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Mastercam x4 Problems
« on: June 16, 2010, 07:39:41 AM »
Hi all,
Hopefully someone out there can show me where I'm going wrong, The problem is the G-code .NC file that Mastercam x4 produces seems to get messed up in mach 3, I have tried every post processor in the post folder using the default milling machine ( under machine type ) in MCX4 and the the MC post from the artsoft downloads page but to no avail the closest working post I can get seems to be the Fanuc one but instead of doing a 30mm circular pocket that simulates perfectly in MCX4 it comes out looking like a diamond ( please see the G-code below ) if i try to cut the outer contour of the circle it shows up various problems depending which post I use, I have tried the same setting in a friends copy of Mastercam x and all seems good using the default machine type and using the Fanuc post so I'm a little confused.

I'm using the a smoothstepper if that makes a difference?

This is the warning message I get when I try to use the artsoft post

This post was created for an earlier version of Mastercam, Please use the UpdatePost utility to update it to the current version.
UpdatePost is installed as a C-Hook in your C-Hook folder, run it like any C-Hook, To learn more, Start UpdatePost and click the help button.

This is the G-code for a 30 mm circular pocket ,


Any help would be greatly appreciated  :)

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O0000(TEST POCKET 1)
(DATE=DD-MM-YY - 16-06-10 TIME=HH:MM - 12:28)
(MCX FILE - C:\MCAMX\MCX\T.MCX)
(NC FILE - C:\MCAMX\MILL\NC\TEST POCKET 1.NC)
(MATERIAL - ALUMINUM MM - 2024)
( T219 |    10. FLAT ENDMILL | H0 )
N100 G21
N101 G0 G17 G40 G49 G80 G90
( POCKET CUT )
N102 T219 M6
N103 G0 G90 G54 X.938 Y0. C0. S3500 M3
N104 G43 H0 Z20.
N105 Z2.
N106 G1 Z-1.667 F20.
N107 G3 X-1.875 Y2.813 I-2.813 J0. F150.
N108 X-4.688 Y0. I0. J-2.813
N109 X1.875 Y-6.563 I6.563 J0.
N110 X4.453 Y-6.035 I0. J6.563
N111 X7.5 Y0. I-4.453 J6.035
N112 X0. Y7.5 I-7.5 J0.
N113 X-7.5 Y0. I0. J-7.5
N114 X0. Y-7.5 I7.5 J0.
N115 X4.453 Y-6.035 I0. J7.5
N116 G0 Z.333
N117 Z2.
N118 X10. Y0.
N119 G1 Z-1.667 F20.
N120 G3 X0. Y10. I-10. J0. F150.
N121 X-10. Y0. I0. J-10.
N122 X0. Y-10. I10. J0.
N123 X10. Y0. I0. J10.
N124 G0 Z.333
N125 X.938
N126 G1 Z-3.333 F20.
N127 G3 X-1.875 Y2.813 I-2.813 J0. F150.
N128 X-4.688 Y0. I0. J-2.813
N129 X1.875 Y-6.563 I6.563 J0.
N130 X4.453 Y-6.035 I0. J6.563
N131 X7.5 Y0. I-4.453 J6.035
N132 X0. Y7.5 I-7.5 J0.
N133 X-7.5 Y0. I0. J-7.5
N134 X0. Y-7.5 I7.5 J0.
N135 X4.453 Y-6.035 I0. J7.5
N136 G0 Z-1.333
N137 Z.333
N138 X10. Y0.
N139 G1 Z-3.333 F20.
N140 G3 X0. Y10. I-10. J0. F150.
N141 X-10. Y0. I0. J-10.
N142 X0. Y-10. I10. J0.
N143 X10. Y0. I0. J10.
N144 G0 Z-1.333
N145 X.938
N146 G1 Z-5. F20.
N147 G3 X-1.875 Y2.813 I-2.813 J0. F150.
N148 X-4.688 Y0. I0. J-2.813
N149 X1.875 Y-6.563 I6.563 J0.
N150 X4.453 Y-6.035 I0. J6.563
N151 X7.5 Y0. I-4.453 J6.035
N152 X0. Y7.5 I-7.5 J0.
N153 X-7.5 Y0. I0. J-7.5
N154 X0. Y-7.5 I7.5 J0.
N155 X4.453 Y-6.035 I0. J7.5
N156 G0 Z-3.
N157 Z-1.333
N158 X10. Y0.
N159 G1 Z-5. F20.
N160 G3 X0. Y10. I-10. J0. F150.
N161 X-10. Y0. I0. J-10.
N162 X0. Y-10. I10. J0.
N163 X10. Y0. I0. J10.
N164 G0 Z20.
N165 M5
N166 G91 G28 Z0.
N167 G28 X0. Y0. C0.
N168 M30
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Offline BR549

