Messages

191

General Mach Discussion / Re: Using a Sevo as a Spindle and an Axis

« on: August 04, 2017, 12:14:41 AM »

I have a similar setup and I csn use it as a C axis but can't find a way to make it be a lathe spindle.

192

General Mach Discussion / Re: First post: Mach3 machine and workspace offsets, auto home, and auto tool offset

« on: July 29, 2017, 02:17:12 PM »

Pbft,
You are still missing one tiny thing I wrote about earlier.  Tool length offsets are relative numbers to each other.  As an example, if I measure the top of a a part using my middle finger and my pinky is 1/2 inch away then measuring another part with my middle finger my pinky will still be 1/2" away.  If you call G54 and set 4 tools on top of it, and use any one of them to set Zero, then call G55 and and use any one to set Z zero, all your tools will work properly in both locations.  the key here is you needed to pick up Z zero with G54 active on the first part, then pick up Z zero with G55 active on the other part.

Hope this helps.

193

General Mach Discussion / Re: First post: Mach3 machine and workspace offsets, auto home, and auto tool offset

« on: July 26, 2017, 07:35:24 PM »

Think of it this way. The Z offset is relative to the spindle, not the part and not the machine home position. So in order to 'share' the Z tool length you must use a tool length offset for every tool INCLUDING the tool used to pick up the part Z zero. If the tool length is enabled for that tool then using it to set the part Z zero for each work offset will work as you want.

194

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help! Mach 3 glue dispenser !!

« on: July 22, 2017, 10:06:30 PM »

Since M3 is a spindle command Mach 3 has a dwell setting for the spindle to come up to speed. You need to adjust the dwell.

195

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Setting WCS with Haimer 3D

« on: July 22, 2017, 12:39:18 PM »

In most CNCs I have run the T word must have another code to apply tool length like H1. So you need to apply the length for the Haimer before setting 0 then apply the length for the new tool.

196

General Mach Discussion / Re: cutting direction and precision

« on: July 15, 2017, 11:57:49 AM »

A climb cut deflects the tool away from the material making the hole smaller. Conventional cutting pulls the tool into the material making the hole larger. Tools, materials, and machines all deflect, and your machine likely has backlash too. Compensating for all that is what makes you a machinist

197

FAQs / Re: New to CNC need help please

« on: July 07, 2017, 07:47:24 PM »

Are you in G90 absolute mode or G91 incremental mode? In incremental G91 ca move like X1 will move one increment in the plus direction every time you execute it. In G90 the first X1 will take you to X=1. Doing it again doesn't cause movement because you are already there.

198

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Tool Setup

« on: July 02, 2017, 10:12:36 AM »

Try this.  Create a 1" square object in Fusion 360.  Select a tool and create the G-code for an outside profile. Look at the G-code.  Is there a G40 output?  Are there radiuses programmed?  If so then the tool radius IS being used.  Are the straight lines equal to 1"?  Are the radiuses equal to the tool radius?  If this is all true then Fusion is doing everything correctly and is using the tool radius.

You need to learn to read G-code a bit.  Fortunately the easiest way is to look at the output from a CAM program.  I use CamBam but I always use Single Block to start a program for the first time, reading each line of G-Code and looking at the DROs to make sure the NEXT operation or move is going to be safe.  When the tool goes where it is supposed to be and the next operation will start cutting I turn off Single Block and let it go with the feed rate turned way down.  Once it is cutting properly I turn the feed rate up.

Little trick.  Always set the feed rate high and turn down the override a lot.  You can turn down way more percentage wise than you can turn the speed up.  I don't like needing the stop and change the program when I find out I can go a lot faster.  You might say you don't need to go faster.  Feeding slow actually wears out tools faster because they are taking more cuts for the same material removal and thin chips cause the tool to skid on the surface work hardening it and dull the tool.  I once adjusted a slotting job in steel that had gone through four end mills already and was only half way done.  I broke two more quickly ,b y turning the speed up.  Then I hit the sweet spot and finished the job on the same end mill.

199

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Tool Setup

« on: June 30, 2017, 10:28:15 PM »

You are going off the rails here guy. First, if you pick up the edge of the part using the edge of the tool then in Mach you need to zero the axis then add the tool radius to the DRO if you are on the plus side or subtract if on the minus side. In MDI if you are in absolute mode and type X0 Y0 your tool should center on 0,0 and the center of the tool should be on the edge as it should.
Next you have to tell either the CAM program or Mach but not both, the tool diameter in the tool table. If you do this in CAM the g-code will be offset by the tool radius. For an outside profile the g-code will be bigger than the part.  If you want to enter the tool diameter in Mach then you must set the CAM program to output G41/G42 tool radius compensation. Then in Mach you must set up the tool radius in the tool table.
Do yourself a favor for now put the tool diameter in the CAM program until you have more experience. If you are hand programming G41/G42 are your friend. For CAM they will drive you nucking futz.

200

FAQs / Re: Mach 3 stepper control issues

« on: June 26, 2017, 09:42:44 AM »

I hope that the motor voltage is not the 24vdc you posted. If it is these motors will have no torque at any useful speed. You need  motors rated much lower voltage, maybe 2 volts.