Please help me with my routine for Tool Changes.....

[sansbury168]

I am trying to run 2 files with 2 different tools and my self taught method of setting everything to ZERO seems pretty goofy. Any help in is greatly appreciated since there must be a simpler method that is less prone to human error.

Here is how I am currently setting 0,0,0:

1. Zero tool (1) at 0,0,0 and push "zero all" button on Kmotions Tool Screen.
2. C-Program Screen push "Save, Compile, Download, Run" button
3. Kmotion Tool Screen push "zero all" button (SECOND TIME) as one of the two screens (Green, Orange) doesn't always have 3 ZEROs
4. C-Program Screen push "Save, Compile, Download, Run" button (SECOND TIME)

I have been doing this routine because sometimes the machine would starts somewhere other than 0,0,0 by mistake and ruin the part. This little routine has served me well but there must be a better way.

A. I run File 1 with Tool 1 after the above steps.
B. I then type in G0 X0 Y0 Z6
C. Remove the dust shoe and manually change to tool 2. Repeat all 4 steps above to make sure everything is set at 0,0,0
D. Load file 2 and complete the part.

Thank-you!!

Clayton

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[TomKerekes]

Hi Clayton,

You don't need to use the C Programs Screen to Initialize your system. Instead assign a User Button in KMotionCNC to run it.

You also don't need and probably don't want to initialize the system all the time. You should just do that once at the beginning of the day.

I'm not exactly sure what you man by:

Zero tool (1) at 0,0,0

Does that mean you Jog the tool tip to some reference point?

It seems you are moving to a fixed tool change position with: G0 X0 Y0 Z6. This may not be a good idea because the position will depend on how the system was last "zeroed" You might want to use G53 to move to a fixed machine position so it won't matter where/how the system was "zeroed".


There are many ways to do things but one way might be to:

#1 Initialize/Home only at the beginning of the day

#2 Move to Tool Change Position and load Tool #1

#3 Jog tool to reference point then Zero all. DROs should always read exactly zero

#4 Load/run File #1

#5 Move to Tool Change Position and load Tool #2

#6 Jog tool to reference point then Zero all. DROs should always read exactly zero

#7 Load/run File #2


HTH
Regards

[sansbury168]

Tom

Thank-you for the help!

When I press Zero all and the green turn to zeros is that it? or do I have to press set as well?

Does the program start from the green numbers?

[TomKerekes]

Hi Clayton,

When I press Zero all and the green turn to zeros is that it? or do I have to press set as well?

That is it. The Set button is in case you would rather set the DRO's to some value other than zero

Does the program start from the green numbers?

Sorry I don't understand what you mean.

Regards

[sansbury168]

Tom

I think I understand what you are saying now. I should simply press zero all on the starting point for my material.

Does the program start from this zeroed point? (green numbers below)



I am understanding that I do not need all zeros on these orange numbers:



I think I may have started a couple of programs from somewhere in the middle of the Gcode by mistake and that had me wrongly thinking everything had to be showing all zeros.

Thank-you!!

[sansbury168]

Tom

Thank-you for your help!! I went out and practiced with some scrape material this morning. Everything is working perfectly now.

Clayton