Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / Z home overides at code start

« on: October 10, 2017, 03:25:03 PM »

I've been using this machine with Mach 3 and Gecko G540 for almost a decade.  This problem may have occurred before, but isn't every time.   Today the code was created by Vectric V-Carve Pro 9.0.  After setting the X0, Y0 and Z0, I went to run the code.  Z always goes to home position first, but it went past the limit switch and stalled mechanically.  Letting the code run had Z go too low, past tabs and into the table.  It seems the stalling affected the Z0 setting position.

I went to the toolbox screen and the limit switch is working.  If I use "home all", it works just fine and does not mechanically bottom out.

X and Y do not "home" at start of code, just Z.  Is this something in Mach or with Vectric?

When things work, I don't tempt fate.  What is the intent of line 140: N140 G00 G43Z1.7424H1

The G-Code is as follows;

( File created: Tuesday October 10 2017 - 02:03 PM)
( for Mach2/3 from Vectric )
( Material Size)
( X= 9.875, Y= 4.250, Z= 0.755)
()
(Toolpaths used in this file:)
(Profile 1)
(Tools used in this file: )
(1 = End Mill {0.25 inch})
N100G00G20G17G90G40G49G80
N110G70G91.1
N120T1M06
N130 (End Mill {0.25 inch})
N140G00G43Z1.7424H1
N150S18000M03
N160(Toolpath:- Profile 1)
N170()
N180G94
N190X0.0000Y0.0000F35.0
N200G00X1.5456Y3.1342Z0.9550
N210G1Z0.5033F30.0
N220G1Y2.6407F35.0
N230G1Y2.0157

Steve.

2

General Mach Discussion / Limit switches lost

« on: November 16, 2015, 04:20:21 PM »

My desktop mill has been operational for several years in the same configuration with no problem referencing all the axis home or individually.  Today when trying to move an axis to home, it overruns the limit switch and keep trying to go.  I need to hit stop for the steppers to stop.  All three of the limit switches are not operational.

The computer hasn't had internet access for years.

The mill has a Gecko G540.  I checked the limit switches at the Gecko input strip and they all complete the circuit when closed (with all power to the Gecko off).

I went to the Mach diagnostics screen and got no inputs lighting up when closing the limit switches manually.

I tried auto setting the limit switches, but the program could not see an input change.  It did reference making sure the parallel port was configured correctly in windows (XP).  Searching here and I couldn't find any help on that.

I can load g-code and run it.  The reason I am trying to fix the limit switch issue is that running a 3D roughing program today, midway through it the mill tried to go off the table in negative X, that got me thinking the setup has lost its place maybe by never having been home.

Question #1 - Did I (operator error) turn off the limit switches?
Question #2 - How do I determine if the parallel printer port is configured correctly? 
Question #3 - Some posts talk about setting up a new profile.  Would this help?

As a last resort I could change out the G540, but want that to be the last option.  It had all worked for quite some time, not a lot of hours.

Steve.

3

Finished Screens / Phantom offset in Screen 2010

« on: June 09, 2014, 08:15:28 PM »

Only phantom to me I suppose.  Each time I load Mach, jog Z to the surface and then zero it.  First run of any code will run at 0.50" above my intent.  I hit stop and have it go to x0, y0, z0.  Then use jog/step to move z down 0.50", set Z to zero.  It then runs fine.  Even if I change the gcode it will run correctly.

So, it seems I put something in a setup somewhere.  I thought that I drilled down through all the settings, but can't find it.

Any ideas on what I did?

Steve.

BTW - even the extents knows about the 0.50" and shows the additional dimension

4

Finished Screens / Screen 2010 Questions

« on: February 18, 2013, 07:28:56 PM »

First though, the simple auto zero is really great!!!  Working with wood is a special pain in knowing where the top of the material is.

That said, the simple auto zero worked perfect yesterday about 5 times.  Today, it worked the first time and then rather than 1 mm rise after the first touch it went about 0.75" up.  Then it never traveled all the way to the plate for second read.  It seemed to time out about 3/8" down.  If I closed Mach3, it would work again one time.  When it works correctly the tool is 0.751 over the material and just off the conductive metal block.  The plate thickness is set to 0.750 and clearance plane to 0.751. 

Second thing is that if I use the tab key to pull up the diagnostic screen, the diagnostic screen right side is hidden off the monitor.  The monitor is 17" set to 1024 x 768.  I've tried other screen settings with the same results.  I also can't move it with the mouse.  Any suggestions?

Steve.

5

General Mach Discussion / Auto Tool Zero details needed

« on: February 15, 2013, 04:45:14 PM »

I'm using Screen 2010 with a Gecko 540 controller and Mach3 for quite some time.  My work is primarily with wood and some plastic, no metal.  I'd like to use the simple auto zero  / auto tool zero function to save time with physically finding zero Z on the wood each time.  Tooling is usually 60 degree bit or end mill, sizes are 1/4" and 1/8" shank.

