Jog During Tool Change Macro

[TheHiggsBroson]

Working on a tool-change macro to change tools in a specified location in work coordinates. Currently have it retract to safe distance, rapid to X and Y position, change tool, and then re-zero. However, safeZ is much higher than my zero point (the top of my material). I'd like the ability to manually jog after a tool change to a height closer to my zeroing block before auto-zeroing, to account for variation in tool lengths, but I am not sure how to allow this in my macro.

Maybe its bad practice, but I think this is the best way for us to do it. I know the Mach 2010 screenset is out there, but I have no available bed space to add a fixed plate.

Thanks for the help,

Ross

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[ger21]

If you have Mach3 toolchanges set to "Stop Spindle, Wait for Cycle Start", you should be able to jog while it's waiting, I think?

[TheHiggsBroson]

Gerry,

You're right, you can jog "Stop Spindle, Wait for Cycle Start". That simplifies the macro significantly too. On a side note, is there a way to tell mach 3 to ignore first tool change request? I generate g-code with Fusion 360 and it calls for a tool change before the first operation, other than going into the G-code and writing this line out, is there another method for ignoring that initial call for a tool change?

[ger21]

I'd be inclined to edit the Fusion post. I probably will someday, when I can find the time to learn how.

What you can do, is put an LED on the screen. Have your tool change macro check the LED. If the LED is off, then turn it on, and abort the tool change. You'll still need to click Cycle Start, though. You'd also want to probably add a button to turn the LED off before running your g-code.