Topics

1

Newfangled Mill Wizard / Odd Graphics

« on: February 27, 2013, 12:26:24 PM »

Hi,

Just paid my money and loaded the licence - no problems.

Put in my test project of a rectangular pocket with a series of holes around it. I use the metric system and using an 8mm tool. Graphic for the pocket looks fine but the holes are way out in Z. It looks like the graphics for the drilling are in inches not mm. The code looks fine though. My project file is attached. At least I tried to upload my file but the forum does not recognise the .job extension.

Cheers,

Mike

2

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / G73 - Pullback setting

« on: January 25, 2011, 05:12:36 AM »

Hi,

Can anyone explain why the pullback setting for G73, found under 'Config' / 'Ports and Pins' / 'Mill Options', is not persistent? I want to change this from 0.1mm to 0.25mm and this works while Mach is running but when it is closed down and re-opened, it reverts to 0.1mm. I even tried using the 'Save Settings' on the 'Config' menu but this did not work either.

Is there a good reason why it cannot be persistent?

I searched the forum for an answer and although a few others have noticed the same thing, none has received an answer.

Cheers,

Mike

3

General Mach Discussion / Scale X-1 Problem

« on: November 24, 2010, 12:25:45 PM »

Hi,

I am sure that sometime in the distant past I have read of this problem before but I had never had the opportunity to try myself. I needed to machine a mirror image of a component and being lazy, did not want to resort to running the piece through the CAD/Cam process again so I decided to try using the Scale feature in Mach. I set the X axis scale to -1 and machined the part. All went extremely well and it was only on close inspection that I noticed in each corner, the machined arcs were the wrong way round. I have attached a photo that shows the error. The correct one is on the right. I had to highlight the edge with a pencil as it did not show up too well.

Everything else is perfect but because the arcs are reversed, the tool has taken a very small cut into the wanted part.

Is there a solution to this or should I just not be so lazy? It seemed such a simple way to do the mirror image 

Mike

4

CVI MachStdMill (MSM) / ReadMe file woes

« on: July 22, 2010, 05:56:45 PM »

Hi,

I have been wanting to try the new screen sets and have finally got round to downloading the files. However, wanting to do everything correctly, I took heed of the warning to read the readme file first - problem is, I cannot get the file to open properly. I get the first four pages and the last four pages and nothing in between. Even the pages that are shown have some errors that Adobe throws up "There was a problem reading this document (14)" and "Insufficient data for an image".

I thought it may be that I had an old version of Adobe Reader so I downloaded and installed the latest version but I still have the same problem. Adobe Reader seems to work for everything else I need it for. Any clues?

I don't want to continue installing MSM without reading the file, only to incur the wrath of Dave

Mike

5

Machscreen Screen Designer / Problems copying files

« on: January 15, 2010, 12:28:10 PM »

Hi,

I am just trying to get my head around the ScreenDesigner and am attempting to change one of the standard screen sets. I have modified images, attached some code and saved the new screen set with another name. I can open Mach, import the new screen set and everything works just fine. However, I now need to move it onto the computer in the workshop but when I try to copy the .set file to a USB stick I get the error message (below) and if I copy anyway, the resulting file is corrupt, according to ScreenDesigner. I have tried 'Save File As' and directing it to the USB stick but I then get an error message saying 'The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.'

Please help - How can I copy a screen set to another computer?

Mike

6

VB and the development of wizards / DROs refuse to reset in probing

« on: January 12, 2010, 06:42:35 PM »

Hi,

I have just been writing a simple script to probe the edge of a workpiece. When I step through the script, it works fine but when I run it, the X and Y DROs refuse to zero and I am always left with X at -6 and Y at +4. I have tried using the SetDro() and DoOEMButton() calls but to no avail. I am sure there is a simple explanation but it is alluding me. I also tried a search on the forum and something similar was thrown up but without conclusion.

Strange thing is that I constantly use a Z zeroing script, from which I modified the code for this one, and it works perfectly. I hope someone can help.

Mike


CurrentFeed = GetOemDRO(818)       'Get the current feedrate to return to later
ProbeDiameter = 8         'Set Probe diameter

If GetOemLed (825)=0 Then       'Check to see if the probe is already grounded or faulty
   Xpos = GetDro(0)
   Ypos = GetDro(1)
   Zpos = GetDro(2)
   
' ------ Probe in X positive direction ------
   
   Code "G31 X" & Xpos + 20 & " F50"   'probing move, can set the feed rate here as well as how far to move
   While IsMoving()       'wait while it happens
   Wend
   XProbePos = GetVar(2000)    'get the axact point the probe was hit
   
'------ Re-position probe ready for Y direction probing ------
   
   Code "G0 X" & XProbePos - 1   'Probe backs off 1mm
   Code "G0 Y" & Ypos-20      'Preparation move for Y probing
   Code "G0 X" & XProbePos + 10   'Preparation move for Y probing
   
'------ Probe in Y positive Direction ------
   
   Code "G31 Y" & Ypos       'Probing move in Y
   While IsMoving()       'wait while it happens
   Wend
   YProbePos = GetVar(2001)    'get the axact point the probe was hit
   
'------ Move probe to safe Z height and then to X0, Y0 ------
   
   Code "G0 Y" & YProbePos - 1   'Probe backs off 1mm
   Code "G0 Z" & Zpos + 30      'Retract Z
   Code "G0 X" & (XProbePos + (ProbeDiameter/2))
   Code "G0 Y" & (YProbePos + (ProbeDiameter/2))   'Move to zero, zero
'   DoOEMButton (1008)
   Call SetDro(0,0)      'Zero X axis DRO
   Code "G4 P0.5"
'   DoOEMButton (1009)      'Zero Y axis DRO
   Call SetDro(1,0)
   Code "G4 P0.5"
   Code "(X & Y axes now zeroed)"   
   Code "F" & CurrentFeed       'Returns to prior feed rate
Else
   Code "(Z-Plate is grounded, check connection and try again)" 'this goes in the status bar if applicable
Exit Sub
End If

7

LazyCam (Beta) / Clockwise & Counterclockwise cuts?

« on: May 03, 2008, 04:46:15 PM »

Hi,

I need to cut some parts that require some inside and outside cuts around circles. However, when I run the code all the circles are G2, clockwise cuts, but the outside cuts need to be G3, counterclockwise. In other words, both cuts need to be cut conventionally, not climb milled. It appears that LazyCam posts all circles as G2s, clockwise.

I am not using offsets, just bringing in dxf circles. Is there any way that CW or CCW can be selected within LC?

Mike

8

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Are 'I' and 'J' parameters modal?

« on: April 23, 2008, 06:00:18 PM »

Hi,

I am in the process of finalising a fairly complex mould and have completed the CAD and have produced the toolpaths using EdgeCam with a downloaded post processor for Mach2/3. When I simulate the run, in Mach, it falls over saying that I, J, K & R words are all missing. This is where the tool does a profiling cut around some bosses. The first line of the sequence has the I and J words but subsequent ones do not.

Looking through some text on the internet suggests that I and J parameters are modal which should mean they only need placing on the first line of the sequence. Is this true or am I reading it wrong?

It has been rather tedious but I can get round the problem by using a text editor and copying and pasting the missing parameters into each line - time consuming, but it works.

Help would be appreciated.

Mike

PS It takes about three hours to run the program through Mach's simulator to find problems!!!!