Hello,

I use MACH3 to control a waterjet cutting machine. Since I have a parameter list in which the parameters (e.g. pressure, feed, amount of abrasive, etc. depending on the material and material thickness) are entered (= txt. file), I would like to add them depending on the material and material thickness read in data. My train of thought would be that I create a subprogram for each material and for each material thickness and then access this. In such a subprogram (e.g. for material = titanium and material thickness = 2mm) the pressure, the amount of abrasive, the pierce time and the feed should be entered and exactly these values ​​should be read in and accepted by MACH3 by calling the subprogram. Can MACH3 do that at all? There is nothing in the manuals about it.
As CAD/CAM I use TopSolid because this is preferred (not by me)!

I would have thought you could do that with your CAD system.  Can you setup a tool library with all the tools set with different cutting data.  Is the data a calculation based on material and thickness,  if its a ratio its a simple calculation button and 2 DRO's.

If not then you could use a VB macro to read a CSV file and if all the different types had a number code you could load it, that way you can put it into mach3's dro's.

The other option is to create a wizard screen with drop down or buttons.

Its doable but time consuming.

here is an example i made years ago for a Laser.
sorry, comments are in German, but the code itselv
will explain what it is doing.

I got it. Thank you very much!

Another question, maybe you can help me: can I program the offset when homing an axis? I imported the material list and this includes the material thickness. I have the material thickness displayed in a DRO and I would like to read this out in order to use the Z axis for referencing up to e.g. 3 mm above the workpiece surface, is that possible? I can see the command behind the "Ref All" button on the MACH3 screen, it doesn't do me much good because it just says: DoButton(24) DoButton(23) DoButton(22)! I would also like to have the SoftLimits activated in the program, at least for the Z axis.

Thank you!

PS: for all German speakers: i speak German!

have a look for G52 and G92, maybe one of these is what you are looking for.

have a look for G52 and G92, maybe one of these is what you are looking for.

Something more important: with your help I managed to import the parameters from the material list and to display them in the DROs of MACH3, but on a PC where I can sit comfortably in front of it. I have now copied the necessary files to the other PC at the machine and it does not open the parameters there - the DROs always contain zero. The paths of the files are the same, the programs are the same - everything is the same, but the parameters are not read in. The controller (CSMIO/IP-A) is connected to the PC by the machine, while no controller is connected to the PC where I created the programs - does it have any influence? Did you have this problem too?

Thanks

I found the problem now: it's the controller (CSMIO/IP-A)! If I don't connect to the controller when starting MACH3, then the material selection works fine - the parameters are displayed in the DROs. However, if I connect to the CSMIO/IP-A controller when starting MACH3 (which I must, otherwise the axes cannot be moved), then zero is displayed for all parameter DROs. What could be the reason?

witch DRO numbers did you use?
out of my mind, i think i can remember CSLAB usees the aeria 1500 ++.
but not 100% sure.

did a quick search
1501 1502 1503 are used by the encoder module
1510 1511 by spindle positioning
1511 1512 1513 by probing
1511 1512 1513 1514 by riggid tapping