Messages

21

CS-Lab / Re: Rigid tapping with IP-A

« on: May 24, 2013, 06:10:16 PM »

Here is a code snippet, BTW.

I have different tool numbers, so Mach should stop. I have it set that way in the general settings.



N1980 (Operation: Drill, SPRING_HOLE, T12: Drill, 0.0938 in diameter, 0.28 in Deep)
N1990 S500 G00 Z0.1000
N2000 M09 (Coolant off)
N2010 M05
N2020 Z3.5000
N2030 (Drill, 0.0938 in diameter)
N2040 T12 M06  G43 H12
N2050 M08 (Flood coolant on)
N2060 S500 M03
N2070 G00 X-0.4675 Y-0.4661 Z0.1000
N2080 Z0.0197
N2090 G01 Z-0.070 F3.0
N2100 G00 Z0.1000
N2110 Z-0.0503
N2120 G01 Z-0.140
N2130 G00 Z0.0700
N2140 Z-0.1203
N2150 G01 Z-0.210
N2160 G00 Z0.0000
N2170 Z-0.1903
N2180 G01 Z-0.280
N2190 G00 Z0.1000

N2510 (Operation: Tap, TAP_1, T11: Rigid tap, 0.167 in x 32 TPI, 0.5 in Deep)
N2520 S150 G00 Z0.1000
N2530 M09 (Coolant off)
N2540 M05
N2545 Z3.5000
N2550 (Rigid tap, 0.167 in x 32 TPI)

N2610 G00 X-0.2027 Y-0.7467 Z0.1000
N2615 Z0.0394

M98 P10000
Z.5




This is the code at the end of the program.



O10000          ( S/R Tap 32TPI .5" Deep  )
M49
F 200      ( Arbitrary Feed Rate USE F200 )
G91            ( Switch to Incremental Mode )
G1  Z-0.5 A16   ( Plunge  1/2", Rotate Spindle 16 Times CW )     
G1  Z 0.5 A-16  ( Retract 1/2", Rotate Spindle 16 Times CCW )     
G0  Z 0.1   ( Raise Spindle 0.1" )
G90
M48
M99            ( End Subroutine )
%

22

CS-Lab / Re: Rigid tapping with IP-A

« on: May 24, 2013, 05:55:49 PM »

Great thread, Guys. Nice machine too, Hood.
I recently received a Novakon Torus. It can do rigid tapping too and I have been working with John at Novakon on it.
Sheetcam outputs nice rigid tapping gcode, but when I try it in standard Mach, once at the bottom of the tap, the spindle starts a few thousandths of a second before the Z starts lifting. That is a crying shame.

This machine has a servo spindle and it has a switch on the BOB.
You don't have to flip the switch each time, but I keep it switched to tapping.
It still does all other milling and drilling well too.
That switch makes it like the spindle is the A axis I think and then A and Z are synced with some code snippets that are adjustable.

I have it all working on my first test tapping run now except that I cannot get it to stop in between the drilling cycle and the tapping cycle. Mach stops at tool change fine earlier in.
Is there a code snippet I can use to force Mach to stop and stay at the tool change position?

I'll post some video when I get it doing right.
Thanks in advance.

23

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3Turn Offsets?

« on: February 23, 2013, 03:16:28 PM »

Approaching those stops slowly will likely help with accuracy, but go at them a bit too fast and that is where the discrepancies normally appear.
Mach has a slow down function when approaching a switch, which is nice.

24

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3Turn Offsets?

« on: February 23, 2013, 01:32:45 PM »

I haven't setup any switches on mine other than Estop.
You would really have to have some accurate switches in order to set it up as precisely as the tool zero. I fire mine up in the morning and zero to the tool zero. By the end of the day, its still within tolerances for my parts. Not so sure that would be the case if I used home switches.

25

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3Turn Offsets?

« on: February 21, 2013, 01:45:44 PM »

The tool table reflects my offset travel in each direction. It has the actual distance loaded in the tool tables from zero.
However, if you are at the tools offset and hit that tool number, it will show zero. A bit confusing, but it makes sense. Stay at your main tools zero and then pull up different tool numbers. You should see the offsets appear in the DRO's.

26

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3Turn Offsets?

« on: February 20, 2013, 10:19:57 AM »

When you do your touch offs after the initial Zero tool, you must make sure that the tool you are now touching off is up and listed in the DRO.
Insure the proper tool number is there and do the touch off thing and Mach will automatically load that offset for you in the tool table.
Be sure to save the tool table when you close Mach.

27

Works in progress / Re: THE LATHE PROJECT - 2011

« on: July 10, 2011, 11:06:28 AM »

Of course someone is interested. I just don't know where to get my hands on the files you want.

28

Works in progress / Re: THE LATHE PROJECT - 2011

« on: April 11, 2011, 09:25:52 PM »

Something I use a lot in mill is Go To Zero.
I don't see that unless I am overlooking it, but it would be great to be able to do this. Sometimes it is confusing which axis should move first, so split axis zero buttons would be cool.

Thanks for the work so far. It looks good. I would tone the Gcode blue down some more. Change the font possibly. It just seems harder to read than it should.
Bright colors aren't so bad to me, but toned down would not be against my grain either.

Keep up the great progress.

29

Works in progress / Re: THE LATHE PROJECT - 2011

« on: March 26, 2011, 04:55:33 PM »

I looked at Mach screen again and I think I will hold off for what you gys come up with.
I did consider using it for a mill screen or for my router, but I don't have a tool changer and change my tools with offsets manually. It works, so I didn't really need anything complicated there. Mach 3 OEM screens work great for me in both.
The lathe is a different beast. With gang or turret tools, you effectively have an auto tool changer and each tool has different offsets.
It begs to be run the proper way with all the bells and whistles available to make it work most efficiently I think.
Therefore, I would not attempt a lathe screen. Not even modify one now that I think about it. It would take some dedication to grasp that and I am glad to see you guys going through with it. I would gladly pay a bit to have a screen that does all I need and looks decent.
Oddly enough, I have found that does make a difference. Enough difference to afford a better one.

30

Works in progress / Re: THE LATHE PROJECT - 2011

« on: March 26, 2011, 10:12:57 AM »

Aha. Sorry, Steve.
Thanks for the correction, Hood.
Lee