Messages

11

General Mach Discussion / Re: Skipped Parts

« on: February 08, 2013, 06:10:42 AM »

Hello Graham. Thanks for replying,
I know I use a lot of G40's were the are not necessary. That's because I make use of a general purpose library, and you never know what happens around those subs in the different part programs. So I always leave every sub with a G40 and a G90 to be sure that nothing is left behind.
In an attempt to understand what was happening, I also made a version without G90/G91 changes in the subs. This did not solve the problem.
Personally I think that there are still a couple of bugs in the way Mach3 deals with subs. I know of at least one, and that is the toolcompensation within subs. This does not work.
Wilfried

12

General Mach Discussion / Re: Skipped Parts

« on: February 07, 2013, 02:09:13 PM »

Hi Tweakie and Dave,

Thanks for helping and the effort you put in the problem.
I now installed the newer version R3.043.066, and that version runs the partprogram OK.
But I now see other strange things. While running the part program and observing the Mach3 toolpath screen, it stroked me that while the active point was drawing instance 2 of an instrument hole, Mach 3 was highlighting the first instance of that hole. See the attachment.
This means that Mach3 does not completely release subroutines and their waste data after they have been used. I encountered similar things some time ago when I was trying to use tool compensation within subs. That clearly did not work and as far as I know, has not been solved yet.  That was the reason I hesitated to buy and still work with the demo version.  I think there still is a major issue within Mach3 with subroutines.
Wilfried.

13

General Mach Discussion / Re: Skipped Parts

« on: February 07, 2013, 07:43:12 AM »

Hi Tweakie

I'm using version Version R3.043.022.
Did you really do a real-life test run ? I mean on a real machine ?
Wilfried

14

General Mach Discussion / Re: Skipped Parts

« on: February 07, 2013, 06:04:12 AM »

Hello Dave,
I now try to get the part prgram uploaded.

15

General Mach Discussion / Re: Skipped Parts

« on: February 07, 2013, 06:02:37 AM »

Hello Dave. thanks for your quick response.
But, I Don't use CAM software or a postprocessor and make all G-code part programs by hand. These panels are relatively simple. So I use I library of components and only have to put them on their right coordinates on a panel. It's very straight forward.
But whatever I try to do, to upload the XML and the part program, I always get the message that there is already a file with that name and I should rename and try again etc.
Wilfried

16

General Mach Discussion / Re: Skipped Parts

« on: February 07, 2013, 04:50:44 AM »

Have a look and shudder !!

I have attached 2 pictures. One from the Mach 3 screen and one of a part of the pencil-drawn part  (tool replaced by pencil).
As you can see on the pencil drawing, the second hole of a vertical series of holes (circuit breakers) is missing, although the screen picture shows that MAch 3 nows its existence. The holes are called for in sequence with nothing happening in between.
Why is Mach 3 refusing to produce that second hole.

Wilfried

17

General Mach Discussion / Re: Skipped Parts

« on: February 04, 2013, 09:46:30 AM »

I will try to get some pictures to show what is happening. 
The "lost parts" are drawn (or should be) with the same subroutine, without any change in settings.
Here is part of the code that produces 4 holes for circuitbreakers in a vertical row.
"
G00 X-32  Y-210   M98 P90  (Fuse 1)
G00 X-32  Y-190   M98 P90  (Fuse 2)
G00 X-32  Y-170   M98 P90  (Fuse 3)
G00 X-32  Y-150   M98 P90  (Fuse 4)
"
O90 is the sub that draws the Circuitbreaker outline (no tool comp used. I know that that will not work correctly).
Nmbr. 2 circuitbreaker is shown on screen (as expected), but not executed on the machine.

18

General Mach Discussion / Re: Skipped Parts

« on: February 04, 2013, 08:41:33 AM »

I'm afraid this is not the case. My technical PC runs only one program and that's Mach3. It knows no other tasks. After the "lost part", the rest of the work is completed correctly.
When I repeat the test-drwawing it makes the same mistake exactly the same spot again.

Wilfried

19

General Mach Discussion / Skipped Parts

« on: February 04, 2013, 07:05:40 AM »

I have to produce a new aircraft (glider) panel again and have finished the design. Normally I first put a pencil in the tool holder to draw the panel. This is the final check before cutting the real panel. But I did not believe my eyes when I saw that Mach 3 was simply skipping drawing some of the partholes. They were clearly visible on the screen in the Toolpath display, but were not reproduced by the machine.
The skipped part was the second one out of a series of 4 identical parts.
How is this possible, What did I do wrong ? How can such a mismatch between Mach-3's own screendrawing and actual drawing develop ?
My machine (Portal CNC, 3*4 feet) normally works without the slightest problem.
I need urgent help in order to deliver the product in time.

Wilfried Oude Vrielink

20

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Mach3 and code G41/G42 in subroutines

« on: February 05, 2012, 06:13:51 AM »

Graham,

Thank you very much for your contribution. I did a let of small alterrations on the code and think that, with your support, I now solved the problem.
It could be formulated in a rule like: A curved feed-in should always be preceded by a small straight line more or less perpendicular to the line to feed-in on? G41/G42 must be active before the start of that "pre-feed-in".
If I stick to this rule all variations of the part program work correctly. Having the correct offset and no overshoot.
It's not so bad that the program requires this, if only it were specified somewhere.
Many thanks,

Wilfried