Messages

531

General Mach Discussion / Re: Use of tools in a turret?

« on: February 27, 2012, 10:12:29 AM »

It didnt get the XML?

532

General Mach Discussion / Re: Use of tools in a turret?

« on: February 27, 2012, 10:11:29 AM »

Hood, here are the files (I hope). Let me know what other info I need to provide. Again, Thanks so much.

533

Newfangled Solutions Mach3 Wizards / Re: error set files missing

« on: February 26, 2012, 06:54:07 PM »

I went back and reloaded it off the sites files instead of mine. Worked great (the loading, as I havent tested any wizards). Thanks

534

General Mach Discussion / Re: Use of tools in a turret?

« on: February 26, 2012, 06:27:20 PM »

I have tried exactly your steps and get some strange responses. At times it seems like my dros dont reset and have offsets longer than my machine. I am still baffled why a G54 X0 Z0 F10 will act differently with different tools. Sometimes it appears 10ipm, others 3-4? When I see that my tool is about to pass or crash into my stock when verifying whether the tool table set up was successful my Smoothstepper throws up some fault (after I have pressed esc)

535

General Mach Discussion / Re: Use of tools in a turret?

« on: February 26, 2012, 04:10:39 PM »

Thanks so much for the speedy responses. I am going to try it some more right now.

536

General Mach Discussion / Re: Use of tools in a turret?

« on: February 26, 2012, 03:12:13 PM »

Hood, A few more questions if you dont mind. Can I use the tool change location as the master tool home ? (this is off of the limit/home switch on both axis by approx 1/4" and set in my tool change macro). In your example the master tool is 0. All other tools are offset from that? If I use all 6 holders in my turret, should I label and call the offset by the same number as the tool number? ie T101, T202, T303 etc? as they all have different lengths and distances from the changer? If I asked for tool 4 as in T401, tool 4 would load but would be using the offsets of tool 1, wouldnt it? Which if it was my longest tool for example (a long drill bit, longer than any other tool in the turret) but tool 4 was a left hand turning tool, wouldnt I end up with the turning tool the length of the drill bit (or the drill bit minus the turning tools projection in Z) away from the piece/stock? Damn, I cant even ask the question coherently.

537

General Mach Discussion / G28 in Turn causing problems?

« on: February 26, 2012, 02:40:22 PM »

I am using Turn and my understanding is that a G28 command should return all axis home (of course I could be wrong). However upon inserting G28 into the MDI line and pressing enter, my Z starts homing as it should, my X dros start moving but the carriage does not and I hear my toolchanger's stepper stalling against the pawl. Crosstalk? There are no home or limit switches in my toolchanger.

538

General Mach Discussion / Re: Use of tools in a turret?

« on: February 26, 2012, 02:34:05 PM »

Is there any reason why everyone keeps suggesting what to do "if I didnt have home switches"? I do have limit switches at the positive ends of travel in both axis and they are extremely repeatable according to my indicator. They are both used as home switches also and use different pins in Mach. Otherwise I will follow the advice as all my attempts above have not yielded me the results I was anticipating.

539

General Mach Discussion / Re: Use of tools in a turret?

« on: February 26, 2012, 01:41:42 PM »

So I tried T401 and T404 trying to see if there was a difference in how far it was away from the part I zeroed on using the master tool. I am missing something as all of the tools are the same distance away as the tool 1 (in Z). Though tool 1 hits Z0 X0 perfectly but my offsets from that tool must be wrong (easy to understand how that could have happened). I would have expected the error in X (due to the battle between radius and diameter) but not the Z. What amazes me the most is how you can write the manual so well and in an orderly manner (btw, this doesnt mean I understand it but that is my fault). I cant even conceptualize most of it. As you can see, order is not my strong suit.

540

General Mach Discussion / Re: Use of tools in a turret?

« on: February 26, 2012, 09:42:20 AM »

Rich, Confusion is a good word to use in this arena. There is an incredible amount to learn and having a strong mathematical background would have been nice too. When I started to read the first page of the link you gave me, 1 of the first screens was to check the persistent tool offset. I was sure this forgotten unfortunately all were checked. Anyway I went thru the process of loading a few tools however since my machine does have limit/home switches I modified it a little bit. I already have my toolchange occurring at a predetermined spot so I also used that for my zero world location (the location where the tool 0 was being set up). I then proceeded thru the 3 tools. Then I touched Z of my part (scrap in the spindle with a face and diameter) with my Master tool (1) and pressed part zero with 0 in the dro. I then homed the machine and entered T100 the correct tool was loaded (actually just verified as it was already in the right postion. I then entered G54 Z0 X0 F2. Tool 1 proceeded to part x0 Y0 perfectly though there are a few questions (I get a totally different feedrate depending on the tool chosen even though F2 was requested). On to other misunderstandings. I then pressed home all again. Machine homed fine. I then entered T400, (here is where I believe my first error was, no offset) tool 4 moved into the correct location in the turret and it appeared to be in the correct location in X but Z was the same distance away as the master tool was. I then had an epiphany (after I had shut everything down and was laying in bed) that because I didnt ask for any offset, it didnt give me any. My thought now is that had I specified T404 it would have gone to the correct location or T401 still not sure of which one but I will try them both this morning. Thank you both as always for your input. It is  privilege to be able to receive the professional advice I get here.