Messages

11

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: Tool pauses at X axis while cutting circles or threading?

« on: May 24, 2009, 10:37:40 AM »

No backlash comp is not on, I didn't think that a smoothstepper board supported this?

I'll check on the CV mode today (I think it is, but will check again)...

12

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: Tool pauses at X axis while cutting circles or threading?

« on: May 23, 2009, 05:29:33 PM »

It appears as though I have 0.002" of backlash on the Y axis.  X and Z were about 0.0004 and 0.0001. 

Here's a tidbit from the code for the finish pass of the circle that pauses at the X axis each time.

(***** Circular Groove/Cutout *****)
M6 T3
M03 S4000
M9
G00G43 H3 Z0.1
G00 X0.805 Y0.1875
G41 P0.125
G01 X0.6175 F25
G03 X0.43 Y0 R0.1875
F25
G02 X-0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.025
X0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.05
X-0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.075
X0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.1
X-0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.125
X0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.15
X-0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.175
X0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.2
X-0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.225
X0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.25
X-0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.275
X0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.3
X-0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.325
X0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.35
X-0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.375
X0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.4
X-0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.425
X0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.45
X-0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.475
X0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.5
X-0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.525
X0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.55
X-0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.575
X0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.6
X-0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.625
X0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.65
X-0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.6625
X0.43 Y0 R0.43 Z-0.675
X-0.43 Y0 R0.43
X0.43 Y0 R0.43
G00 Z0.1
G03 X0.6175 Y-0.1875 R0.1875
G40
G00 X0.805 Y-0.1875

13

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: Tool pauses at X axis while cutting circles or threading?

« on: May 23, 2009, 12:25:33 PM »

No, I haven't done that yet.  I'll try to get that done this afternoon.

I don't think that is the issue because I seem to recall cutting a different part a few weeks ago where it didn't pause like this.

14

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Tool pauses at X axis while cutting circles or threading?

« on: May 23, 2009, 11:52:27 AM »

While cutting a circle (0.86" diameter, 1" deep, spiraling downward toolpath) the tool moves along great except it pauses very briefly each time it crosses the X axis.  Why does it do this?  It does the same thing when I am cutting external threads on the same part.

I'm using the NFS wizards to create the toolpaths (2.83 I think) and version 3.042 of Mach 3.

15

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: Cut circle wizard always cuts the exact diameter (not accounting for tool dia)

« on: May 22, 2009, 07:04:29 PM »

Just made a cut and it appears as though it was an operator error.  I was out of town for a week and forgot how to read the toolpath (thinking the white line was the center of the tool and not the cutting edge... LOL

16

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Cut circle wizard always cuts the exact diameter (not accounting for tool dia)

« on: May 22, 2009, 06:21:40 PM »

Not sure what is going on?  I upgraded to the latest version 2.83 (from 2.79) and tried it again.  Same results.

Trying to cut a circle 1.08" diameter with a 0.5" tool at X=0 Y=0 (center of work piece is already drilled out).  Regardless of whether I select inside or outside the tool path always runs thru x=0.54 and x=-0.54 (like it thinks the tool has a diameter of zero)?  What's going on?

17

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: G73 retract amount vs. Mach configuration for G73 pullback

« on: May 14, 2009, 11:04:38 AM »

The changes work fine here. Make your entry in the DRO then hit OK...not ENTER.
RC

Thanks!

Very good point Vmax549, I figured that was the case when I ran it.  Thinking about it some more, would this be a better way to do the above?  I simply added a G0 Z0.1 and G0 Z-(X) where X is the last drill depth.  This should cause it to rapid back out of the hole completely then rapid back down to where it left off.

M6 T15
M03 S4000
M9
G00G43 H15 Z0.1
G73 X0 Y0 Z-0.25 Q0.025 R0 F11.9
G80
G0 Z0.1
G0 Z-0.25
G90
(***** Linear Hole Pattern *****)
G73 X0 Y0 Z-0.5 Q0.025 R-0.25 F11.9
G80
G0 Z0.1
G0 Z-0.5
G90
(***** Linear Hole Pattern *****)
G73 X0 Y0 Z-0.75 Q0.025 R-0.5 F11.9
G80
G0 Z0.1
G0 Z-0.75
G90
(***** Linear Hole Pattern *****)
G73 X0 Y0 Z-1 Q0.025 R-0.75 F11.9
G80
G0 Z0.1
G90
M5 M9
M30

18

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: G73 retract amount vs. Mach configuration for G73 pullback

« on: May 14, 2009, 12:47:27 AM »

Here's the code I got to do what I needed...  HOWEVER, Mach3 will not let me change the G73 retraction amount in the ports and pins configuration area?  It won't save the change?  I'm stuck with a 0.1" retraction after each peck??

M6 T15
M03 S4000
M9
G00G43 H15 Z0.1
G73 X0 Y0 Z-0.25 Q0.025 R0 F11.9
G80
G90
(***** Linear Hole Pattern *****)
G73 X0 Y0 Z-0.5 Q0.025 R-0.25 F11.9
G80
G90
(***** Linear Hole Pattern *****)
G73 X0 Y0 Z-0.75 Q0.025 R-0.5 F11.9
G80
G90
(***** Linear Hole Pattern *****)
G73 X0 Y0 Z-1 Q0.025 R-0.75 F11.9
G80
G90
M5 M9
M30

19

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: G73 retract amount vs. Mach configuration for G73 pullback

« on: May 13, 2009, 01:20:23 PM »

Ok, I think I was confusing the R value in the G73 code with the retraction distance.  The R value is the safe starting distance above the job, not the retraction distance.  So the retraction distance used in G73 code is only controlled with the setting in Mach3.

Here's what I was wanting to do:  I'm drilling a 1.75" deep hole.  I wanted to use the G73 for 0.5 inches, then retract full amount, then rapid back down, use peck drilling for another 0.5", then full retract, etc.  The G83 just takes too long to finish the hole.

Will this work?

G73 X1 Y1 Z-.5 R0.1 Q0.05 F4
G80
G0 Z-.5
G73 X1 Y1 Z-1 R-.5 Q0.05 F4
G80
G0 Z0.1
G0 Z-1
G73 X1 Y1 Z-1.5 R-1 Q0.05 F4
G80
G0 Z0.1
G0 Z-1.5
G73 X1 Y1 Z-1.75 R-1.5 Q0.05 F4
G80

I'd like to change my Mach setting for the retraction distance to make it smaller as well.  I just need to break the chip, no use in going any farther.  Maybe 0.025"?

20

General Mach Discussion / Re: Toolpath screen in Mach3 is upside down?

« on: May 13, 2009, 11:41:40 AM »

Yes thats correct for machine coords. You can however have positive Z moves in your work offsets though. For work offsets the top of thge stock is normally zero so an inch above is +1 and an inch below is -1.

That's what I thought and the way I've been doing it.

Yes, it does machine the parts correctly, just that the toolpath view doesn't look right on the machine PC.  I'll pay more attention tonight and see which code flips the Z axis around.