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Messages - keith.fisk

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1
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Cutter compensation
« on: January 08, 2023, 01:07:27 AM »
Did you find a solution to the Mickey Mouse ears? I have a similar problem trying to use diameter wear compensation in Mach 4 for the first time. I am using Fusion 360 for CAD/CAM to create an open pocket in a soft vice jaw to hold a part.

Using the Fusion 360 "In control" option in a 2D contour finishing toolpath Fusion 360 adds a G41 like this "G1 G41 X135.654 Y-6. D1" to fetch the diameter compensation from the Mach4 tool table however this adds a big ear to the toolpath displayed by Mach4.

Keith

2
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 2 Point Outside Centering Problem.
« on: December 24, 2020, 12:18:56 AM »
Thanks Brian. Anything that makes it clear how the probing works and minimises the possibility of damaging the probe would be great.  Different people will have completely different ideas about probing. My interest is probe functions like several of those provided with the current Mach4 4 axis mill profile. I probably wouldn't use the measuring functions but probing to find edges, corners and centres is why I purchased a probe.   I am a new hobbyist with no other exposure to any CNC so not in a good position to offer much in the way of suggestions other than comment on what has tripped me up and contributed to damaging my new $750 probe.  It wasn't till after damaging my probe and spending a few hours going through the probe module LUA that I really understood what was happening so I didn't repeat the crash.
Keith

3
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 2 Point Outside Centering Problem.
« on: December 23, 2020, 05:47:20 PM »
The difficulty I was having with the probing was caused by the way the ESS motion controller executes the G31 probing. By default the ESS reports a probe failure if a G31 probe move does not result in probe contact. The latest version of ESS plugin has an option to not fail the probing if a G31 completes without probe contact.

I think some of the LUA code in the probing module is a bit dangerous. There are a number of places with G0 and G1 moves. I think these should all be G31 probe moves so that if the probe makes unexpected contact the motion stops. With G0 and G1 moves if there is also an incorrect work offset or probe length active, then there is a high probability of crashing and damaging or destroying the probe. It would also be useful if the Probe screens had X, Y and Z axis DROs particularly with the option to display distance to go so it is easy to see where the probing is moving to.

Keith

4
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Probing
« on: December 23, 2020, 05:22:42 PM »
I don't think ESS V260 has the option to prevent the probing from aborting but the latest V266 does.
I think some of Mach4 LUA code in the probing module is a bit dangerous. There are a number of places with G0 and G1 moves. I think these should all be G31 probe moves so that if the probe makes contact the motion stops. Start a probing operation with an incorrect work offset or probe length, then there is a high probability of crashing and damaging or destroying the probe. It would also be useful if the Probe screens had X, Y and Z axis DROs particularly with the option to display distance to go.
Keith

5
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: complex probe moves not working
« on: December 23, 2020, 05:13:27 PM »
Thanks Mike. That solved the problem. I had to update the latest ESS plugin to find the option to stop the ESS probing from aborting. Looking through the standard Mach4 LUA probing module code I think some of it is a bit dangerous. There are a number of places with G0 and G1 moves. I think these should all be G31 probe moves so that if the probe makes contact the motion stops. With G0 and G1 moves if there is also an incorrect work offset or probe length active, then there is a high probability of crashing and damaging or destroying the probe. It would also be useful if the Probe screens had X, Y and Z axis DROs particularly with the option to display distance to go.
Keith

6
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 2 Point Outside Centering Problem.
« on: December 23, 2020, 03:20:12 AM »
I have the same problem with any of the probing actions that require moves in more than 1 direction eg finding an outside corner or measuring the diameter of a boss. If you search through the forum there are several others reporting the same issue and no interest from Artsoft in fixing it. 

7
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: complex probe moves not working
« on: December 23, 2020, 02:55:43 AM »
I have a similar problem with Mach4 and ESS. Simple probing moving in one direction to a single surface works and so does measuring an internal diameter but probing requiring 2 or more moves such as finding an external corner or measuring the diameter of a boss fail. It is behaving as if it is expecting the probe to make contact on the first move. The probe should only make contact after the 2nd move for finding an external corner or the 3rd move for measuring a boss. If I set up extra obstructions in the right places for the probe to hit as it does the complex moves then it progresses through the sequence of moves so something is wrong with the way the probe state is appearing or being checked in the probing script. It is not obvious to me where the script error is as looking through it and comparing the probe checking for simple probing and complex probing the logic looks correct.

8
General Mach Discussion / What does "G40.1"
« on: June 11, 2017, 01:04:49 AM »
I am new to Mach 3. What is G40.1 meant to do? It is generated by some of the New Fangled Wizards as per beginning of code below. Some G code simulators mark it as an error.

(Code by Newfangled Wizard, 11-Jun-17)
(Version 2.86)
(Program Posted for Aluminum )
G0 G49 G40.1 G17
G80 G50 G90 G98 
G21 (mm)
(***** Cut Rectangle *****)
M6 T7
M03 S27491.6

Thanks Keith

9
Thanks Gerry. Yes setting some debounce time in ESS for the home switch fixed it.
Best regards Keith

10
Yes thanks I understand what you say is how it should work but it does not work for me and there are plenty of others with a similar problem from what I can tell by searching with Google.
When an axis homes it moves to the home position operates the home switch, zeros the DRO but then does not back off the switch so cannot progress to home the other axes.  I have tried letting just Mach3 control this and also tried with the ESS plug in home configuration set up. I am guessing there is something else somewhere that I need to do.  If necessary I could change the Home switch wiring so each has its own input rather than wiring them all in series but from everything I have read it should work as I have wired it.
Keith

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