I am running MastercamX and am using the post found on this site for Mach3.   I have all my tools in quick change collets and have them all ref.  But whan I run a program it ignores the tool length offset.  From reading here and the manual it seems that the post processor isn't putting in the H~ call out for the tool # after the G44.  Can some one please help.

OR I am missing something....
I am running the latest lockdown

Thanks

Tom

OK thats not it,  I think I am missing something simple.  here is my work-around,  start the program>Asks for tool>then I go to offsets, Tool Offset led is on but the DRO is wrong, I turn it off and it changes the DRO, I turn it back on and it is correct, I go back to the program screen and hit cycle start and every thing is fine.

  any Ideas

Thanks

Tom

You are correct you gcode does not have the G43 H# in it . It has been forever since I played in a MC post but I think this is the secton you need to look at:

# Toolchange / NC output Variable Formats
# --------------------------------------------------------------------------
fmt  T  4   t$           #Tool No
fmt  T  4   first_tool$  #First Tool Used
fmt  T  4   next_tool$   #Next Tool Used 
fmt  D  4   tloffno$     #Diameter Offset No    >>>>>> Change to Tloffyes$
fmt  H  4   tlngno$      #Length Offset No      >>>>>> Change to Tlngyes$
fmt  G  4   g_wcs       #WCS G address
fmt  P  4   p_wcs       #WCS P address
fmt  S  4   speed       #Spindle Speed
fmt  M  4   gear        #Gear range
# ---------------------------------------------------

Just a thought, (;-) TP

Thanks,  I tried your suggestion but it still does the same thing.   It seems that for some reason Mach isn't automatically recognizing the Z/tool offset.

Tom

From the copde you posted there is NO code to call the tool offsets into play.

(;-) TP

Shouldn't the G44 do it?...

Tom

The manual says to use G44 if G43 gives negative offsets, so they apparently are not the same. Also, the manual is a few years old, so hard to say if it's still correct. But I think you should be using G43.

I've tried it both ways with the same results.

Tom

I don't think you understand the TLO gcode convention. You can't just call the G43/44 as a modal call in the preamble.


THe code would look like this after each tool change

M6t1               >>>>>>>> this calls the tool#
m3 s1000 f10
G43 H1>>>>>>>>>>>>> this calls the tool length offset
Z0 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> this is a prep move to allow Mach room to apply the comp
*****
*****

Just a thought, (;-) TP

Your right on there   A year ago I didn't know how to run a CNC  and now(thanks to this forum and a bit of insanity) I have rebuilt one.  I'm just trying to work out the last few kinks.   Thanks for the info,  now I can play with the post and see if I can make output something similar.

Thanks agian,

Tom