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Messages - mc

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91
G28 is a go to machine reference point command (usually the same as home position), which ultimately leads to the same position as a G53 X0 Z0 command.

Probably worth reading http://www.mmsonline.com/columns/g28-versus-g53 to understand the differences. I'd personally use a G53, as it isn't affected by the current machine (absolute/incremental) mode.

92
General Mach Discussion / Re: UC100 issues
« on: February 14, 2016, 12:09:25 PM »
well seeing how mach3 is a motion controller....... :)
Config>slave axis

Technically Mach3 is a trajectory planner, built around a parallel port motion controller  ;)
Take away the parallel port, and it's just a trajectory planner sending motion commands to a motion controller plugin.

As Gerry says, check the manual for the motion controller, as they're all different. For example I know Smoothsteppers require slaved axis to be configured within their plugin, and KFlop needs slaved axis to be configured within an initialisation script.

93
General Mach Discussion / Re: Educational Sources???
« on: February 14, 2016, 12:03:35 PM »
Thanks Gerry. I've seen the various posts, but BobCAD does seem to offer good bang for buck, and ticks the boxes I'd like.

I might have another play with Fusion 360, but last time I tried it, the export capabilities were very poor. Some parts I make have quite a bit of design time tied up in them, and I really don't want to be locked into any specific software.


Dave, everything CNC is a minefield. You've just got to pick how expensive a minefield you like to play in :-)

94
Another option is to modify your M6 macro, so a move occurs to move the tool to the same X and Z tool position as the previous tool. I.e. if the last tool was at X30 Z8, the M6 macro would move so the new tool is at X30 Z8, prior to completing the tool change.
However, you run the risk of hitting a limit, if the difference between offsets exceeds machine travel.

95
Before you worry about doing multiple parts, learn the basics.

I only used G0 G53 X0 Z0 as an example, you can change tool anywhere.
A major benefit of not having a fixed tool change position (i.e. coding it into the M6 macro), is you can command a tool change anywhere, however it is then up to you to ensure any tool changes are done in a 'safe' position. Some CAM packages are capable of doing that, however it normally means the CAM package has access to a 3D model of the machine, so it can simulate changes and know how much clearance is needed. But such CAM packages are expensive, and even more time consuming to setup.

Normally you'd pick a point where everything is clear of the spindle/work piece for all tools, however if you're wanting to minimise cycle time as much as possible, you can take the generated g-code from the CAM, and manually alter the tool change positions. However you would only normally do that if you're expecting to run a high quantity of identical parts, as it could easily take you 10-15minutes to find the optimum tool change positions, yet only save seconds of each cycle time, and you also risk the possibility of getting it wrong and causing a crash.

Regarding doing multiple parts, you can either rely on the CAM to simply generate additional lines to machine additional parts nearer the chuck, or re-use the code but insert temporary/work offsets to move everything nearer the chuck. However, before you get to that level of complication, learn and understand how to make single parts first.

96
General Mach Discussion / Re: UC100 issues
« on: February 14, 2016, 11:25:12 AM »
I thought slaved axes had to be configured in the motion controller plug-in?

97
General Mach Discussion / Re: Educational Sources???
« on: February 14, 2016, 11:23:11 AM »
I forgot about Fusion 360. It's pretty good, however I'm not risking my commercial drawings floating around in their cloud tied up in their proprietary format. I'll stick to having my own DXF/STL files floating around in my own cloud.

Gerry, any particular reason to avoid BobCAD?
It seems to tick all the boxes I'm looking for, mainly HSM toolpaths with a reasonable work flow.

98
General Mach Discussion / Re: Educational Sources???
« on: February 14, 2016, 10:42:52 AM »
I've used CamBam a good bit. You get 30 completely unlimited uses before you have to buy a license, and even then it's not that expensive considering what it can do.

Although I am looking at moving to BobCad, however it's much more expensive, and only really worth it if you need the extra features, but I'd say get experience using something free/cheaper first.

I personally have a multi-PC HSMAdvisor license, although I think they've since dropped that option. They also have a free web-based calculator called FSWizard, which covers all the basics.

99
The CAM is doing exactly what you're telling it.
You've set it to move to X30 Z8 for the currently selected tool, prior to carrying out a tool change, which means the next tool position will be relative to the previous tools position.

What you really want, is for the turret to move to a safe position using machine coordinates, so the next tool position is not dependant on the last tool position.
This is normally done by adding a G53 to the G0 move prior to a tool change, for example -
Code: [Select]
G0 G53 X0 Z0 (move to machine home)
T0101 (change to tool 1 with tool 1 offsets)

There will be an option somewhere within Partsmaster to configure what offsets/codes get used for a tool change, however I personally don't know.

100
Whatever CAM package you use does not need to know about tool offsets. Dolphin support is accurate in their comment that tool offsets are only needed for old controllers that do no support tool offsets.

As far as the CAM is concerned, it requests a tool, and the machine controller (Mach in this case) handles all the offsets.
For example, if you want to turn something 10mm diameter with tool 2, the CAM will produce some code to tell Mach to change to tool 2, then move to X10 (in diameter mode).
If your post processor is also applying tool offsets, then that is most likely why you are getting 'random' positions.

If you can show us an example gcode file (either attach it, or copy and paste), it will give us a far better idea of what is happening.

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