Messages

31

General Mach Discussion / Re: tool not clearing top

« on: October 24, 2011, 11:36:41 AM »

yes, i had seen that setting and it is not checked. So there should be no soft limits on rotation. And in the limits area it is 99999, 5 digits. A mechanical limit inside the rotary table is all i can think of that would stop it. It will make many rotations before it finally won't continue.  The degrees of rotation are accurate, in settings I can ask for 100 degrees and it hit is dead on. So that is good.  I had to start over after messing with the rotary table stopping so I do not still know if layer two will be botched or not.

32

General Mach Discussion / Re: tool not clearing top

« on: October 24, 2011, 09:20:39 AM »

Using the possible theory that the rotary table has a physical limitation as to how many times it can rotate, I have backed it up 2000 degrees, reset everything to zero and am now running again to see what happens.  I found that by rotating back 2000 degrees, I could rotate forward 2000 degrees before it gets to that spot it won't go any more, so maybe that will solve this new problem.  I do know that after ever failed test cut, the machine did rotate, so it is possible that after many attempts it has rotated forward to the point of no more forward if that's a physical possibility.

33

General Mach Discussion / Re: tool not clearing top

« on: October 24, 2011, 08:13:33 AM »

ok, sounds good.  The file is .5 mm flat mill bit, .3125 radius <.625 diameter rod>

I tried cutting again with z axis reduced by 50%.  I only made it 80% through layer one.  Then the machine stopped rotating. It was moving the numbers for rotations, but not actually rotating, when the rotation numbers would stop, then x would kick in and it would go across, then do the a rotation again but not physically moving, then x would move across again, over and over again.

I checked diagnostics, had yellow home light on.  I went to inputs and checked off A home output. Light went away.  I jogged bit up.  I jogged A, it won't move up.  I jogged a down, moves down fine.  I sped up jog rate.  I can jog down the a axis all the way around and keep going.  Then I can jog it all the way back up around until it gets to 315 degree mark, then it won't go more.  It will go all the way around one way but not the other. I checked homing limits, A is set at 9999, so that looks good to me, kinda says to me there is no limit on A. But A is acting like it's at the end.   If I jog Down the A all the way around and keep going, so lets say 500 degrees.  I can jog it back up 500 degrees until it gets to that 315 point and then it's stuck.  Makes me wonder, is there a limit as to how many rotations the A can go physically inside the unit?  Like it's got a worm gear inside that is at the end, and so I have to just jog it back a couple full revolutions to get that gear in the middle?  Makes sense but makes no sense to me at all, I would think the A could rotate in either direction indefinitely.

34

General Mach Discussion / Re: tool not clearing top

« on: October 24, 2011, 04:37:35 AM »

I'd be happy to do so, how do I upload the NC file?

35

General Mach Discussion / Re: tool not clearing top

« on: October 23, 2011, 04:05:29 PM »

I sure wish it was as simple as the tool coming loose. I can repeat the error over and over again, happens at start of layer 2 every single time in the same place. The tool is secure, the workpiece is secure.

36

General Mach Discussion / Re: tool not clearing top

« on: October 23, 2011, 12:22:15 PM »

Do my posted setting look correct?

The tool did not suck out at all. The machine said it was at .275 on the second pass the entire time. The Z axis certainly was getting progressively deeper even though it said on the screen it was constant, and only did this on layer 2 not layer 1.  I can certainly try lowering the acceleration setting on the Z. I will do that. I can change the toolpath and safe Z setting too if you guys think any of that is wrong.  I can't remember the setting exactly as to what it was on the successful one, I do not think "A rotations enabled" was checked as a yes.

I probably have to wait till tomorrow to reload, as all my bits are trashed but I do have more on order coming real soon. Last 5 attempts have ended pretty much like this. It's a little frustrating, seeing it go from failure to success and then back to failure.

37

General Mach Discussion / tool not clearing top

« on: October 23, 2011, 09:42:03 AM »

I am having a problem where the tool goes crazy. It was working, but I've been playing a bit with the settings because I could not physically see the depth, the Z was not showing it even though it was there.  Now the Z is showing the depth and it is the correct depth on the first pass at least.  I have 4 passes to do.  The machine ran the entire first pass perfect. When it started over at the beginning, the first pocket went perfect. Then it jumped to second pocket and it went deeper than in the first pocket..that's where the trouble began. Then it came up but did not come up high enough, probably because it was extra deep in second pocket, it shot over to 3 pocket scoring across the top of the piece ruining it and tried to go triple deep, busting the bit.  I know for sure, the programming is good. I have had a successful cutting. I know for sure the a axis is tuned and the z axis is tuned and the x axis is tuned perfect.

My guesses of the problem might lay in one or both of these areas.

Safe Z setting perhaps.

Says allow safe z, no
safe z machine coordinates yes
safe z work coordinates no
safe z incremental rise no
safe z is zero
go safe z when stop button hit, no

Toolpath settings

Yes, 3d compass
Machine boundries yes
tool position yes  <<<since checking this box is when the z axis reading started to display I think
Axis rotation is checked X axis
A rotations enabled is yes
use radius feedrate is yes, and in settings page the radius of the rod is entered correctly.

38

General Mach Discussion / Re: Now I am into a new pickle!

« on: October 21, 2011, 01:21:19 PM »

Yep..it's not that.  I did the settings config test on the Z and it is dead on. I did have my tailstock slightly out of wack, it was a hair low and that was causing a deeper cut on one side.  Everything is tight, everything is cutting out absolutely perfectly too. It's goofy!  The Z drops down from 0 to -.025. It really does exactly that, but the display says it's at zero.  The X and the A is showing constant number changes as they move around, just not the Z. If I go back to non radius mode, or to 3 axis mode, the Z goes back to showing me the numbers. Only in the radius mode does it do this, yet it's doing the cutting right. The machine only performs properly in Radius mode too. It's a problem and yet not a problem if you know what I mean.

Check it out...Cut this out perfectly.

39

General Mach Discussion / Re: Now I am into a new pickle!

« on: October 21, 2011, 08:39:49 AM »

It's still really bizzare. The last one cut just a tiny bit too deep. So I have reset the depth a little shallower. It's odd that it is cutting but the z axis says it's at zero depth.

40

General Mach Discussion / Re: Now I am into a new pickle!

« on: October 20, 2011, 04:46:06 PM »

ok...never mind, it's all in my paranoid head! Everything is cutting quite well, it's almost finished and is coming out at the right depth.