Messages

31

General Mach Discussion / Re: two issues....

« on: April 26, 2015, 01:33:14 PM »

I am using v 066.  Now I have another issue.
In a program with two different tools, when I change to the second tool and hit the "run cycle", the machine goes off the axis.

tony

32

General Mach Discussion / two issues....

« on: April 26, 2015, 11:56:11 AM »

After installing a different Mach 3 version, my cnc is acting funny regarding two issues.
One, for some reason the numeric keypad no longer works unless I use the MPG window with it. In my previous version, I was able to use the numeric keypad to move the axis.  I am not sure what needs to be done...
Two, until the upgrade, I was able to use the "run from here" command and have my job continue. Now, the same command sends the machine axis to the extremes. I am not sure what needs to be set in the config file in order to prevent this from happening.
thanks
tony

33

General Mach Discussion / Re: Am I losing my mind?

« on: April 18, 2015, 05:34:59 AM »

changing version number to latest did the trick. Thanks.
tony

34

General Mach Discussion / Re: Am I losing my mind?

« on: April 15, 2015, 09:19:27 AM »

I am running 43.022 version.  Sorry, I did not expect anyone to search my other posts regarding my issue. I was simply emphasizing the fact that the machine no longer stops for a tool change, and I did not make any changes in the code or the config file.  So let me ask, what files do I save in order to retain all my motor and switch settings? thanks
tony

35

General Mach Discussion / Am I losing my mind?

« on: April 14, 2015, 08:11:49 AM »

I've always had Mach3 on "ignore tool changes", and with an M6 in the code, the machine would stop and allow me to change the tool.  I would hit the cycle start to get it running again. This is no longer the case.  The same program, with an M6 in it, will momentarily pause the machine, and then continue to run.  If I don't stop it, it will run with the wrong tool.


 Before someone tells me that I am using the wrong option in Mach 3, for a very long time I am not able to use the "stop spindle" option because Mach 3 gives me an error which Hood was not able to help me with.  A search in the forum will illustrate that, for some reason, the script in Mach 3, was creating the error.  I finally gave up with the " stop spindle" option and went with the "ignore" option--so long as the machine stopped and allowed me to change the tool.

I was fine with the "ignore tool changes", despite the no warning pop up to change the tool.  

When I run this code on my other pc with Mach3( without the router), the program stops and waits for me to hit "cycle start"---just the way I expect it to behave.

I run the same program from time to time, so no changes in the code were made.  

Hope someone can explain it to me.
thanks
tony

Here's a snippet of my code:
N104 T1 M6
N106 G0 G90 G54 X6.3749 Y2.9455 A0. S4278 M3
N108 G43 H1 Z.1
N110 G99 G81 Z-.265 R.1 F26.
N112 X.3774 Y1.3725
N114 X6.3749
N116 X.3774 Y2.9455
N118 G80
( DRILL HOLES )
N120 X8.0524 Y.3892
N122 G99 G81 Z-.26 R.1 F26.16
N124 X9.1304
N126 X8.0524 Y6.3892
N128 X9.1304
N130 G80
N132 X2.1226 Y4.7493
N134 G99 G81 Z-.29 R.1 F26.16
N136 X.6524 Y4.7471
N138 X2.1226 Y10.7487
N140 X.6497 Y10.7513
N142 G80
( DRILL )
N144 X4.4966 Y4.7329
N146 G99 G81 Z-.265 R.1 F26.16
N148 X4.4995 Y10.7319
N150 G80
N152 M5
N154 G91 G28 Z0.
N156 A0.
N158 M01
( POCKET SIDES )
N160 T2 M6
N162 G0 G90 G54 X3.521 Y3.3047 A0. S4278 M3
N164 G43 H2 Z.25

36

General Mach Discussion / Still getting procedures wrong with tool depths

« on: February 26, 2015, 07:22:05 AM »

I use only two tools, and most of my work is nesting. My table may be off by .020, depending on humidiity or quality of material( mdf). The tool length may vary depending on the type of brand name.

Step 1. place material on machine
Step2.  I calibrate tool 1 as tool 1 in Mach. It's usually the shorter tool of the two.
Step 2. I send tool 1 to zero to check depth.
Step 3. I check tool 2  for depth by zero it in the dro. I do this only when the difference in the tools is almost negligeable. If a tool is much longer, I save a tool length offset.
Run the job.
Since tool 1 is used for drilling, and tool 2 is used for profiling, when it's time to run tool 2, at times I need to lower the tool a bit to make sure that the cut goes all the way through the material.
I do this by,
1. lowering the tool until it touches the material or goes slightly below the material
2. zero the Z dro
3. Send it home
4. send it to zero again to check for accuracy

Here's where the problem occurs.

I go to my code and do a "run from here" with the number 2 tool It goes to the correct depth.
Now, when I press "cycle start", the tool will always go into the material beyond the expected depth.
At this point, I am forced to stop, and "adjust the tool height" and zero the dro" in order to make it cut at the right length.

I've yet figured out a "safe way" to adjust for height in the middle of a job.

My question...,  how do I make 100% sure that I clear the memory of any trace of tool 2 length in Mach 3 from the previous job?

tony

37

General Mach Discussion / Re: how to adjust tool cutting depth in mid program

« on: December 11, 2014, 07:26:58 PM »

If I understand you correctly, I enter the amount of "additional depth" in the Z dro, press "return" and  the tool will permanently go  lower by that amount.  I will try it.
thanks
tony

38

General Mach Discussion / how to adjust tool cutting depth in mid program

« on: December 11, 2014, 06:41:11 PM »

Sometimes, my job has some skin left, which results from slight variations in my sacrificial board.  I could go into the Cam program and change the depth, but this then becomes a permanent change.
What do experienced users do when one need to go a bit deeper into the stock during a specific operation in a series of operations?
thanks
tony

39

General Mach Discussion / Question about tool offsets

« on: November 18, 2014, 06:52:27 AM »

I have two tools, number 1 and number two.  Number two tool is .100 longer than tool 1.  When I set up Mach 3, I set tool 1 as tool 0 and zero it.  Then I set tool 2 offset.  The saved offset page shows that tool 2 is indeed .100 longer.  In Mach 3, when I switch from tool 1 to tool 2, I see the tool length offset in the window, so I know that Mach is registering.

Here is the puzzle.  When I press go to zero , tool 2 falls short by .040.  This phenomenon occurs only I first set up and calibrate the offsets.  Once I manually zero tool 2, it stay at the "new zero".

If this were a machine issue, I'd have issues with the material not cutting evenly. But, as I said, this happens only during calibration when I first set up the tools. Once I've corrected the offset manually, the tool keeps cuts to the correct depth.

I've measured the tool length and they are correct.

Am I missing something?

tony

tony

40

General Mach Discussion / keygrabber and new screen set

« on: June 19, 2014, 09:10:41 AM »

I am trying out several new screens and find that , unlike with the original Mach3 set, these  new screens don't allow the keygrabber to use my "small keypad" for basic machine control.  I checked to see that the Keygrabber recognizes the key strokes, and it does.  Is there something I need to do to for these screens( Aqua, simple mill) to work jointly with the keygrabber?

thanks
tony