Messages

871

General Mach Discussion / Re: Physical buttons for plasma

« on: November 24, 2016, 08:56:53 AM »

It all depends on the angle of the holes in the swirl-ring in the tip and if the electrode has a swirl groove like on the Hypertherm electrodes.

872

General Mach Discussion / Re: Question on Plasma THC control to users of this facility

« on: November 24, 2016, 03:10:25 AM »

Usually is adjustable, even on the cheap Proma THC's there is a setting for it.

873

General Mach Discussion / Re: Question on Plasma THC control to users of this facility

« on: November 24, 2016, 02:17:32 AM »

Usually something like 2-4v hysteresis or dead-band.

Generally Z axis is the height (you mention X ) and no it should not move on inputs if THC is off, providing it is all programmed to behave that way - you can set movements even if THC is off in ports & pins i believe.

874

General Mach Discussion / Re: machine goes to wrong coordinates after Mach 3 tool change script

« on: November 23, 2016, 03:33:03 PM »

Just had a very good friend let me know something I hadn't spotted....

This part...

( POCKET SIDES )
N13330 T2 M6
N13340 G0 G90 G54 X3.3147 Y3.219 S4278 M3
N13350 G43 H2 Z.25

Line N13340 is a bit of a mess and could be the culprit it seems, at least to Mach3.

G0 is a rapid move, G90 is absolute distance mode, G54 selects fixture offset 1, then we move to a coordinate X & Y, set the spindle speed and turn on the spindle all in one block.

Do we know what offset we were in at the start - was it G54?
Is G54 referenced to machine home?
Was the machine homed at all?

Might be worth trying the code like this...

G90 G54  - set modes fiirst
G00 X3.3147 Y3.219 - carry out positioning moves
M3 S4278 - start spindle and set speed

Try that, it might be the post processor is not the right one, or needs a few tweaks, what program is it generated in?

875

General Mach Discussion / Re: machine goes to wrong coordinates after Mach 3 tool change script

« on: November 23, 2016, 12:46:44 PM »

Sometimes they need tweaking, but the defaults should be safe and should not issue any move commands.

I can't see anything in that code - after the tool change it should go to X3.3147 Y3.219 - wherever that is, is your machine homed before use?

Something has to be telling it to run off in an odd direction, I have not known Mach to do this on its own. The main culprit would be the M6end macro in my mind.

I also use the stop and wait type of tool-change and it does work ok, what version of Mach3 are you running? I think 062 is rated as the most stable?

876

General Mach Discussion / Re: machine goes to wrong coordinates after Mach 3 tool change script

« on: November 23, 2016, 10:33:08 AM »

Have you got some code in your M6start or more importantly M6End macros?

877

General Mach Discussion / Re: Physical buttons for plasma

« on: November 23, 2016, 06:19:44 AM »

Nice

878

General Mach Discussion / Re: Physical buttons for plasma

« on: November 23, 2016, 02:18:27 AM »

What axis were the ePid errors on with the M31?

Sounds similar to my Bridgeport issues with jogging in a tool change - instant ePid fault.

879

General Mach Discussion / Re: Physical buttons for plasma

« on: November 22, 2016, 02:30:34 PM »

Great, seems like you have it sorted then.

880

General Mach Discussion / Re: Physical buttons for plasma

« on: November 22, 2016, 02:10:29 PM »

Nice, glad it's going at last

Bevel can be torch too high (wider at top) torch too low (wider at bottom) uneven (torch not true to surface)