problem but can't find any similar ones so here goes.  Every once in a while (usually less than once every several days), my mill does a z axis ramp down while cutting a part.  This has happened with G code that has been used successfully several times before and not altered since.  The same code will work fine again later.  The result is a ruined piece and often a broken cutter.  The error never occurs upwards, always down into the piece.  The DRO value does not change.  The ramp rate appears to be at the specified plunge rate for the cutter.  The ramp will stop on it's own, then may start again further on.

Any help would be appreciated.

3

VB and the development of wizards / How to do protected moves for homemade probe?

« on: October 24, 2010, 09:14:22 PM »

My apologies if this question has been addressed elsewhere. I have attempted due diligence both here and on CNC Zone but have not found an answer. I might
have missed it because of the sheer volume of information and posts. The closest data I found related to commercial probes with vendor supplied software.

I have just completed a homemade contact probe. In an effort to avoid crashing it through dumb setup errors, I wish to incorporate protected moves in my
routines. To do this, I envision using G31 for all moves, then testing the results to see if either I got to where I was supposed to and didn't hit something when I wasn't supposed to or I got to the end of a probe move and didn't hit something when I was supposed to.  I have empirically determined that a G31 move with no probe contact acts like a G31 with a probe contact at the end of the programmed move. In others words, there is no error detected and, at least for slow feed rates, the probe is sitting at the end of the move.

However, this creates a problem. If the probe does make contact, the next move will start with the probe activated, causing Mach3 to object saying the probe is
already activated. Mach3 then proceeds to start moving all three axis in small steps, about 1 full step, 5 times a second. This won't stop until E stop is
activated.

What's going on here? I suppose I could do a small G0 to get the probe off the piece before doing the next G31 but I think something is wrong here.

Thank you for your patience and help.