8055 soft limit question

[xkadet]

I keep getting "y axis soft limit over run" when I try to run a program I've downloaded through WinDNC. How do I set the soft limits?? This is a small part that shouldn't exceed the y axis span at all.... Thanks for any and all help.

[DareBee]

usually with that type of error it is because of where your work offset is located. It is within overun limits. Change your fixture offset inboard further and see if that works.

[xkadet]

is there any way to set the soft limits, because the current part offset should be well within my mill travel....?

[PinMan]

To set your soft limits:

SHIFT + ESC (to bring up menu)
"+" SOFTKEY (next page of softkeys)
MACHINE PARAMETERS
AXIS PARAMETERS
CHOOSE THE AXIS YOU WANT
P005 AND P006 (sets your soft limits)

Be very careful that you dont set your soft limits too close to your hard limit switches. When rapiding, if you are too close in your settings, the control might not react in time. I allow about .300" between soft and hard limits.

[xkadet]

Ok, thanks for that, it was very helpful but I still am getting the same soft limit error.

What I'm trying to do is convert sldprt files to .dxf; import into windnc, and send these to my Fagor cnc controlled bridgeport style knee mill. This is done throught the ethernet which works. the files show up on the fagor controller but they all fail due to a soft limit setting. What should my soft limits be hypothetically for a 13x48" mill with a 4 inch Z travel?? Any suggestions?

Thanks for all your help.

[Kiwi]

As a test I would try and jog the tool to the Y coord which is causing the problem.

[PinMan]

Originally Posted by xkadet What I'm trying to do is convert sldprt files to .dxf; import into windnc, and send these to my Fagor cnc controlled bridgeport style knee mill.

In order for the 8055 to read the file, it needs to be saved as a .PIM file. Just edit the program in a text editor and 'save as...', replace .txt with .PIM.

Originally Posted by xkadet What should my soft limits be hypothetically for a 13x48" mill with a 4 inch Z travel?? Any suggestions?

What I would do is handle jog the machine to the hard limits, (when you hit the current soft limit, hold RESET then continue to jog the axis SLOWLY until the machine alarms out on the hard limit swtch. Record your machine position and add .300" to that (or subtract if the number is positive). Set those numbers as P005 and P006 for the respective Axis.

[xkadet]

Ok, I've moved forward on this issue thanks to all the help. Now, I think i've come to the point where I need a post for my solidowrks-windnc-fagor 8055 sequences. I'm running an 13x48 trueturn mill (bridgeport knockoff) with the 8055i and apparently the reason my soft limit keeps erroring out is because the G code is whacked. There are G codes and the syntax appears correct, but the moves that the codes are telling my mill to do are out of range. So, I'm left thinking that I need a post to convert the g code to make sense to my 8055/trueturn machine. So, anyone have a suggestion as to where I might find the correct post? I am fairly new here and I understand G code in concept, but I'm no where near knowledgeable enough to crack the post issue on my own. Like I said, when i look at the graphic of the part I just downloaded from windnc, it's all over the place. Let me know if I'm off, here. Thanks again, for any help and suggestions.

Best regards,

[DareBee]

I am willing to bet that you issue is in the conversion from SW to DXF. Typically you would convert a slddrw to dxf not a sldprt.
OR
It is not scaled correctly. Make sure that the slddrw is on a sheet with 1:1 scale before going further

[xkadet]

Thanks for the response. I didn't think to check the scaling in the slddrw sheet. I am using a slddrw to dxf conversion, not sldprt. Sorry about the syntax error. One question, does it matter which view I pull in the slddrw to convert to the dxf? for example, should I use a plan view, should I pull in a 3D view? Generally I'm trying to use a plan view with the xy plane parallel to the top face of the part.

So, do I need a post or not for this transfer, I'm still wondering. Thanks again for all the help. I'll report back on what I find regarding the scale factor you mentioned.

[xkadet]

"p.s. Asking someone to give you a post will usually get you ignored, or flamed. Most MC users modify their own posts, or pay to have them developed, so asking for 'freebies' is a no-no. Keep in mind that while they won't just give you a post, they'd be more than happy to help you with yours..

'Rekd"

Apologies to "Rekd" for the quote:

but I didn't realize a request for a post was a possible problem or worse. I've been working with this cnc for so long and having difficulty that I've become careless, to some degree. Can anyone steer me to a thread or any sort of educational info that might help me construct my own?? I'd be glad to do it, despite the learning curve, just to have the possibility of cracking this. Thanks for any help, again.

[DareBee]

A "post" is something that CAM software uses, you have made no mention of CAM software at all and rekd was specifically talking about MasterCAM. I would be more then happy to email you all of my VisualMill posts, but what the hell would you do with them?

I have never imported geometry into my lathe (Fagor) so I am unfamiliar with the steps required, however to send a program file I know that WinDNC is required (and works).

You said

What I'm trying to do is convert sldprt files to .dxf; import into windnc, and send these to my Fagor cnc controlled bridgeport style knee mill.

From that I assumed that you are programming machining operations on the 8055 directly from the imported DXF geometry (not CAM).
Also, considering that you are trying to run a program (errors or not), I assumed that you are able to get the DXF into the control and make toolpaths from it.

For 2.5D work to be exported to CAM (or your control) I typically make a slddrw of the view that I will be cutting. In most cases we could call this a "plan" view. I make my slddrw 1:1 scale. I have no hidden lines, no dimensions, no title block - none of these things are used or needed by the CNC.
I save it to dxf (well I always use dwg, but it's the same crap - right) using the ACAD 2000 type "save settings" (I find these to be the most universally accepted translations).

One thing I do not know is units, my CAM software automatically knows what units (inch metric) my part is. Does the Fagor know? Do you have to import in a specific unit? Does the control ask units upon import of geometry?

One more point.
Fagor tech service is very good.
If you have continued problems, give them a call.
I paid for a day of setup and training, maybe you should too.
OTOH - It seems your problem is not the Fagor ,just the steps ahead of it.