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Re: Mastercam x4 Problems
« Reply #1 on: June 16, 2010, 07:47:13 PM »
DID you update the post before using it?

Loading your code here LOOKS good, it show a circular pocket.
« Last Edit: June 16, 2010, 07:55:50 PM by BR549 »
Re: Mastercam x4 Problems
« Reply #2 on: June 17, 2010, 09:23:43 AM »
Hi do you mean the Mastercam post on the Artsoft downloads page? if so I'm not sure how to update it sorry? ( if ya know how please explain as I would like to try that post also )

But in relation to getting this to work I was doing some hunting on the web and saw a post about setting the IJ in mach 3 general config to incremental and that looks like it has done the trick, Mach 3 seems to be able to output properly now TBH I'm not sure what that button is or does but it seemed to work the only issue I have noticed with it so far is if I press the stop button half way threw a cycle then press cycle start again (from the point I stopped ) things start to go nutts, the cutter goes to places it has no reason to.

Any Ideas Lemmie know

Thanks

Offline BR549

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Re: Mastercam x4 Problems
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2010, 10:47:32 AM »

The IJ mode can be set from the config page OR best is to use the proper GCODE in the preamble of the program. You may want to setup your cam to output the correct mode.


AND never  press stop then cycle start again. When you press stop mach will dump all the modal commands and may lose position

IF you want to stop and then resume USE Feedhold and  the machine will come to  safe stop,  then to resume you can push cycle start.

IF you have to STOP mid program to check something then use FH until mach stops motion THEN use STOP.  Record the line number you stopped at.
Then USE run from here to reset all the modal values. NOW follow the promts to return to work.  NOW mach nows where it is and how it is to proceed to finish where it left off.

You may want to download the Mach Manual and read up on the Gcode commands.
Re: Mastercam x4 Problems
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2010, 01:28:32 PM »
Hi thanks for all the info as you probably guessed I'm new to cnc lol

The thing is i have tried all the post processors in Mastercam x4 and the only way I can get mach 3 to read it is by pushing the IJ button

Am I doing something wrong or do i need to wait for someone to write a post for MCX4?

Also one other issue I'm looking up online is this...... I drew a profile and created the g-code I then cut the part out on my cnc using mach 3 all went really well until the end of the cycle, the cutter returned to zero then stopped and then proceeded to take the z axis all the way to the top, as I have no limit switch's I had to press the reset button before the stepper stalled.

Basically X and Y never do this and they don't have limits either, but if i go to machine coordinates and press ref all, X&Y go to the zero I set but Z will just keep going ?

Once again sorry for the noob questions but the name really says it all

Thanks

Offline BR549

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Re: Mastercam x4 Problems
« Reply #5 on: June 17, 2010, 05:32:06 PM »
I would suggest taking a good read of the mach manual it covers a lot of issues.

Your Z issue could be a setup problem in the config section concerning the safez setup.
Re: Mastercam x4 Problems
« Reply #6 on: June 17, 2010, 07:34:35 PM »
Hi Yep I think it was because XYZ home switches were enabled under ports and pins config I kinda cheated with my set up using someone Else's profile, now my dro axis turn green when I press Ref all and the Z no longer moves, so ill check it out tomorrow to see if it solved the issue

Did you have any further advice regarding the Fanuc post I'm using? so far so good it seems but because the only way I got it to work was switching the IJ to incremental would you expect me to have issues later on down the line??

By the way thanks for the tips

Offline BR549

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Re: Mastercam x4 Problems
« Reply #7 on: June 18, 2010, 11:07:32 PM »
I don't think you will have any problems as the Inc IJ is a standard setup for most machines.