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Author Topic: Changing the units of the "DRO"  (Read 9534 times)

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Changing the units of the "DRO"
« on: April 04, 2014, 12:18:35 AM »
I can change the machine using G20/21 from metric to inch but the " DRO" remains in mm.  Have tired everything that I have read in the manual I have and from the search function here but can't find the fix.

It's just a flip of a switch on my manual machines DRO, doesn't seem like it should be too hard...just need 25.4 to display 1.000.

Offline Tweakie.CNC

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Re: Changing the units of the "DRO"
« Reply #1 on: April 04, 2014, 02:34:17 AM »
The DRO’s only indicate UNITS.  For example a DRO of 10.0000 will be 10 millimetres when G21 is in operation and 10 inches when G20 is in operation.

There are a number of stand alone programs which will convert the units in your GCode between metric / imperial and imperial / metric – that way the DRO’s will then show your chosen units of measurement.

Tweakie.
PEACE

Offline Hood

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Re: Changing the units of the "DRO"
« Reply #2 on: April 04, 2014, 02:47:03 AM »
Config menu then General Config. Very first option is to lock DROs to setup units.
Hood

Offline Tweakie.CNC

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Re: Changing the units of the "DRO"
« Reply #3 on: April 04, 2014, 05:19:13 AM »
Config menu then General Config. Very first option is to lock DROs to setup units.
Hood

The perfect solution, something I had overlooked, thanks Hood.  ;)

Tweakie.
PEACE
Re: Changing the units of the "DRO"
« Reply #4 on: April 04, 2014, 08:47:10 PM »
Lock DRO's to setup units checked.

If I jog 1 inch (G21) the DRO is ~25.4, same thing with (G20)

If I unlock them and jog the inch (G21) the DRO is ~648.8 but switches to 25. with G20 entered in MDI.
Re: Changing the units of the "DRO"
« Reply #5 on: April 04, 2014, 10:40:07 PM »

It's just a flip of a switch on my manual machines DRO, doesn't seem like it should be too hard...just need 25.4 to display 1.000.


Make sure Lock DRO's is NOT checked.
Leave your Native Units where they are (mm I presume).
MDI G20 and whatever metric value you have displayed (25.4) will be converted and shown as 1.0000 (inch).
MDI G0 X10 and the machine will move to X10 (inches).
MDI G21 and that will be converted and shown as 254 mm.
MDI X 25.4 and it will move to 25.4 mm
MDI G20 and that will convert and display as 1.0000 (inch)
JOG where ever you want, MDI G20 or G21 to display the moves in Inches or MM respectively.

G20 (inch) and G21 (mm) are modal of course so be sure to put it back where you need it.

I had a button to toggle the DRO's on a mill screen but never used it much so I removed it.

If I understand your question correctly.
Regards,
Russ
Re: Changing the units of the "DRO"
« Reply #6 on: April 04, 2014, 10:55:51 PM »
I found that old screen.
It's actually 2 VB buttons.
"I" = Code"G20"   and "M" = Code"G21"
You can monitor the current state up above. (pic)
Does exactly what you want .... I think.
Russ
 :)
Re: Changing the units of the "DRO"
« Reply #7 on: April 05, 2014, 03:55:21 PM »
That is it, in my messing around I had changed the native units and that is why I was getting the 648.xx number.

Put it back where I started and it's working now.

Not sure what I was doing wrong from the beginning but thanks for the help.
Re: Changing the units of the "DRO"
« Reply #8 on: April 05, 2014, 04:52:15 PM »
Good to go now, that's what matters.
Regards,
Russ

Offline BOB88

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Re: Changing the units of the "DRO"
« Reply #9 on: May 20, 2014, 02:04:50 PM »
I have  a problem with Mach3 always switching to G21 even thought original setup is in inches, I have a G20 in the General settings Startup string.

When MACH3 is launched, G20 comes up in the long line of G-Codes at the top right side of the screen.  If we go to MDI and enter anything it immediately switches to G21.

Does anyone know why it switches by itself to G21.  Yes, we can enter a G20 in the MDI Line and it will then stay in G20 until restarting Mach3.  Has anyone figured out what has to be done to make it stay in G20 (inch) mode after startup.

Thank you for your help.