Messages

61

Mach4 General Discussion / 5 Axis workflow for tool length compensation?

« on: July 26, 2022, 05:15:08 PM »

Hi Everyone,

I'm planning out the AC head for my 5 axis router.  A more practical question:  How do you do tool length compensation?  I have a manual spindle and I don't think it will be practical to have each tool be exactly the same length.  I do have a toolsetter so I can measure the length of each tool after changing. 

My plan was to use Solidcam or Mastercam to make toolpaths.  Does Mach4 have the capability to do RTCP?  If not, then how does toolpath compensation occur (and where?)  Is it in the CAM software then?  That would require regenerating the toolpath data each time you change tool and measure the new tool offset.  Not impossible but a PITA.

Thanks

62

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Probing Help, angle measurement

« on: February 11, 2022, 07:24:57 PM »

Hmm.  Not working.  Maybe I did something wrong? (I can't imagine that it is that complicated).

Did I comment it out incorrectly?

Code: [Select]

------------- Get current state -------------
local CurFeed = mc.mcCntlGetPoundVar(inst, mc.SV_FEEDRATE)
local CurZOffset = mc.mcCntlGetPoundVar(inst, mc.SV_ORIGIN_OFFSET_Z)
local CurFeedMode = mc.mcCntlGetPoundVar(inst, mc.SV_MOD_GROUP_1)
local CurAbsMode = mc.mcCntlGetPoundVar(inst, mc.SV_MOD_GROUP_3)
local CurPlane = mc.mcCntlGetPoundVar(inst, mc.SV_MOD_GROUP_2)
local CurXPosition = mc.mcAxisGetPos(inst, mc.X_AXIS)
local CurYPosition = mc.mcAxisGetPos(inst, mc.Y_AXIS)

--if (CurPlane ~= 170) and (RotateCoord == 1) then
-- mc.mcCntlSetLastError(inst, "Probe: Invalid plane selection for coordinate rotation")
-- do return end
--end

------------- Check Probe -------------
rc = Probing.CheckProbe(1, ProbeCode); if not rc then; do return end; end

------------- Check direction -------------
if (CurXPosition > XPos) then
BackOff = -BackOff
OverShoot = -OverShoot
ProbeRad = -ProbeRad
end

63

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Probing Help, angle measurement

« on: February 11, 2022, 04:41:24 PM »

Haha, perfect timing.  I assumed you meant sledgehammer method i did exactly as you say and will test it in a few minutes. 

64

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Probing Help, angle measurement

« on: February 11, 2022, 03:59:04 PM »

having exactly this problem.  could you give me some info to find the "hammer fix" ?

65

Mach4 Plugins / Re: XHC WB04 plugin

« on: December 31, 2021, 11:19:41 AM »

Hey everyone, I'm wondering if anyone has a solution to the no Step problem that jrbloom has (I also have this).  Obviously outside of going back to 4746