Messages

31

CVI MachStdMill (MSM) / Re: Returning to start of code after tool change!

« on: August 21, 2010, 07:34:28 PM »

Thanks Dave,

I don't feel so much special more privileged to be able to help out with this great work that you and other are doing.

I've been using this config all weekend and everything seem to be going fine.  I'm waiting on my probe to arrive so that I can give probing a go.

I have a couple of suggestions that would make things a bit easier for me at least.
1) Would it be possible/practical to be able to enter the thickness of the mobile TP and the gauge block?  I use both, gauge block for ATLO and mobile TP to set WC Z zero.

2) Would it be possible to have the Set Z zero arrow on the WC Offset Touch Off tab made into an action button that would move Z down to the mobile TP on the work?  I can achieve this by using the TP as a home switch and setting the offset as the TP thickness but this make the MC Z = WC Z, this is the way I have been using Mach until I found MSM with MTM.

3 )Would it be possible to get the PTL for the master too from Tooling tab where it is entered or measured when we go to set TCP TP MCz on the Settings tab?  The way I have been setting up my machine is-
   Go to a random x, y ,z and Ref All (all install some home switches soon)
   Move to WC x, y & z zero and zero these
   Move to TC position, load the master tool then measure its PTL.  This updates the Master PTL on the Tooling tab
   Then go to the Settings tab and Set TCP TP MCz.  This requests the Master Tool PTL which was captured in the previous step.

I may be using this the wrong way but this seems to work for me.

Calum

32

CVI MachStdMill (MSM) / Re: Returning to start of code after tool change!

« on: August 16, 2010, 02:46:54 AM »

HI Dave,

1) OK I'll try to capture the environment next time I see multi axis moves, it seems OK since I restarted Mach but it has happened a couple of times before.

2) I turned off AutoTCP, MTM and ATOL, code ran fine until I re-enabled ATOL where the code rewound after returning from the tool change.  I did a manual TLO measure while doing the tool change with everything off but and the code rewound when I returned from the tool change, seems to be something to do with the TLO measure.

1 revisited) The multi axis move happened while I was doing the above so I will send the XML and log file to you as well.  I had to restart the computer to get a copy of the log file as it was still open after I shut down Mach.

Cheers
Calum

33

CVI MachStdMill (MSM) / Re: Returning to start of code after tool change!

« on: August 15, 2010, 03:41:41 AM »

Hi Dave,

It definitely rewinds for me, both my code and your test code return to the first line and stop!

I also had something weird happen after I ran my code as a test I loaded your code, had a couple of false starts then when it got to the tool change all 3 axis started moving when it was trying to do the TLO.  I restarted MSM than ran your code which returned to line one after the ATOL.

Calum

34

CVI MachStdMill (MSM) / Returning to start of code after tool change!

« on: August 15, 2010, 12:06:01 AM »

Hi Dave,

With your help and the updates to MSM and Mach I have now got MTM working the way it should.  I've made changes to my post possessor to make good use of this and all is looking good but for some reason when I run the G-code it returns to the start of the code after a tool change.  I have TC Auto TCP, Master T Mode and TC Auto TLO on and the code from my post is

 N1 G21 G40 G49 G54 G80 G90 G91.1

(JOB 1  SLICE CUT PLANAR)
(FEATURE SLICE PLANAR)

N2 T3 M06
N3 G43 H3
N4 M08
N5 S24000 M03
N6 G00 G90 G54
N7 X0. Y90.31
N8 Z19.
. . . . . .

I have beta 5 with Mach R3.043.016 and SS.

Code runs fine if I Set Nxt Ln: to the one after the tool change until the next tool change, any ideas?

Calum

35

CVI MachStdMill (MSM) / Re: MT and TCP TP questions

« on: August 10, 2010, 03:11:02 AM »

Thanks Dave.

Beta 4 seems to have got MTM working the way I was expect it to.

Yes I'm setting the MT PTL to 0 and the MCz is giving me a 0 not the 12.something I was getting.

I'll now work my way through this again, I'm sure I do have a risk of crashing if tool length comp is off.  My spindle shaft is hollow so there is nothing to stop my longest tools at a consistent position, I have an ER20 col let chuck.  I not in the manual, section 8.1.4.2.1, you mention Measuring the MT PTL with TCP TP, would this work if I cant guarantee the MT is not inserted to the same length each time I setup the machine?

Calum

36

CVI MachStdMill (MSM) / Re: MT and TCP TP questions

« on: August 10, 2010, 01:24:38 AM »

Hi Dave,

I think I may need to revise my Z strategies.  I have chosen the spindle as this is the best RH I have, I do understand the risk of having all tools longer that the MT.  I also have chosen to make the table MC zero as I have not fitted a home switch at the top of the Z travel.  I think this is not standard practice either but it has been working for me so far.  This is a home made gantry router and I have learned all I know form the forums and just doing it.  These plenty to learn, thanks for your help.

I'll go over the advanced tool handling again to see if I can't get a better understanding of it.

Cheers
Calum

37

CVI MachStdMill (MSM) / MT and TCP TP questions

« on: August 09, 2010, 05:03:45 AM »

Thanks Dave, That the 0.70 Probing lib fixed the positioning issue and I can now run the "Set TCP TP MCz “ function every time.

I'm not sure that I'm using this correctly because the MCz set point doesn't look right and the relative tool lengths of other tools seem to be too long and don't go to the top of the work ie short by the extra length as measured.

I use the end of my spindle without its nut or collect as my master tool and to set the machine ref at start-up.  This makes the TP Z0 and my MT has a 0 length which is verified with a Measure TLO.  When I enable MTM and go to the "Set TCP TP MCz “ function the spindle moves to the touch plate then retracts and stops with a message that the Z0 has been found, when I accept the setting the spindle return to the TCP and I get a setting of +12.4869, this looks to be about the distance of the retract, I was expecting 0.  Am I doing something wrong?

I also notice that if I have a value in the Probe Slow FR on the WC Offset > Probing tab the spindle will touch the TP and stop there, no Step off and slow probe as I was expecting.

Calum

38

CVI MachStdMill (MSM) / Re: Can't return to TCP

« on: August 08, 2010, 02:48:07 AM »

Well spotted it is exactly 1 step, weird that it is always out by 1 step.   This is enough to stop MTM working as if reports that the tool isn't @ TCP, can you think of anything I can do to get around this?

Calum

39

CVI MachStdMill (MSM) / Re: Can't return to TCP

« on: August 08, 2010, 01:10:20 AM »

Hi Dave,

1)I had my current position DRO in MC mode.

2)The current position in MC mode is different to the TCP by about .0188mm.

3)Weird indeed.  No soft limits set.  I have a Smooth Stepper so I thought I would up the pulsing frequency but no change there either.

I was running 3.34.10 and have now reinstalled that.  I rebuilt my XML from scratch and still have the same problem.  I may blow it all away and start with a clean sheet just incase there is something hanging around from a previous install.

Calum

40

CVI MachStdMill (MSM) / Can't return to TCP

« on: August 07, 2010, 07:49:28 PM »

Hi Dave,

I have something strange going on with the TCP that I can't get my head around.

I Ref everything then set a TCP now when I move off the TCP then hit the Go TC Pos't button the current position is off by around .0188 mm in X and Y and a smaller amount in Z.  If I reset Mach3 by using the ready button the machine will return to the TCP when I press the Go TC Pos't button.

I'm sure I didn't have this problem when I got MTM going the other day, I have replaced the XML with a copy from my original Mach3 and started over 2 or 3 times with the same result now, must be something I'm missing any ideas?

Cheers
Calum