Hello,

I usually use a different cnc program, but for a new project I gave the Mach3 Demo version a try because it was easier to config to the driver board.

However now testing some sample gcode I am wondering if it is possible to run the gcode of a certain tool only.
Let´s say I have a circle (tool1) inside of a rectangle (tool2) and I want to run the circle first.
Home is bottom left. Now I want to manually move to the center of the circle and start tool 1 one there WITHOUT moving home first.
After that (stopping in the middle of the circle) I then want to manually move anywhere outside the rectangle and start tool2 there without moving to the home position.

I know I can stop after a tool and interrupt the process but I couldn´t stop it from moving home.
Any chance ?

nibbler

I think this is a CAM thing if i understand your question properly - i have one program that always returns home before each process and one that i can start anywhere i want and it just does the cut.

I prefer not moving home first as it risks hitting clamps etc.

It does not move home on a tool change either because i blocked that by editing the M6Start macro for the same reason - i now jog to where I want it to go then change tools.

Hmm yes that is a way to get around it I assume. May I ask which cam program you use ?

I use Vectric Aspire - this one goes to home, and Fusion 360 - this one does what i want

I am maybe way off course (usually am)

but isn't this stuff usually in the post processor of your CAM program, here is part of mine for Aspire,
I have edited mine (dont forget to keep a backup just in case)

+---------------------------------------------------
+  Commands output at toolchange
+---------------------------------------------------

begin TOOLCHANGE

"[N]M05"
"( Router stop M05 )"
"[N]G00[XH][YH]"          *******
"[N]G00Z70X20Y50"     
"[N]T[T]M6"
"[N] ([TOOLNAME])"
"[N]G43H[T]"


+---------------------------------------------------

the line marked with ****** are moving the head and could be edited/deleted to not goto home,
if you put a + at the beginning of the sentence, it will not be parsed into the gcode file
the line under is my addition, because when I changed bits they fell on off the edge of the table onto the floor,
I also made the z move up so I could get in better to change the bits.

regards Ford

I had taken the end move to home out but Aspire does this at the start too...
 N210 M07
N220 (Toolpath:- Apertures Roughing)
N230 ()
N240 G94
N250 X0.000 Y0.000 F1000.0
N260 G00 X105.149 Y27.159 Z20.000

Line N250 seems to use a home move to get the feed-rate in there, no other purpose and pretty annoying, can feed-rate be entered on a line with no move?

i.e. N250 F1000.0  ??

taken from the end of my post processor

+---------------------------------------------------
+  Commands output at the start of the file
+---------------------------------------------------

begin HEADER

"[N](Toolpath:- [TOOLPATH_NAME])"
"[N]([TOOLPATH_NOTES])"
"[N]G94"
"[N][XH][YH][F]"


it looks like to me that its parsing the [F], I suppose from the tool database
try and delete the [XH][YH] dont forget to backup first

regards Ford

Yep thats what i was thinking of doing but is it allowed to have just an Fword on a line or does it have to have an axis with it??

Okay I´ll go for the manual editing for now then. That is not the smoothest workflow but easier than getting another cam program.