I am rebuilding a Flexicam chassis to run with Mach3 and a SoundLogic board. I have had it up and running for a while.
A recent program has me puzzled. I am not sure if I have a hardware problem or a Mach3 problem. This program first cuts an orbround slot .025 deep using a continuous spiral down. It then raises the tool and moves to cut a profile that consists of linked helical arcs, both G2's and G3's, which ramp down in Z just as in the slot.
Here is the problem. The first feature, the slot, is cut correctly. The outside profile ends up not being cut. Some how coordinates intended to move the tool down are being converted in to positive moves while the Z-axis DRO is merrily saying the spindle is moving down. Also when the program ends Mach3 thinks the Z-zero position is above where it was originally set on the top of the material.
The problem is repeatable. As a test I removed all the Z coordinates from the arcs and adjusted the program to plunge to Z and hold while the arcs are cut. That program ended correctly. Mach3 still knew the correct position for the Z=zero.
Is there something I am missing about how Mach3 handles a string of G2/G3 blocks using X,Y, Z, I, J that ramp down ??
Is this a bug or do I have a hardware problem that other programs do not see?
Regards, B
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