Hi folks,

I've been using Mach 3 for many years, and from time to time I've run into this problem, but lately it's becoming more of an issue, since we're very busy.

I do not, and never have used tool length offsets. All of the entries in the tool table (should) be zero. I use a touch plate for zeroing my Z.

My Gcode processor puts out a G43 command for every tool change, in thousands of files, and normally everything works fine. Occasionally, a tool offset will appear in the table, that I did not put it there. It's seemingly random. Sometimes the offset is on one tool, sometimes on another, completely unrelated to the first. Sometimes the offset is 1 mm, sometimes 3mm, other times it's over 10mm! I just don't know where they come from!

I can run the same two files all day long, and suddenly, in the middle of a batch, this stupid tool offset appears in the tool table, changes my over all depth of cut, breaks a blade, ruins the part, or often causes a crash from cutting too deep.

It's our busy season, and short of doing a re-install of Mach 3, I'm at a loss what to do next. I'm aware of the offsets menu, and the Tool Offset LED is off. Normally, all the entries in that screen are zero. When I see this problem occur, I DO see the offset in the Z Offset box on the right side of that screen.

Is there some way to completely disable the tool length offset? Any other ideas?

Thanks!
Z

Have you got a G49 (cancel tool length offset)  at the end of the file?

Maybe easier to edit your post processor to remove the G43?

+1 on the get rid of the G43. Since Mach3 is what it is and you get this problem from time to time, modify your post to not have a G43 or edit the Gcode to get rid of the G43.

Mike

Thanks guys, I was hoping that wouldn't be the answer, since I have literally thousands of files. I will remove it from the post processor, and write some code to remove it from existing files, I don't think it will be too difficult.

There was no G49 at the end, instead it was near the beginning of each file. I had also checked the box in config to cancel tool offsets at the end of the file, or rewind.

Z

Just as a follow up, I did remove the G43 commands from the post processor, so no new files will use it, and I wrote a program to scan, and remove (hopefully) all of the G43 commands from existing files. The testing I've done so far indicates success.

 If I ever figure out what was causing these erroneous entries in the tool table, I'll report back here.

Z