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Unable to see tool path after loading new G-code file?
« on: February 03, 2014, 11:10:14 AM »
Hello,

I just "wrote" a new engraving program with morning using BobCAM V24 It ran perfectly in the BobCAM simulator. I then opened the G code in Mach 3 on our CNC router's computer. The engraving is straight forward, on a 9" x 9" square. But I cannot see the artwork in the Mach 3's Tool Path window, on the right hand side of the monitor? There is a tiny little green dot that you can not zoom up to, no matter how you try? Any ideas? The machine was working fine last week.

I did try loading another file that has been used before, and it opened in the tool path window, just fine?
Thanks,

Cismontguy
« Last Edit: February 03, 2014, 11:13:01 AM by cismontguy »

Offline ger21

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Re: Unable to see tool path after loading new G-code file?
« Reply #1 on: February 03, 2014, 11:36:37 AM »
Check the program limits to see if the engraving is far away from the origin.
Gerry

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

JointCAM Dovetail and Box Joint software
http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html
Re: Unable to see tool path after loading new G-code file?
« Reply #2 on: February 03, 2014, 12:02:24 PM »
Hello,

I am not sure what you mean, by limits?

The 9"x 9" rectangle is at 0,0 for the lower right hand corner of the X,Y axis in BobCAM.
Re: Unable to see tool path after loading new G-code file?
« Reply #3 on: February 03, 2014, 12:02:55 PM »
Also, do you get an error message in Mach3's status line?  Sounds like maybe a problem with the BobCAM gcode.
John Chaamplain

Offline ger21

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Re: Unable to see tool path after loading new G-code file?
« Reply #4 on: February 03, 2014, 12:22:09 PM »
Go to the Toolpath page, and see what the X any Min and Max values are in the upper right part of the screen.
Gerry

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

JointCAM Dovetail and Box Joint software
http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html
Re: Unable to see tool path after loading new G-code file?
« Reply #5 on: February 03, 2014, 12:46:13 PM »
Thanks for the replies!

OK the Program Limits screen shown on the Tool Path page of Mach 3 are : X range +0.00 +15.540 /  Y range +0.00 and +7.360   which are well within the working range of my CNC router area of movement.

I decided to take a chance and just run the program and it ran just fine but for some drawing detail errors that became apparent when the tool cut the sample materal, but still no tool path illustration shown in Mach 3?
Re: Unable to see tool path after loading new G-code file?
« Reply #6 on: February 03, 2014, 01:07:56 PM »
Just to answer the other question, Mach 3 is not showing any error messages on loading the file and creating the tool path.

Offline Hood

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Re: Unable to see tool path after loading new G-code file?
« Reply #7 on: February 03, 2014, 01:22:56 PM »
Do you have a licence?
Hood

Edit, sorry just noticed you said it ran fine so not sure whats going on.

Offline ger21

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Re: Unable to see tool path after loading new G-code file?
« Reply #8 on: February 03, 2014, 01:31:37 PM »
Do you have the toolpath turned off?
Gerry

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

JointCAM Dovetail and Box Joint software
http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html
Re: Unable to see tool path after loading new G-code file?
« Reply #9 on: February 03, 2014, 01:49:51 PM »
Hello,

Yes, were have a fully licensed copy of both BobCAM and Mach 3. Yes the Tool Path function is turned on . I can see it on other CNC programs I have loaded this morning to make double sure something in the settings has not been changed between today and last week.

Cismontguy