Messages

31

General Mach Discussion / Re: Homing Not Working

« on: June 30, 2014, 11:01:06 AM »

Found the problem.  The two that didn't work for homing were swapped.  They worked for limits, but not for homing that way.  Made it hard to find and trouble shoot.  It came that way. 

32

General Mach Discussion / Homing Not Working

« on: June 05, 2014, 07:20:16 PM »

Ok, I just bought my first "fully setup" new machine running Mach 3 and I have a problem.  It uses proximity switches as both homing and limits.  They seem to work fine as a limits, but only one axis actually homes properly.  The other two just keep going until I hit the E-stop button.  With the diagnostic page up they light the indicator, but it doesn't stop and home.  It just overshoots and keeps going. 

Suggestions? 

33

General Mach Discussion / Re: Rigid Tapping

« on: January 04, 2014, 12:36:16 AM »

This guy claims to be doing it with a servo spindle and not using swap axis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19aSV9JeU10

34

MACH TOOL BOX / Re: G31 Probing Arrays

« on: December 20, 2013, 06:06:23 PM »

I finally got around to trying this today.  It probes one point (in the correct direction), goes back to the start point, and then retracts Z until it hits my limit switch. 

What am I missing? 

35

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: M6 Macro Help

« on: July 16, 2013, 04:47:16 PM »

I had not used G30 before, but based on this thread I decided to see what it does.  G28 seems to utilize a safe Z, and G30 seems to go directly to home without utilizing a safe z move.  Otherwise they both rapid the machine to the programmed position when no axis words are used.  (I have not tried it on a machine where safe Z is not programmed.) 

36

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: M6 Macro Help

« on: July 16, 2013, 04:36:22 PM »

All I will say is, don't expect future versions of Mach to work that way.

Ok...  I tested it on my machine, and on my desktop that has no machine connected.  It seemed to work the same way on both.  I think my desktop has the latest version of 3 as I had to nuke the computer (ice virus) and reinstall just a week or so ago.  It is also the way Tormach documents to setup their machines, so its not something new I just discovered.  G28 to preposition for a tool change. T(x) M6 G43 H(x) to perform the tool change.  

G28 is defined in the Mach 3 descriptions as "To return to a home position by way of the programmed position," and "If no axis words are programmed, the intermediate point is the current point."  On the homing and limits page there is a place to enter the G28 position.  Based on the documentaiton it sounds like its doing exactly what its supposed to.  I do have safe Z turned on.  I suppose it would go directly to that position and risk crashes into clamps etc if I did not, but otherwise it seems like its doing what is described.  

Are you saying that I have grossly mis-interpretted the documentation, or that you are redefining the meaning of G28 in future versions?  

37

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: M6 Macro Help

« on: July 16, 2013, 12:03:59 PM »

I do need to ask.  Was the surpsied face icon because I told you something you didn't know, or because my machine and setup is doing something it shouldn't? 

38

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: M6 Macro Help

« on: July 16, 2013, 10:59:28 AM »

What I am trying to do is get this bit to work properly to change the indicated tool and the tool offset automatically with just an T(x) M6 command in the G-code.  This would be a superior solution to modifying my post processor to generator the extra code for tool changes. 

tool = GetSelectedTool()
SetCurrentTool(tool)
Code "g43 H" & tool

I think my problem was some confusion in setting up the tool offset table.  I think that snip of code works, but I had my tool table setup wrong.  If I have time I'll do some experiments today, but I need to make some parts first. 

As to the bit about G28 ~ Tormach shows it in their tool table setup videos also.  Interestingly they say you have to set it in on the settings page.  There is a place to enter a G28 position on the settings page, but it didn't work for me.  When I set it on the homing and limits page it worked perfectly. 

39

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: M6 Macro Help

« on: July 16, 2013, 10:06:13 AM »

Well it does do some thing.  With 12 2 0 set as the G28 position on the homing and limits page it goes to machine position 12 2 0.  This is a very convenient location to do a tool change.  It works that way.  I have tested it and it works. 

40

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: M6 Macro Help

« on: July 15, 2013, 01:50:14 PM »

I am having some problems getting my mind wrapped around the tool offsets and the tool table.  It seems simple, but doesn't seem to work for me.  I am abandoning the G43 H(x) stuff for now.  

Just going with this for now:

Code "m9"
Code "m5"
Code "g28"
Code "m1"