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Author Topic: Z Zero and TLOs - please help  (Read 5574 times)

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Z Zero and TLOs - please help
« on: November 20, 2006, 08:17:07 PM »
OK, please don't crucify me if this was posted recently, I tried to search for it and nothing has worked so far.

I'm running MACH 3 with a BOB Controller hooked up to a Bridgeport Series 1 CNC and am posting with Mastercam X.

I'm having trouble setting TLOs. I can set X and Y Zeros fine.

I read the Mach3 manual, and followed the proceedure they layout.

- bring tool to gauge block (i'm using a piece of paper)
-set Z Zero
- insert tool 1, type 1 in tool setting, hit enter, jog down, hit set tool offset, click tool offset toggle on.
- ref home, goto Z, all is good for tool 1
- insert tool 2, type 2 in tool setting, hit enter, jog down, hit tooloffset, click tool offset toggle on.
- ref home, goto Z, all is good for tool 2.

The manual says that the offset toggle on "LED" should go on an off, mine goes ON as soon as I hit enter on the tool number. Nots ure if this is part of the problem.

now i can jog and swap tools and everything is at the correct offset.

as soon as i run the program, the second tool, is always at the first tool height, if shorter no problem, if longer, i plung into the table (which right now is a wood block for safety)

Attached is a copy of the program. It is a 36 tooth sprocket.

I can run the part fine if I only use one tool, but I want to be able to run at least 2 - 4 tools, instead of 1 at a time.

All cuts are negative, datum is center of part, top of material.

any ideas? thanks

brian
B. Buonomo
Technology Teacher
West Islip High School
===================================
If you aren't part of a local FIRST team, you should be.
www.usfirst.org
Re: Z Zero and TLOs - please help
« Reply #1 on: November 20, 2006, 09:05:42 PM »
whoops..

could it make a difference that i'm using version 1.84 and not 2.0?
B. Buonomo
Technology Teacher
West Islip High School
===================================
If you aren't part of a local FIRST team, you should be.
www.usfirst.org
Re: Z Zero and TLOs - please help
« Reply #2 on: November 20, 2006, 10:27:24 PM »
Brian,
Take a look at the top of your program (see below), the problem is your 2nd, 3rd and 4th tools are using length offsets H84, H239 and H234. You can search the program for G43 (tool height offset) and edit the "H" number. If you have a tool changer you will also have to change the "T" number on the line with M6 on it.
Hope this helps.

Paul

( T1 |  1/8 CENTERDRILL | H1 )
( T84 |  3/16 DRILL | H84 )
( T239 |  1/2 FLAT ENDMILL | H239 )
( T234 |  3/16 FLAT ENDMILL | H234 )
Re: Z Zero and TLOs - please help
« Reply #3 on: November 21, 2006, 05:47:19 PM »
sorry, i only used tool 1,2,3,4 for the message, i did set them as the correct tool number in mach3.

today i tried using the spindle face (no bit) as Z Zero and then setting TLOs. still doesn't work.....
B. Buonomo
Technology Teacher
West Islip High School
===================================
If you aren't part of a local FIRST team, you should be.
www.usfirst.org
Re: Z Zero and TLOs - please help
« Reply #4 on: November 21, 2006, 10:49:50 PM »
Feedhold the program and look to see that the offset is active on the offsets page. that will tell us what is going on :)
Fixing problems one post at a time ;)

www.newfangledsolutions.com
www.machsupport.com
Re: Z Zero and TLOs - please help
« Reply #5 on: November 21, 2006, 10:55:29 PM »
so run the program and then click feedhold. What should I look for, i haven't used feedhold before.
B. Buonomo
Technology Teacher
West Islip High School
===================================
If you aren't part of a local FIRST team, you should be.
www.usfirst.org
Re: Z Zero and TLOs - please help
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2006, 01:11:33 PM »
if you look on the offsets page can you see that the tool length offset is active ?
Fixing problems one post at a time ;)

www.newfangledsolutions.com
www.machsupport.com
Re: Z Zero and TLOs - please help
« Reply #7 on: November 24, 2006, 02:36:34 PM »
ok, problem was solved after lots and lots of trial and error an ex-machinist friend of mine figured it out.

It turns out that I had a G91 (incrimental) instead of a G90 (absolute), this is what threw off the offsets.
If I actually knew mastercam x and could read g code better, I might have caught it myself :-)

Thank god for smart friends. Thanks for all the help.
B. Buonomo
Technology Teacher
West Islip High School
===================================
If you aren't part of a local FIRST team, you should be.
www.usfirst.org