Anilam 6000 M Controller G-Code question

[hotgrips]

I hope you can give me some advice on the following G-Code problems.

I have a Kent JM-450 small VMC with Anilam 6000 M Controller which I bought new.

When I test run my program I get: "G52 is an invalid G- code" It only appears in first block N15G0G40G52G70G80G90 Should I substitute another G-code for G52?

When I change G52 to G53 then I get the message: "Missing 0o! from Error [Block 15]" I’m not familiar with "0o" ...can you tell me what it does? Where do I place it on N15?

What other G and M codes does the Anilam 6000 M have issues with and what should I replace them with?

Thank you in advance for any guidance you can share with me. I will work on converting the file from a G-Code file to a .TXT file so I can attach it.

Jim in NH
website: HOT GRIPS-heated grips, hand warmers, grip warmers

[hotgrips]

I apologize for not attaching the .txt file to the start of this thread. But I have it here now.

It was created in FeatureCam with a post processor to Anilam. I removed the "%" top and bottom which the Anilam 6000 M display identified as illegal. The Anilam 6000 M also doesn't recognize the G52 code in the first block N15, and tells me that "0o" is missing from block N15. I am very confused by this. Are there other G and M codes that the Anilam 6000 M will be having issues with? I am new to this.

Jim in NH

[tpodgwaite]

Hi Jim, Remember me? I came to your place and started that machine up with you.
I made a couple small changes to your program with notes and attached it. I think...)
G53 is a call to activate a fixture offset from the offset page (inside the tool page) There are 99 of them, so Anilam called them G53o1 - G53o99. G53o0 cancels any of them and sets PROGRAM position back to the same as the MACHINE position after homing it when you power up. Note that the character after the G53 is an o, and not a zero.
Other than that it looks OK to me.
Good luck. Thanks fot the grips you sent to me years ago. I have a set on my ATV and they work great! - Tim P.

[hotgrips]

Thanks for getting back to me with your change on the first few lines of g-code. I remember you from about 2005-2006. Are you still working for the same company as back then? I had shut the machine shop down about 6-8 months after installing the Kent JM-450 w/ the 6000M control partly due to health issues. The other due to a hired machinist issue where he wanted to spend too much time on the internet instead of doing work in the shop. I probably should have just disconnected the computer beside the CNC machine from internet access. Shop has been collecting dust ever since then.

My 19 yr. old son developed an interest in machining and CadCam while at RIT studying manufacturing engineering. I am trying to get things running again for him, and for me too - to stay out of old-age trouble. While he was home this holiday vacation he used my Southwestern Industries Trak DPM AGE3 CNC bed-mill and made his first part based on NC code. He had watched me a little bit, then put in his 3 Z offsets for different tool heights. He changed the quick-change tools manually as the pause events arrived. What a smile came over his face when he saw that the machine was doing what he instructed it to do. He only broke one 1/4" end mill with too much feed-speed, slowed it down and changed to a 1/2" diameter and viola.

Of course the little Kent JM-450 VMC with the Anilam 6000M control and 10 Cat40 tool-changer should be a whole new area of excitement for him. Maybe when he comes home for spring vacation he'll be ready to run enclosed with flood coolant and automatic tool changes.

Good to hear from you. I did get the program to draw on the 6000M display correctly after changing the G52 on N15 to G53o0, and removing the "%" at the beginning and end of the program. Next step will be installing the right tools, setting up the tool heights, and cutting some aluminum.

Yesterday I made the decision not to continue with my old FeatureCam (2006 thru 2009), and switched to BobCad-CamV24 Professional Mill. Partly because they have a plug-in (BobCamV2) that works inside SolidWorks, which my son is using at RIT.

Jim

[tpodgwaite]

Hi Jim,

I left Anilam after almost 20 yrs in 2010. Was unemployed for a year then went to work for Fryer Machine Systems in Patterson, NY. I work both in-house and on the road as required. We use mostly Siemens controls, and some Fanuc now and then. No more Anilam. They stopped selling all Anilam controls earlier this year. Discontinued. Probably a good thing for the customers as the controls were getting quite unreliable, and help is virtually nonexistent anymore.
Glad your son is interested in the business. I still enjoy it myself.
If ever you are in need of service or parts, feel free to call us. We wouldn't be able to get any Kent parts, but we do keep some Anilam and generic parts in stock. I can service other brands as well.
Take care - Tim

[hotgrips]

Tim,

I'm glad you told me about the Anilam reliability issue. Of course I am familiar with Fryer from the EastTec shows. By the way...A couple of weeks ago I emailed Anilam about the 6000M and asked about the cost of switching to the 6000i. They did tell me that the 6000 was discontinued and being replaced with the Acu-Rite 3500i. Is Acu-Rite related to Anilam?

Is the Acu-Rite 3500i something I should consider, or are there better control alternatives that have a USB port rather than a 3-1/2" floppy drive for programs?

Jim

[tpodgwaite]

Hi Jim, I'm glad you didn't get to make the switch. The 6000M is much more reliable, although harder to get big programs into. It does have RS232 and networking capability.
That 3500i is what replaces all Anilam controls now. Acu-Rite and Anilam were merged together almost 10 years ago, then Heidenhain absorbed them both in 2009 and decided to discontinue the Anilam name brand.
I don't have any experience with the 3500i, but it was in development when I left. From what I saw I would be reluctant to buy one unless it came with a service contract so you could get a Heidenhain person there when you had a problem. They are very new so there probably isn't much in the way of 'experienced dealer technicians' out there yet.
I can send you networking info if you want to give me your e-mail address.
Best of luck. Tim