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Author Topic: Need some gcode help again. Using Ger's Screenset (but that isn't the issue)  (Read 6277 times)

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I found the mastercam post processor and overall things are working much better with code MasterCAM puts out but on some files it will start to do my tool change, it will go to the correct X,Y position for the tool change, then I hit cycle start, it will go to the correct X,Y position for the fixed tool check plate and start to descend but a second later will stop descending with t ding sounding from Mach3 and sit there showing Probing for Z Zero... but nothing happens until I hit either stop, at which point it will flash "Error on line 147 - Application defined or object defined (and then I can't see the rest of the error)" or if I hit Cycle start again it will start descending but will try and push through to the center of the earth.

It will do this with some of the cut files I create but not others but they are all created using the same settings in the post processor file; at least I think so.

Any ideas?

Offline ger21

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I can't imagine that this has anything to do with g-code.
What version of Mach3 are you using?
Are you using the parallel port?

Is this repeatable with specific g-code? If so, can you post it?
The g-code you posted runs fine here.

One thing that I recommend. If you run into any type of issue where you stop a macro while it's executing, like in your example above. Close and restart Mach3 before doing anything else, as there's a good chance that macros will no longer execute properly.
Is it possible that you had stopped the auto zero during execution prior to having the problem you're seeing?

For some reason, it appears that mach3 is hanging during the macro?

I don't recall any of the other users of my screenset having this or similar issues. The only thing I can recommend at this time is completely removing Mach3 and re-installing.
Gerry

2010 Screenset
http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

JointCAM Dovetail and Box Joint software
http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html
Nope not parallel port. I have the Centipede system for my connection http://www.ksilabs.com/index.php?cPath=21&osCsid=0vospi1ggpb243c2ju9stqho32 so a PCI board with very expensive many pin cable connecting them.

Ok, a little more to add to the puzzle. I hadn't stopped it during any macros that I know of but I did reboot my computer and the next time things started to run correctly except after it went to the fixed tool change plate and touched off twice it reset Z0 about 1" higher than it was supposed to be zeroed to. Tried it several time with the same results.

Another strange thing that started happening is I got the Watchdog Driver alarm last time before re-booting. I've got a screaming fast PC, lots of memory.

Guess I might need to uninstall as you suggested.

Offline ger21

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Disable the watchdog in General Config, and see if that helps?

As for the 1" higher, do you have the Material Offset enabled on the Toolchange tab?

It's possible that the Centipede driver may be causing some issues with the macro's. You might want to ask Sergey about it.

But it really seems like your Mach3 install has some stability issues?
Gerry

2010 Screenset
http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

JointCAM Dovetail and Box Joint software
http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html
Material offset is definitely not checked and reads all zeros. I did disable watchdog after reading a little. I'll ask Sergey; he's been a huge help through my initial setup. Before bugging him though I think I'll try uninstalling and re-installing Mach3.

Anything out of the ordinary I should be saving in order to keep my screenset stuff saved?

Offline ger21

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Honestly, I'd wipe everything clean and start over from scratch. Uninstall the screenset first, then reinstall it after Mach3. The .xml should save all the settings, but .xml's can go bad too, so I'd start over from a clean slate.

I don't see how the Z zero could be incorrect, I've never heard of that happening.
Gerry

2010 Screenset
http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

JointCAM Dovetail and Box Joint software
http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html
It's definitely strange. I removed the tool change from the gcode and it actually all worked ok. Maybe something is messing with the macro

Offline ger21

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As I said, it's not the g-code. The macro is not running properly.
Gerry

2010 Screenset
http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

JointCAM Dovetail and Box Joint software
http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

Offline BR549

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Just a thought but I have found that screaming fast PCs can be a problem with macros and timing, requiring a lot more wait states involved.

Just a thought, (;-) TP
Thanks ger . Since it seems to be the macros would uninstalling just the screen set help or is the full uninstall still what should happen?

Thanks BR549. Hope that isn't it. It's been running great for months until yesterday when it started doing this.