Topics

1

VB and the development of wizards / Tool Zero Code w/ Wait for Probe Confirmation

« on: August 14, 2017, 12:02:54 PM »

I was wondering if someone could help with some code that I could add to my tool zero script which waits for you to touch the plate to the bit to confirm that your ground clip is connected. I ran my script yesterday and forgot to attach the ground clip and I ended up driving into the block before I could hit the stop. That made me start thinking that rather than rely on my memory it would be good to add that into the script.

I'm thinking it might be something like this:

Code: [Select]

Code "(Touch Z-Plate to bit)" 'this goes in the status bar
Code "G4 P1" 'Pause
If GetOemLed (825) <> 0 Then
    Code "(I didn't see the Z-Plate)"
    Exit Sub
End If

Instead of a pause it would be better to wait until it sees the probe touch and then ask the operator to continue by clicking on a button or something.

Any suggestions?

2

General Mach Discussion / Mach3 Abnormal Condition Indicator

« on: August 14, 2017, 11:47:31 AM »

Not too long ago I started getting this button to light up and the message says it's a problem with G90/G91 condition. This can happen when I load GCode but it doesn't always seem to be happen doing the same thing. I double clicked on it and said everything was OK but it keeps coming back and I can't figure out why this is happening.

Does anyone have any troubleshooting tips that I can follow to try and determine why this continues to happen.

3

General Mach Discussion / Z-Axis Not Always Positioned Correctly

« on: December 11, 2015, 12:05:27 PM »

I have a newly built system based loosely on the ShapeOko unit. I don't have any limit or home switches currently installed but I wanted to run some initial tests first to check that everything was running correctly. I used Fusion 360 to create a 3" square and made the square 0.478" thick to match the plywood stock I have. Since I don't have home switches installed I manually move the spindle to my home position, then shut down Mach3 and restart it. I then move the spindle to the corner and top of my stock, zero the DROs, load the file and run.

When I'm done I end up with a square that is 3" x 3" but the thickness is less than 0.478", it's closer to 0.38". When the job is done and I tell the machine to go to zero it moves to the correct X and Y but Z is above the stock, probably by the amount that it didn't cut.

I've done this about 4 times and only once did I get the correct thickness cut. I made another test with a different file after my successful cut but it too wasn't cut deep enough (it was a different program).

I've searched and read posts and videos but can't seem to find the source of my mistake. Can someone help me determine what is wrong with my procedure that is causing this?

Thanks,
George

Here's the GCode generated by Fusion 360 that I'm using for the 3" square test.

Code: [Select]

(SQUARE-3IN_V2)
(3 SQUARE TEST CUT)
(T1  D=0.25 CR=0. - ZMIN=-0.478 - FLAT END MILL)
G90 G94 G91.1 G40 G49 G17
G20
G28 G91 Z0.
G90

(2D CONTOUR1)
M5
M9
T1 M6
S14000 M3
G54
M9
G0 X0.8 Y2.475
G43 Z0.6 H1
Z0.2
G1 Z0.1644 F240.
Z-0.1 F80.
G18 G2 X0.825 Z-0.125 R0.025
G1 X0.85 F240.
G17 G3 X0.875 Y2.5 R0.025
G1 Y4.
G2 X1. Y4.125 R0.125
G1 X4.
G2 X4.125 Y4. R0.125
G1 Y1.
G2 X4. Y0.875 R0.125
G1 X1.
G2 X0.875 Y1. R0.125
G1 Y2.5
G3 X0.85 Y2.525 R0.025
G1 X0.825
G18 G3 X0.8 Z-0.1 R0.025
G1 Y2.475
Z-0.225 F80.
G2 X0.825 Z-0.25 R0.025
G1 X0.85 F240.
G17 G3 X0.875 Y2.5 R0.025
G1 Y4.
G2 X1. Y4.125 R0.125
G1 X4.
G2 X4.125 Y4. R0.125
G1 Y1.
G2 X4. Y0.875 R0.125
G1 X1.
G2 X0.875 Y1. R0.125
G1 Y2.5
G3 X0.85 Y2.525 R0.025
G1 X0.825
G18 G3 X0.8 Z-0.225 R0.025
G1 Y2.475
Z-0.35 F80.
G2 X0.825 Z-0.375 R0.025
G1 X0.85 F240.
G17 G3 X0.875 Y2.5 R0.025
G1 Y4.
G2 X1. Y4.125 R0.125
G1 X4.
G2 X4.125 Y4. R0.125
G1 Y1.
G2 X4. Y0.875 R0.125
G1 X1.
G2 X0.875 Y1. R0.125
G1 Y2.5
G3 X0.85 Y2.525 R0.025
G1 X0.825
G18 G3 X0.8 Z-0.35 R0.025
G1 Y2.475
Z-0.453 F80.
G2 X0.825 Z-0.478 R0.025
G1 X0.85 F240.
G17 G3 X0.875 Y2.5 R0.025
G1 Y4.
G2 X1. Y4.125 R0.125
G1 X4.
G2 X4.125 Y4. R0.125
G1 Y1.
G2 X4. Y0.875 R0.125
G1 X1.
G2 X0.875 Y1. R0.125
G1 Y2.5
G3 X0.85 Y2.525 R0.025
G1 X0.825
G18 G3 X0.8 Z-0.453 R0.025
G0 Z0.6
G17

M9
G28 G91 Z0.
G28 X0. Y0.
M30