Messages

251

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Rotary machining on a lathe feed rates

« on: September 18, 2018, 07:58:27 PM »

It is a lathe not a mill.  With lathes the set up uses the same right hand rule for setup but with a view from the headstock rather than the mill spindle.  Z moves to and away from the spindle, x in and out like a mill.  Few have a y axis.  Rotary can be a,b, or c.  Mach4/fanuc lathe only supports c as a rotary with incremental moves.

RT

252

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Rotary machining on a lathe feed rates

« on: September 18, 2018, 07:15:39 PM »

Ger21, thanks for that. 

I have modified the post processor to now output what I think is correct code for g93.  I have attached a test Aspire file and the resultant gcode file.  It merely consists of a circle and square.  While the tool path is correct the circle takes 8 minutes to run and the square 12 seconds.  The square seems to run both the z and c axis at appropriates speeds, obviously the circle does not.  Anyone have thoughts as to what is wrong with the code or the setup?

TIA

RT

253

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Rotary machining on a lathe feed rates

« on: September 18, 2018, 04:47:34 PM »

Can you point me to where that setting is set, option, toolpath?

254

Mach4 General Discussion / Rotary machining on a lathe feed rates

« on: September 18, 2018, 04:11:16 PM »

I have converted my lathe so that the spindle can be run as a 'C' axis rotary.  It works well when I cut threads but I have to use fedd rates of 12000 to get the z and C drive to turn at the appropriate speed.  I'm okay with that.

Vectric's Aspire has added rotary capabilities and I would like to use that.  I have modified their post processor to convert the A axis to C , the z axis to x, the x axis to z and doubled the x(z) values to compensate for diameter mode over radius.  So far so good.  

If I cut a circle on the stock surface there is coordinated movement and all works well.  Hypothetically 3d machining at an angle should work but there is a separate case that wont.  If I cut a square on the stock surface, one of the two axis is going to move drastically faster or slower than the other since there is no coordinated movement and the tool path has only on feed rate.  

I thought I would ask all of you seasoned CNC'ers  what alternatives I have/should consider.  I haven't asked Vectric yet if I can modify the post processor for one axis only movement feed rates.

Changing feed per revolution didn't solve the problem.  But that might be that I don't fully understand it.

TIA

RT

255

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: mach4 module help

« on: September 07, 2018, 12:05:22 PM »

Make sure you haven't saved any previous modules(ie. backups) with the same function names in the modules directory.  Lua compiles all files in that directory and you can get conflicting addresses for the functions. 

Just a thought,

HTH

RT

256

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: ScreenScript error after updating

« on: September 04, 2018, 11:11:04 AM »

prb is a variable configured by the screen load script.  I'm not running your version but in mine the code is:

--Probing module
package.loaded.Probing = nil
prb = require "mcProbing"
--mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "Probe Version " .. prb.Version());


Your error indicates that prb was not successfully initialized.  make sure that the above code is in your screen load script and that the file mcProbing.lua exists in your;
C:\Mach4Hobby\Modules directory.

HTH

RT

257

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: PoKeys57CNC and Single Index Pulse Threading

« on: August 14, 2018, 07:02:04 PM »

You either have to Home C or unwind to C zero.

258

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: PoKeys57CNC and Single Index Pulse Threading

« on: August 10, 2018, 12:30:46 PM »

Since you have the stepper already on the spindle you might want to try using it as a rotary indexer(C Axis), and create a screen to do 'threading' that way.

12 tpi triplle start sqaure thread example.
g1 w-0.5000 h6703.4483 f42000.000

259

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Tool Table Numbering Approach

« on: August 08, 2018, 03:46:36 PM »

Hi Gary, thanks for that,

I have a stop on each tool and so have a repeatable tool length when inserted into a collet.

RT

260

Mach4 General Discussion / Tool Table Numbering Approach

« on: August 07, 2018, 06:05:36 PM »

Looking for some advice on what approach to take for tool table numbering when you have a lot of drill bits and reamers.

I have several sets of drilling operations that require different sized drill bits, 135 deg and flat bottom, reamer and blind hole lap.

Since Mach4 has 99 tool entries (256?) what approach would you take to numbering each?

Would it be better to have a macro change the same 4 tools entries each time you run?

If you can have more than 99 tools and T1010 sets tool ten what is the syntax for tool 215?

TIA

RT