Messages

1301

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bridgeport Knee Mill Conversion?

« on: August 28, 2016, 07:17:45 AM »

Cut some button labels today, also had the console powder-coated

Still waiting on some knobs for FRO & SPO

1302

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool Offset Macro...

« on: August 26, 2016, 03:45:50 PM »

Thanks. i'll save some funds up for the ENC module but at least i have a workable system now

Yes there is room for a small improvement in accuracy by re-working the angles etc, your sliding version is a neat fix, i can see a difference in about 0.6-0.1mm between my usual size tooling and my biggest tool which is a 50mm face mill. Clearly a small angular error but these are all stock parts used so not bad really, I know its there so i know what to do to fix it.

For my normal range of tooling from spotting drill to 14mm end mills/slot mills the accuracy is surprisingly good.

1303

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool Offset Macro...

« on: August 26, 2016, 02:58:08 PM »

Picture attached of my setter version 1

As for the remaining issue detailed above, I could very likely save time pi22ing around and just measure the tools and write the heights down then enter manually in the tool table, until funds allow the purchase of the ENC module.

1304

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool Offset Macro...

« on: August 26, 2016, 01:12:22 PM »

Well, apart form the hiccup mentioned above, it works very well, I now have 10 tools set up and have tested each one - Z0 was the same in all cases once set with the Haimer, switching tools is just a matter of entering the right number in the "current tool" DRO.

The hiccup above "can" be worked around but it is a serious PITA - you have run the routine, go into reset, come out of reset, abort the routine, start again and this time it all works ok. So this means going in and out of reset twice for every  tool, not good.

I presume to fix this i will have to stump up the cash for the ENC module?
Will that mean it will all work with Mach active?
Does it still show up as a DRO?

1305

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool Offset Macro...

« on: August 26, 2016, 05:37:39 AM »

One slight hiccup in the sequence....

You have to have Mach out of reset to initiate the setter macro, in this state the DRO is NOT updated BUT the values change invisibly so, when you are told to ensure the setter is at ref point, if you move it, when the macro runs it zero's the DRO and when it goes into reset to get the reading, any invisible movement is placed into the A DRO - making zero incorrect, plus you cant zero it as Mach is now in reset - catch 22

So, you have to ensure you do not move the setter before the sequence starts or you get an error in measurement.

Now, can the invisible encoder data be cleared or zero'd before it gets to the DRO? Clearly Mach is tracking encoder input somewhere, it just does not allow the user to see it when Mach is out of reset.

This action is correct and normal, its just my usage of the system is at odds with what i want

1306

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool Offset Macro...

« on: August 25, 2016, 01:42:03 PM »

Yes, i have a repeatable zero position so measuring the Haimer should only be needed once unless i break a tip or take it out of its weldon holder.

I have been doing testing just by using the "current tool" DRO on the 2010 screen-set which seems to apply the offset when you press enter, the post processors all have the right Tx M06 and G43 Hx format so thats ok.

Will be thoroughly tested thats for sure

1307

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool Offset Macro...

« on: August 25, 2016, 08:41:19 AM »

So if I understand correctly, when finished, I would measure the Haimer 3d Probe and set as maybe tool 1

Then measure the other tools as their own numbers,

When setting a job I would insert and select tool 1, find zero, zero the Z DRO then away we go with any tool number i want?

1308

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool Offset Macro...

« on: August 25, 2016, 08:31:26 AM »

I don't know the hardware, BUT ...
Taking Mach into and out of Reset for this just seems like a totally wrong way of doing it.   

My 2c.
Cheers
Roger

Well, yes, in an ideal world I would just splash the cash and buy the ENC module so i have live measurements BUT thats another £80+ I don't have yet.

This is a kludge, but its practically free and that to me makes it a good fix

Going in and out of reset does nothing as the servos don't care, if it was steppers then different story as home ref would be lost.

1309

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool Offset Macro...

« on: August 25, 2016, 08:26:46 AM »

This actually works pretty slick....

Code: [Select]

Sub Main()

Dim Response, Style, Tool, NewHeight

Style = 48
If GetOemLED(800) Then
  Response = MsgBox ("Mach In Reset, Enable And Start Again", Style, "Tool-Height Setting")
  End
End If

Style = 48
Response = MsgBox ("Ensure Toolsetter Is Empty And At Ref Position", Style, "Tool-Height Setting")

SetOEMDRO(803,0)  'zero the A axis DRO

Response = MsgBox ("Mach Will Now Go Into Reset, Place Tool In Setter, Press Reset To Continue When Ready", Style, "Tool-Height Setting")

DoOEMButton(1021)  'put mach into reset

While ismoving()
Wend

Tool = Question("Enter Tool Number For This Offset")

DoOemButton(121)  'show the tooltabl

NewHeight = GetOEMDRO(803)  'Get the result

Code "G90" & "G10" & "L1" & "P" & Tool &"Z" & NewHeight

Style = 64
Response = MsgBox ("Tool No." & Tool & " Height Set", Style, "Tool Height Setting")

End Sub           
As soon as you put Mach back into reset it continues running the script and asks for the tool number

Better than I imagined it would work.

Just want on the belt to arrive now

1310

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool Offset Macro...

« on: August 25, 2016, 07:18:41 AM »

Routine might be something like this...

height setter empty,
user invokes macro,
macro zero's A dro,
user msg - place tool,
user respond - mach goes out of reset to get reading,
put mach back in reset,
user question - tool number,
macro saves reading to tool table

Would need to get smart so that the two parts of the process are invoked from the one screen button, maybe look at A axis DRO or set a temp #var