Hello Guest it is March 29, 2024, 06:10:27 AM

Author Topic: Make tool change not move in X and Y  (Read 2369 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Make tool change not move in X and Y
« on: October 24, 2016, 11:42:45 AM »
Hi all,
I've been using Mach3 for quite awhile but it's been a few years as we moved and I had to build a new shop then get set back up (I had to create a new account for this forum as I forgot the old and it's under an email address I no longer have access to).

I could have sworn that before tool changes just stopped the machine after the previous command had finished the cut and moved the cutter to the clearance plane.  Now my machine is moving to machine coordinates 0,0,0.  I can understand why this may be of value but I'd prefer it just stop, then I can jog to where I want without worrying about a cutter crashing into a tall feature or fixture as it heads to X0 Y0.  I'm ok with the Z going to machine zero but having 'untested' moves in the X and Y make me nervous.  Not to mention, with a larger table I'm almost always having to jog quite a ways to get back to the part to zero out the tool anyway.

Oh, I also moved to a new CAD/CAM software (Fusion 360) so perhaps this is causing the move.
Thanks,

Mark

Offline Davek0974

*
  •  2,606 2,606
    • View Profile
Re: Make tool change not move in X and Y
« Reply #1 on: October 24, 2016, 12:46:14 PM »
Its possibly fusion doing this, I think my one did before i removed the code from the post processor, now it just raises and stops.

If it is, removing is not too hard.

Re: Make tool change not move in X and Y
« Reply #2 on: October 24, 2016, 05:19:16 PM »
I've done more homework and if I understand correctly the post processor just 'formats' the CAM program output so the text 'dialect' is correct for the machine control software (in this case Mach3).  This would seem to indicate that an M6 command that doesn't have any other parameters is being interpreted by Mach3 and Mach3 is responding based on that interpretation.  I've checked some previous CAM files from my old CAD/CAM process and the syntax is the exact same (T0 M6) which leads me to believe it must be Mach3 that is "interpreting" the M6 command and moving to Home for a tool change.

And with further research;  I remember just before we moved I purchased the 2010 Screenshot option for Mach and was in the middle of converting to it.  I was reminded of this when in my research I came across another post where the author of 2010 Screenshot was indicating that native Mach3 doesn't move to a tool change position but his 'tweak' does (It has a complete tool change/tool height setup process).  I'll bet I copied the 2010 Screenshot macros into Mach3 which changes the M6Start and M6End macros.  I'll verify this but I'm almost positive that is what is happening here and I just need to go in and change the macro's to not move to a set location until I've changed my system and processes to incorporate that part of his addon.

Mark

Offline Davek0974

*
  •  2,606 2,606
    • View Profile
Re: Make tool change not move in X and Y
« Reply #3 on: October 25, 2016, 02:23:49 AM »
Yes the 2010 macros will do this - it should go to wherever yo have "tool change location" set to in the screen set.

I use it too and have heavily modified my macros :)