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Author Topic: How to: Modify z origin when work in progress.  (Read 7775 times)

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How to: Modify z origin when work in progress.
« on: March 16, 2008, 11:00:38 PM »
HI guys, I'm new at cnc . I'm a sign craft er and often nesting 2 or more projects in one sheet. I would like to know if it is possible to change the  value of the Z-axis for a portion of the toolpath in progress without stopping the machine(when v grooves need be deeper because of varying letters sizes). Sometimes some portion of lettering are to shallow (Barely touching surface) because of the variance of the sheets.

might seem like a dumb question but sometimes I'd like to just press the page down button and give or take a few thousands of an inch, Of course, it's not like I'm  machining parts for NASA or anything ...

Thanks for your help !
Dan
A good day starts with how you see it....

Offline Hood

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Re: How to: Modify z origin when work in progress.
« Reply #1 on: March 17, 2008, 04:48:54 AM »
Do a search for Torch Height Control. Not sure if it will work but  its just something I have in the back of my mind that someone wanted this before and thats how they achieved it.
Hood
Re: How to: Modify z origin when work in progress.
« Reply #2 on: March 17, 2008, 03:17:01 PM »
You can also buy cutter holders with an adjustable nose cone.

That should totally eliminate the problem, as this is how they do it on bespoke engraving machines.

The cutter is spring loaded and the nose cone sets the depth. This method would be especially useful on shields/plaques etc

Although in some instance i myself would want to adjust the Z height so i am learning also.

Phil_h
The Good Thing About Mach3, Is It's very Configurable

The Bad Thing About Mach3, Is It's Too Configurable
Re: How to: Modify z origin when work in progress.
« Reply #3 on: March 17, 2008, 09:50:06 PM »
Have any links or pics of such holder?
Dan
A good day starts with how you see it....
Re: How to: Modify z origin when work in progress.
« Reply #4 on: March 18, 2008, 10:07:18 AM »
Just do a google search

Phil_H
The Good Thing About Mach3, Is It's very Configurable

The Bad Thing About Mach3, Is It's Too Configurable

Offline Tweakie.CNC

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Re: How to: Modify z origin when work in progress.
« Reply #5 on: March 19, 2008, 12:50:21 PM »
This may be of help, but it does involve stopping the machine though.

I have individual 'axis enable' switches fitted to my control box. When making signs that are longer than the table I pause Mach, cut spindle power, disable the Y axis, release the work (vacuum table), manually wind the table to it's new position (leaving the work in the same position relative to the tool). Clamp work, apply spindle power, enable y axis, restart Mach. This sounds more complicated than it actually is to do but as Mach is unaware that any changes have been made it continues with the job just as if my table size was much larger.

In your case, I think, pausing Mach, disabling the z axis, winding it down to the required position, enabling the z axis and restarting Mach would work.
PEACE

Offline jimpinder

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Re: How to: Modify z origin when work in progress.
« Reply #6 on: March 19, 2008, 03:11:22 PM »
I don't really want to get involved in this one, and I don't know how to do it (yet) until I think about it a bit, but as far as I understand what you want to do is watch the job, and if it is not cutting to the correct depth (because of variances in the material) adjust the cutting height up (or down) to suit - as the program proceeds ?

Is that right - as I say I don't know how to yet, but Mach3 is so versatile that there must be a way without invoking any special tools or whatever. I would have thought that you could augment the Z axis controls with a couple of buttons, (up and down) and just press them to achieve the result you want.  That is what I should be aiming at. A computer is there to do what you want, you should not have to bow to the computer.
Not me driving the engine - I'm better looking.
Re: How to: Modify z origin when work in progress.
« Reply #7 on: March 19, 2008, 04:42:58 PM »
Hi Jim, Do you read minds ? This is exactly how I should have addressed the problem. Maybe my English is not as good as I thought (French speaking Québecker)!!!!  I think Mach 3 is a great software and probably has a feature like this, or needs a macro to kick it in to gear. Allthough Tweakie might be coming with something, I don't mind having to stop the machine, but I like to keep it simple.

I googled couplers, holders nose cones, and not much help there, anyways, like Jim, I  like to make the computer simplify things for me, and a few simple clicks of a up or down button sound simpler to me, or maybe to shortcut other keys to serve this matter.

Back to my English classes now...
Dan
A good day starts with how you see it....

Offline jimpinder

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Re: How to: Modify z origin when work in progress.
« Reply #8 on: March 19, 2008, 04:54:23 PM »
I would hate to have to reply in French - let me think about it for a bit. Yes a Macro should do it, but it is how to activate it whilst a G Code program is running. I would have thought it best to have the X axis go up (or down) a preset amount - maybe 0.5mm - I take it you are metric??? - so that you didn't have to do too much - just press the button, if that is not enough, press again.

Not me driving the engine - I'm better looking.

Offline Hood

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Re: How to: Modify z origin when work in progress.
« Reply #9 on: March 19, 2008, 05:06:21 PM »
Did you do a search for Torch Height Control, I think that is how it works, never used it so not certain.
Hood