Messages

41

General Mach Discussion / Re: Are G33 & G76 supported in Mach3?

« on: July 17, 2020, 04:54:11 AM »

Thanks for the input TPS but that is about Mach3TURN  I'm looking for a solution for Mach3Mill  - sorry I should have made that clear in my post 

42

General Mach Discussion / Are G33 & G76 supported in Mach3?

« on: July 17, 2020, 03:49:56 AM »

I'm investigating 'Thread Milling' but cannot find any details about the parameters I need to add after a G33 or G76 call. Using the [ G-Code ] button in Mach3, these codes are not listed so there are no 'hints' and I can't make head nor tail of what is supposed to happen after I select the 'Thread Milling' Wizard -- it simply shows me a new screen with Exit. Post Code, etc. along with a number of apparently editable dimensions which return to the initial state upon exit. The [ Post Code ] does not alter the 'No File Loaded' message.

Since I am looking to make 'large' (but short) threads  -  100 - 200mm dia and 2 - 4.5mm pitch  -  using a single point tool a 'Tap' is not an option 
I understand the complexity of threads needing a very specific feed rate in the Z axis which will not (necessarily) be the same as the feed rate in X & Y but cannot yet see any G-Code that will achieve that.
Any input appreciated!

43

General Mach Discussion / Re: G82 Drilling Cycle

« on: July 15, 2020, 07:18:10 AM »

That's my opinion as well Tweakie.
Since the 'office' system is only a simulation exercise, a re-installation wouldn't be a problem and may well solve the issue.

44

General Mach Discussion / Re: G82 Drilling Cycle

« on: July 15, 2020, 06:59:14 AM »

Thanks Tweakie,  That at least points me to yet another 'feature' in the very flexible Mach3 system which I hadn't yet discovered but the VB script in my office system is already exactly as you site - I presume my workshop system is the same.


Seldom taking anything on face value  -   I've just clicked on the [ Run Script ] icon and I'm not surprised to see an error message  "Error on line:1 - Sub or function not defined: GetMainFolder"   but since I am yet to study VB it doesn't really tell me much.

45

General Mach Discussion / Re: G82 Drilling Cycle

« on: July 15, 2020, 06:19:52 AM »

Thanks TPS -- yes that file exists in both of my systems and I now have a shortcut to it on my office system.

It is still not activated by the [ G-Code ] button - whichever '.set' I invoke.

I'm not concerned about trying to resolve the issue - it's no hardship to simply invoke the shortcut which opens the .htm file in the browser when I do need a 'hint'   -   which I'm sure will be often 

46

General Mach Discussion / Re: G82 Drilling Cycle

« on: July 15, 2020, 04:48:15 AM »

Obviously I must have some differences in my set-up.
I have two systems -  one in my 'office' where I do the design/coding work with a Mach3 installation that isn't attached to a CNC machine at all - it allows me to do simulations without causing any damage!

The second is the 'Live' system in my workshop connected to a Denford MicroRouter Compact.

It seems that the screen '.set' is different on each (though both are named 1024.set) and the [ G-Code ] button has different results on each.

The 'Live' system shows a 'pop out' window and clicking on an entry does give me G-Code hints but the office system shows a non-interactive G-Code List 'Image'.

I've just copied the 1024.set file from 'Live' to 'Office' (after renaming the office version) and now the office [ G-Code ] button is inactive?    This seems to indicate that there are other files that also need to be transferred but I have no idea which.

47

General Mach Discussion / Re: G82 Drilling Cycle

« on: July 14, 2020, 02:39:44 PM »

I've done quite a few simulations this afternoon and have nearly got drilling a grid of holes sorted, but one thing still alludes me.
This is the program I have now settled on :

Code: [Select]

%
O0000  (Drill Hole Grid.NC)

N10 G21 G90 
N20 G0 X200 Y100 Z0 S6000 M3
N30 G1 F100 Z-20
N40 G0 Z0

N100 G91 G82 G98 X-50  Z-20 R-10 P1 F100 L3
N110 Y-40
N120 G1 G82 X50 L3
N130 Y-40
N140 G1 G82 X-50 L3

N200 G0 Z0
N210 M5
%
The simulation works and shows that it does drill a total of 12 holes, however, the tool always returns to Z0 after drilling rather than Z-10 as I expected due to 'R-10' in line N100.

Can anyone explain why?  or, better still, tell me what 'R' ought to be to minimize the Z travel between holes.

48

General Mach Discussion / Re: G82 Drilling Cycle

« on: July 14, 2020, 05:28:21 AM »

The great benefit of 'simulation' - no material or tooling costs 

I've already proved my theory so there's not a deal of cost in time either!

You've also shown me that I can omit the leading zeros from codes such as M03 so thanks for that as well.

49

General Mach Discussion / Re: G82 Drilling Cycle

« on: July 14, 2020, 05:01:00 AM »

GOT IT !

The X & Y co-ordinates are [ RELATIVE ] (or incremental) not Absolute 

That now makes sense, Thanks.
That is not what the CNC Cookbook tutorial suggests though.

I had seen the [ G-Codes ] button in Mach3 (and used it) - I just hadn't noticed that the list was larger than the one I had downloaded 

Looking again at the example you site TPS, it seems to me that it would not drill a hole at the initial position but would drill holes in a diagonal line rather than a grid.
By omitting the Y parameter I would expect 3 holes along the X axis at 4 units pitch and of course omitting the X parameter - 3 along the Y axis at 5 units pitch.
Hmmm...  I think I need to do a simulation and watch the 'Table Display' very closely.

50

General Mach Discussion / Re: G82 Drilling Cycle

« on: July 14, 2020, 04:04:38 AM »

Thanks TPS - The only code I don't understand there is G54 --  I have a list which was described as 'definitive' but it doesn't have anything between G42 and G73 so I now suspect (I suppose I always did) that it is incomplete.

I can also see that setting up the modal codes S R P & F and then specifying the X or Y co-ordinates would do exactly what I'm looking for - very straightforward - it was the fact that the CNC Cookbook also specified an [L] parameter (number of repeats) and I couldn't (can't) see how that would work without specifying a hole 'pitch'. 


This therefore begs the question of why use G82 when G81 would do the same thing ---- or would it?