Messages

121

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach Motion Lathe Wizards Bug? Help.

« on: January 19, 2018, 02:27:06 AM »

I confirmed the same things.

I also figured out a way to figure out some of the functions. I'm going to put large numbers in some of the fields I'm unsure of and then generate the code and look at it that way.

Yeah kind of funny, I mean the people who wrote the wizards would only have to spend like an hour to write a cursory tutorial. At lease one describing what each filed does. I would write it, but I don't know what everything does. But maybe I will to give back to the community.

122

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach Motion Lathe Wizards Bug? Help.

« on: January 18, 2018, 11:49:10 AM »

Thanks. What about it starting at .6" instead of .5"?

Also what is Retract (Rev) for?

123

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach Motion Lathe Wizards Bug? Help.

« on: January 17, 2018, 06:35:08 PM »

So when generating a threading procedure in Mach Motion Wizards I get an error when running the program.

I get a K0 in my code that Mach doesn't recognize. When I remove the K0 the program works just fine.

So my question is what is the K0 supposed to be doing? Is there a way to correct this so I don't have to edit the Gcode every-time I generate a new threading procedure?


I also had a problem with the depth of the threads. I was cutting 1/2-13 threads. I set the Xi at .5" and it starts the threading procedure at .6" so it's .1" off so I can't input the correct thread depth or else it's too shallow of a cut.

I have a feeling that it's cutting .1 too high because the Clearances of Xc are set to .1. If that is correct then what does the clearance number actually do. If I set Xc to 0 will that not retract the tool away from the work piece?

Here is the code I was using.

N0000 (Machine type - MachMotion Lathe Canned Cycles)
N0005 (Filename: C:\Mach4Hobby\GcodeFiles\Temporary.tap)
N0010 (Generated on 01/17/18 at 12:39:40)

N0015 %
N0020 G00 G40 G18 G54 G64 G80 G90.1 G99 G20 (Safe Start Block)
N0025 %

N0030 (Starting Gcode for Threading Cycle: ThreadingCycle-0)
N0035 G50 S4100 (Spindle Speed Cap)

N0040 %
N0045 G00 G40 G18 G54 G64 G80 G90.1 G99 G20 (Safe Start Block)
N0050 %

N0055 T0808 (Tool Change)
N0060 G99 (Feed per Revolution)
N0065 G97 S500 (Constant Speed)
N0070 M04 (Spindle Reverse)
N0075 M08 (Flood)
N0080 G00 X0.6950 Z0.1000  (Rapid move to Clearance Height)
N0085 G76 P030060 Q0.02 R0.005 K0
N0090 G76 X0.36 Z-0.75 R0 P0.135 Q0.02 F0.0769
N0095 G80
N0100 G00 X0.6950 Z0.1000  (Rapid move to Clearance Height)
N0105 (End Gcode for Threading Cycle: ThreadingCycle-0)

N0110 %
N0115 (Custom Footer Block)
N0120 G00G53X0Z0
N0125 %

N0130 %
N0135 M09
N0140 M05
N0145 M30
N0150 %
N0155 (End Gcode file)
N0160 %

124

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Lathe Tool Table Setting Tools Help

« on: January 17, 2018, 06:24:10 PM »

WHAT A PITA!! Got it figured out. Hope this helps someone else.

First off, using the latest release. Clicking on Set X Offset doesn't work. It give some random number that doesn't relate to anything else.

Here is my procedure, it works and is very accurate.

1. MDI T0101 > Cycle Start > Set Home Referencing > Meaning turning the machine on and homing accurately where your starting position will always be. This involves using the Ref All Axes button so when you click Machine Pos Toggle both DROs read Zero.
2. Now Type Zero in Your DROs. (make sure you're not still in Machine Pos Toggle).
3. Open Tool Table > Zero out all fields in Tool Table - Might not be necessary, but because of some of the quirks in Mach 4 type 0 in the input box > Click on one of the fields and click Input > Close Tool Table.
4. Chuck up a piece of stock 1" in diameter or so.
5. Make a face cut with T0101 > Click Zero Fixture Z.
6. Bring your tool where you want to make a cut on the X axis > Take that X Dro reading and type it into the MDI (Example X DRO reads -4.456" - type MDI X-4.456) > make the cut along X > move tool clear and then move the cutter back to the X position you just cut with using the MDI you just did.
7. Measure the diameter with a micrometer > Open Tool Table > type in the input box your mic reading > click on the field for Tool 1 X > click the measurement button > Master Tool T0101 has been set.
8. Now type in the MDI and run it G53X0Z0 > the DRO reading for X is now your master number. So now when you ref home when first turning on the machine you will wait until it's done referencing and then type in the X DRO that Master number.

For other tooling:
1.   Use Bar Stock > Set T0101 > Face Cut > Zero Fixture Z.
2.   Set T0202 > Bring to face at 1 IPM slowly as you turn chuck by hand until it’s prefect. Lots of other ways to do this, I like this way.
3.   Open Tool Table and Click Set Z Offset.
4.   Move tool to where you want to cut > type X Coord in MDI > Make Cut on X > Move tool clear then move to previous X Position > Measure diameter with Mic.
5.   Open Tool Table > Type measurement in input box > Click on Tool X Field and click Measurement.
6.   Repeat for other tooling.

Hope that's clear.

125

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: GCedit Not opening Help

« on: January 17, 2018, 12:44:03 AM »

LOL Thanks. I went the hard route and went through LUA code, scripts, etc...

126

Mach4 General Discussion / GCedit Not opening Help

« on: January 17, 2018, 12:14:49 AM »

Using the latest release. When I click edit g-code in a lathe profile I get an error where it can't find the file. It thinks it's on D drive, which I don't have. On my office computer where I have the same version Mach it opens just fine. I looked all over, edit scree, lua scrips, etc... Can't find where in the code it points to address of the program.

127

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Lathe Tool Table Setting Tools Help

« on: January 16, 2018, 11:18:38 PM »

Thanks for replying, Rich and rhuttle. I need to digest what you both suggest. I understand though.

128

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Lathe Tool Table Setting Tools Help

« on: January 16, 2018, 02:26:52 PM »

@Clock, what I do is set up tool T0101 normally. Then I set T0202 and take a cut on a bar of steel > then I measure the bar of steel with micrometer > I then open up the tool table and adjust the numbers for X T0202 until the DRO in mach reads what I measured with my micrometer (mic). But this doesn't seem to work. It works for that ONE diameter, but once I move the tool the X is not correct, it's not linear it seems.

129

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Lathe Tool Table Setting Tools Help

« on: January 15, 2018, 04:59:25 PM »

Thanks. I've watched it several times. Doesn't really answer my questions.

I don't understand why directly changing the number in the tool table X for T0202 for the actual position it is in messes things up. Or why I can't take a cut, measure the part and input that into the Set X Offset button. I want more accuracy than touching a tool to a know piece of stock.

130

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Lathe Tool Table Setting Tools Help

« on: January 14, 2018, 07:14:48 PM »

No one has any answers?

I don't think the way I was doing it was correct. It might work for that one diameter that I cut, but once I move the tool it changes. Z is fine, but not X. Must have something to do with radius and diameter.

I wonder if I set T0101 and then cut some stock with T0202 and then use the Set X Offset and type the actual diameter in there?