Fanuc 18i - Zero the absolute scale

[CaseyCAM]

Hello, on the old 11m controls we could just hit 'X' 'Origin' to zero the absolute scale. Does anyone know how to set this?

[stevo1]

I believe that when you are on the position screen you press X0 then input. This should set X to zero.

Stevo

[CaseyCAM]

I am in the POS screen, but I can only zero out the relative scale, but not the absolute scale.

[stevo1]

When you are in the POS screen do you have sofkeys for ABS, REL etc. You should be able to select the ABS then zero that. I am tied up at the moment(not by the wife) but when I get a change to get out to my control I will take a look at the sequence for doing so.

Stevo

[stevo1]

Ok I got untied for a few moments and ran out to the machine. There appears to be no option to “origin” the ABS coordinates. You can only origin the REL. Out of curiosity why do you want to origin the ABS position? The absolute is the position around the work coordinate that is active and really means nothing once you set it to 0. Why can you not use the REL position to clear out?

IIRC you could origin the ABS and REL on the 10 series and even the 15series. I can’t check now because I have the 15 tore apart and the 10 is long gone.

I did a quick scan through the manual and did not see anything referring to being able to zero the ABS but it did mention the REL position. Best guess is you are stuck with only being able to origin the REL.

Stevo

[CaseyCAM]

Yeah, well I wanna use fixture offsets that are relative to part zero not the machine table zero.

So being able to zero out the absolute scale is necessary for me, I could just G54 X Y to the fixture offset and put that value in the offset page, but we have templates for our main programs that I would like to continue using else, I have to re-enter the coordinates on every part i make because we took the vise out or something.

[dcoupar]

I believe if you set the (EXT) Work Coordinate to the part zero, your other Work Coordinates will be based on that. So if you locate part zero at machine coordinates of X-24.5 Y-12. for example, put those values into the (EXT) Work Coordinate.

[paulyboy83]

in your position screen hit the soft key that enables "all"

place your tool at your required x and z 0 position.

it's done incrementally.

hit "u" and origin should show up above one of the soft keys.

do the same for z with "w".

This works for manually moving your axis around.

there is also a measure button to use when setting your work offsets.


PB

[CaseyCAM]

Originally Posted by paulyboy83 in your position screen hit the soft key that enables "all" place your tool at your required x and z 0 position. it's done incrementally. hit "u" and origin should show up above one of the soft keys. do the same for z with "w". This works for manually moving your axis around. there is also a measure button to use when setting your work offsets. PB

I'm sorry, you sound like you know what your talking about, but i'm confused. When I'm in the REL screen I can press "X" and it'll blink and press "origin" on the soft keys. On the old Fanuc you can do this with the ABSOLUTE scale. But this does not blink. Could you or someone explain what you mean by "enable all" with a soft key, and pressing "u" means origin? And you only mentioned X/Z, and setting a Z can be done by pressing 'W'?

[CaseyCAM]

Originally Posted by dcoupar I believe if you set the (EXT) Work Coordinate to the part zero, your other Work Coordinates will be based on that. So if you locate part zero at machine coordinates of X-24.5 Y-12. for example, put those values into the (EXT) Work Coordinate.

This is what I'm doing now for a work around. I thought the EXT was just another way of positioning all fixture offsets from origin. So i usually leave this blank and G54 blank. And have the machine know 'internally' where i set my origin. But yeah your right, entering in the values to part zero lets me use my fixture offsets from part zero.

[paulyboy83]

Originally Posted by CaseyCAM I'm sorry, you sound like you know what your talking about, but i'm confused. When I'm in the REL screen I can press "X" and it'll blink and press "origin" on the soft keys. On the old Fanuc you can do this with the ABSOLUTE scale. But this does not blink. Could you or someone explain what you mean by "enable all" with a soft key, and pressing "u" means origin? And you only mentioned X/Z, and setting a Z can be done by pressing 'W'?

On your position screen there should be a button that is for displaying all (Machine, Absolute etc.)

u is incremental movement for x (x is absolute movement ie x2.5 is 2.5 inches in diameter and u2.5 would move the x axis up 2.5 inches).
w is incremental for z and v is incremental for y.

With the position screen showing three (Machine, Absolute and cannot remember the other) press u and the top left x(u) value will flash and "origin" will appear above one of the soft keys.

I hope this helps explain things a little more.

PB

[stevo1]

Originally Posted by CaseyCAM This is what I'm doing now for a work around. I thought the EXT was just another way of positioning all fixture offsets from origin. So i usually leave this blank and G54 blank. And have the machine know 'internally' where i set my origin. But yeah your right, entering in the values to part zero lets me use my fixture offsets from part zero.

It sounds like you may be doing a bit more work than is needed. Your absolute position is based on where you are to your workoffset when active or to home position if no workoffset is active. However on the Fanucs G54 is typically default work coordinate so if it is 0 then it will be working from machine home.

I guess I am a bit foggy on what exactly you are trying to do and why. If you have to take your fixture off of the machine and put it back on you must pick the fixture back up again so you know where it is at. Why would you just not set G54 or any other work coordinate equal to that position and let it rip?

Originally Posted by paulyboy83 On your position screen there should be a button that is for displaying all (Machine, Absolute etc.) u is incremental movement for x (x is absolute movement ie x2.5 is 2.5 inches in diameter and u2.5 would move the x axis up 2.5 inches). w is incremental for z and v is incremental for y. With the position screen showing three (Machine, Absolute and cannot remember the other) press u and the top left x(u) value will flash and "origin" will appear above one of the soft keys. I hope this helps explain things a little more. PB

I don’t think this is going to clear the ABS coordinates and that what he wants. Also he is on a machining center not a lathe so I don’t think that that U, and W will show up on the screen.

Stevo