Messages

211

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: How to make Mach 4 wait for spindle to come up to speed?

« on: April 21, 2017, 05:00:55 PM »

G4

212

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: mach 3 tool offset issue

« on: April 18, 2017, 01:44:06 PM »

When mach 3 sees a g41 it moves the tool to the side of the path when it makes the NEXT move. So you need that to happen before you lower the tool into the material. Otherwise the tool will gouge out the starting point. When you cancel with g40 the tool moves  back to be centered on the next move, gouging out the finish point unless you are clear of the material. Once you ruin half a dozen parts you'll get the idea!

213

General Mach Discussion / Re: Lazycam/ Cams

« on: April 18, 2017, 01:36:22 PM »

This is one of those cases where a little hand codng may make more sense, and possibly incremental mode too. Use a subroutine for a row of holes done incrementally on the Y axis, increment the X axis incrementally and repeat the sub as many times as needed.

214

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: mach 3 tool offset issue

« on: April 17, 2017, 02:38:53 PM »

G41 is modal, stays in effect until canceled by G40. I used to use it all the time and it works well as long as you understand the gotchas. I always apply g41 before any move down in the Z into the part. I also use a very short .01" move right after g41 so it gets applied and I can see it went the right way. If you try to do an inside corner that has a radius smaller than radius comp many controls will give you the dreaded 'crop circles' where it goes around the outside of the path destroying your part. Always cancel g41 when done, and never cancel while still touching the part. Hope this helps

215

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Problems centering part is on round stock mach3

« on: April 02, 2017, 11:54:48 AM »

Learn how to pick up center using a dial indicator to sweep the OD of the blank, much more accurate than what you are doing.

216

General Mach Discussion / Re: Waterjet Diagonal lines

« on: March 30, 2017, 09:21:32 PM »

Don't try a different file. Just type in the G-code to cut a single diagonal line and use that. Then you know it is not related to how the file was created. Also if your motors are servos this could be excessive servo lag. A servo has feedback and can't actually correct it's path without an error to detect. So if it is slow to recognize the error it will suddenly make a correction to get where it is supposed to be after it has already cut in the wrong place.

217

General Mach Discussion / Re: Designing 5 axis head for plasma. Any ideas.

« on: March 30, 2017, 09:12:49 PM »

A guy here posted pictures and video of a waterjet 5 axis he built. It was awesome! You should look for it.  The head rotated 360 around a vertical axis and the torch tilted on a vertical plane with the axis at the material suface through the use of a curved track

218

General Mach Discussion / Re: Waterjet Diagonal lines

« on: March 29, 2017, 03:45:51 PM »

I'd say you have lots of backlash in your X and Y axis. If belt drive I'd think the belts are too loose. They tighten up and stretch then the gantry jumps forward repeatedly.

219

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Mach3 G41/G42 G68 will it ever get fixed?

« on: March 13, 2017, 05:39:06 PM »

I used to everything using cutter comp.  Since I started using CamBam, and running it on the same PC that runs Mach 3 I don't bother. It makes way less mistakes on tool paths than I ever did and it is really quick to make changes.  Cam is what is making CNC a hobby tool.

Actually I would think that the low cost of real processing power will make the Mach 3 & 4 method of doing things become obsolete.  The Windows computer or even a cell phone  could be relegated to just the user interface with no timing issues and running Cad and Cam.  The CNC would do 100% of the motion control like the pro machines do now.  Heck USB sticks go to 128Gb!  I am already using one that even has a display built in, a jog wheel etc, no PC.  Limited capability, maybe 700 lines, terrible editing, but has been running a task continuously for 4 months straight right now.

220

General Mach Discussion / Re: Inconsistant ATC Positioning

« on: March 10, 2017, 04:15:01 PM »

Clearly you are still making incremental moves, from one position to the next.  Try:

If GetSelectedTool = 4 Then Code("G90G0A135") and see what happens.