I'd like to avoid letting the magic smoke out of the controller.

Assumptions;
1) Connect wire from G540 Input #1 to a conductive plate that would be under the tooling.  (make sure bottom of plate cannot ground)
2) Make sure that tooling spindle tool is grounded related to the Input #1 wire. 
3) Mach setup table to tell the "Auto Tool Zero" in Screen 1024 or "double down arrow" in Screen 2010 about Input #1

Questions;
1) Which configuration screen is used to tell the screen buttons the information needed?  What information to enter?
2) Do I need to do any further scripting?
3) Can I use conductive tape on the wood I am routing for the touch point?  (alligator clip to make the connection to tape)
4) Is the Input #1 wire neutral or live when not running the utility?  (Do I need a insulated home for it?)
5) Should I run a ground wire from the spindle fixture to the G540?

Steve
(This a bit of double post from under the 2010 screen set, but is really a general Mach question.  If moderator could delete the other post, it would be appreciated.)

6

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Drilling cycle from Bobcad

« on: November 29, 2012, 01:29:24 PM »

I am trying to CNC a cribbage board designed in BobCAD/CAM (BCC) V21.  In the past I would draw the hole, offset the radius of cutter inside the hole and make the hole by selecting the offset.  In this case the holes are 1/8" and I would just like to drill them with a 1/8" end mill.  On a three track 120 point cribbage board this is over 360 holes.

I have the V21 training videos and they show exactly what I want to do.  They use a "G81" and "G73 with Q" cycles from another post processor.  They select the true "holes" and the cycles use the center of the "holes" to position the mill and then drill.

The post processor for Mach isn't working the same as the video with the other post processor. Instead of drilling the center of the geometry (hole) it follows the geometry outside diameter.  Actually, I'm not sure the drilling cycle is working at all.

BCC doesn't (as far as I can figure out) allow you to use an arc center point in the CAD side to select for a CAM side action.

Has anyone conquered this?

Is there a way to change the drill script in the post processor?  If so, what should it read?

Steve.

7

General Mach Discussion / How to run Mach without CNC on

« on: April 01, 2012, 03:26:51 PM »

I would like to import a file and review it on the Mach screen for errors and use the run-time simulator without being connected to the CNC.  My problem right now is the emergency stop won't let me do all I want.

How do I tell the program that I am not connected?
Can I turn emergency stop off?  (Actually I tried that in "pins input", but after apply it kept automatically coming back as active.)

Using screen 2010x.

Steve.

8

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Need some g-code critique

« on: March 31, 2011, 06:01:40 PM »

I found my problem with the nesting wizard, the code doesn't return to the zero'd start location so the indexing of the nested parts are offset each time by where the cutting finished.  There isn't any option in BobCAD/CAM that would generate that.  In my prior use of the wizards this wasn't a problem due to the geometry.

Unless someone knows the BobCAD secret handshake, I think that I need to end the g-code with a return to my initial zero point.  After some reading and looking at examples, it seems that G54 is what I need.  It wasn't clear to me if the G54 needs to be repeated later in the code or a G55, G56... is what i need.

Assume I manually jogged X, Y, Z to a position and I have "zeroed" those axis on the Program Run screen. 

/////

G54 (along with all other necessary g-codes)

G00X0.75 Y0.75 (this moves away from the zero'd points I started from)
Z0.5
Y2
X2
Y1
X1.5 Y1.5 (this location is not at my Program Run Screen zeroed starting point)

G00 Z0             (will this rapid the Z axis to the point I zeroed to on the Program Run screen?)
G00 X0 Y0        (will this rapid the X & Y axis to the points I zeroed to on the Program Run screen?)

/////

I tried a program (not this one), but it wasn't clear on the screen if the locaton changed and I didn't want to sacrifice a tool bit to the code gods.

Steve.

9

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / How to match BobCAD options with Mach3 configuration

« on: March 30, 2011, 08:40:53 PM »

BobCAD V21 has options for the g-code in the CAM side for g-code and are shown in the two jpg attachments. 

I am using a Gecko G540 controller/drivers.

Is there a "best" set of settings for Mach3?

What are the matching settings in Mach3 for the options in BobCAD?

Steve.

10

General Mach Discussion / Configuration change problem

« on: March 30, 2011, 03:33:57 PM »

I used multipass and nesting wizards couple weeks ago with great success.

This week I tried them again with another part and the results are baffling to me.  Rather than following the geometry for each pass, it makes several irrelevant (to me) lines.  I thought it was in the part CAD, so I made up just a simple rectangle with fillets at the coners and it does the same thing.  Without multipass it is fine.

I figured that I must have changed the configuration file to cause this.  So, I reinstalled Mach3 with no better affect.

If someone could take a look, I would appreciate it.

With the nesting wizard, the repeated parts are offset in X and Z, even though X is zero in the screen.  I'm not sure what the X offset value comes from, since it isn't the same as Y that I entered.  I'm hoping what is wrong for multipass is same for nesting.

Steve.