Second Milling Operation at wrong zero...

[parkerbender]

I'm having a problem where my first milling operation works just fine, then after the machine tool changes, it acts as though the part zero was moved -.25 or so in x. It's been doing this consistently for the last few days, no matter if it is changing to a different sized tool, or just from a flat to ball nosed tool. all of the other dimensions are correct, it's just moving over a bit on the toolchange. Does anyone have any clue what could possibly be doing this? ...It's getting pretty frusterating.

Thanks!!!

-Parker

[M250cnc]

Parker

Have you set the tool length offsets correctly ?

Phil

[HuFlungDung]

What kind of machine?

Might there be some sort of G52 or G92 involved in the programming that is not being cancelled or undone correctly?

Are all the operations taking place at the same work offset? This is why it is usually a good reason to zero out any work offsets that you do not have actual use for on the machine with the current setup. That way, calling a work offset that is all zeros will likely position the machine way way off the part/fixture datum and you'll know why.

[extanker59]

Can you post the code?

[parkerbender]

I don't think that there are seperate work offsets on this machine. It's a Hurco Spirit, with an ultimax II controller. I'm drip feeding it, and I could post the code, but I don't think you want to see it... It's about 6 Mb. I believe my tool zeros are right, but the problem isn't with the depth, it's in the -x direction.

The program starts:
%
N1 T04 M06
N2 G00 G90 X7.5041 Y5.0808 S8994 M03
N3 Z.7874 M08
N4 G01 Z-.0182 F86.3
N5 X5.8462 F107.9
N6 X5.8063 Y5.0821
N7 X5.8022 Y5.0808
N8 X5.7994 Y5.0823
Then proceeds with a million lines of coordinates
then:
N6187 T01 M06
N6188 G00 G90 X8.607 Y2.5851 S2617 M03
N6189 Z.7874 M08
N6190 G01 Z-.0354 F20.1
N6191 X8.3694 Y3.3449 F25.1
N6192 X8.0893 Y3.3479
N6193 X8.5435 Y1.8601
The problem occurs at that tool change to T01.

Any ideas?

Thanks!
-Parker

[extanker59]

Sorry, not one clue. I had thought different work offsets too. I don't see any incremental moves, cutter comp, or work shifts.
OK, are the actual numbers correct for the part? I mean, if a feature is drilled, for example, at X1. Y1., is the program telling it to go to X1. Y1.?
If not, could it be the CAM that's posting wrong?
I'll stop wasting your time now. Maybe a Hurco user can chime in?

[extanker59]

I'm slow. You're posting on the CamWorks section. Go into your Operation tree and check your set ups. Edit the definition of the set ups to make sure that they are using the same zero point. If, however, it's all one set up, then I'm still stumped.

[parkerbender]

Yup, all the same setup... I'm confused also! I'm supposed to be trying this software out... it's not doing terribly well...

[HuFlungDung]

Is this an ancient controller? Ancient means 'before workshifts were used"
I don't see a definite callout at the beginning of the program for G54. It may be the case that the machine defaults to G54....or maybe not. To prevent ambiguity, it is best to call the work shift after every tool change and remove all doubt.

Have you ran this machine without problems before this, using other CAM software?

[parkerbender]

It isn't necessarily a new controller, it's before G54's time, I believe. I havn't used cam software with it, just the conversational on the machine, but I've never had a problem that wasn't my fault on the conversational side. ...though, I just got the machine three months ago.

-Parker

[HuFlungDung]

If it does not use work offsets, then it must use G92, or how do you establish part zero in relationship to the machine's startup position?

G92 is notorious for 'creeping home position' if you don't take special pains to maintain strict control of when and where G92 commands are read. I don't even see one at the beginning of your program, so I don't follow how you are setting up your machine in preparation for running the part program in the correct position.

[parkerbender]

Before beginning the program, I set my part zeros and tool Z offsets on the computer on the machine controller (not really conversationally, more like 'text'ersationally), zeroing to the same place that I set the origin of my setup, on the part. Then from what I understand the machine just works off of the part zero like it is actual zero.