Mach 3 wierdness

[randyf1965]

I have tried using Mach3 on 2 different motherboards (an Intel dual processor 500Mhz P3 and an IBM P3 1ghz). With both machines when starting a cut it will raise the Z-axis to it required height but will also move X & Y for no reason.

Below is the latest gcode I tried, the odd thing is it will start the cut and then go diagonal, curve around but ends up where it should. This is a simple square 1" across, I am trying to figure out HOW to make it cut out the exact size I need using cutter compensation.


(File 1 INCH SQUARE.tap )
(Thursday, April 20, 2006)
G90G80G49
G42
G0 Z0.7500
f60 x3.4904 y7.9303
G90.1
G0 Z0.5000
f60 x3.4904 y7.9303

G0 Z0.5000
G0 X3.4904 Y7.9303

F80.000G1 Z0.0000
F60.000G1 X4.4904 Y7.9303
G1 X4.4904 Y8.9303
G1 X3.4904 Y8.9303
G1 X3.4904 Y7.9303
G0 Z0.5000

[Pete Stenabaugh]

Have you tried using the built in wizards in Mach3. It might save you a lot of time.

[randyf1965]

Builtin wizards for??? I started cutting a piece like this but got tired of waiting for it to get to the notches to measure for proper width. So I moved to a square

And it appears to be the G42 code... if I remove it I can do 10+ squares in a row no issues, thru the G42 in and it goes whacky.. remove it and it is back to normal. HELP!!!!

How can I it my router to cut to the dimension I request without redrawing the parts to compensate for the cutter size??????

[Pete Stenabaugh]

Randy, check the top tool bar in Mach 3 and you will see a tag with Wizards on it. Click on this to open up the wizards, and then pick one from the list. There are wizards for rectangular pockets and circular pockets, amounst others. You can create a pocket of the size you need, be sure to hit 'enter' after changing a value or it will not upate for you. Once you are finished, post the code, and you can see the code in Mach 3. From there, you can edit the code, and save it off to another file. From that point, if you need to make something more complicated, you can cut and paste and edit this code into the final file you need.

An even better option is to use SheetCam for your code generation. This works really well and is simple to learn. Les has great support for this software as well, updating it sometime 3 times a week to solve little issues.

To use SheetCam you will need to have a dxf file. In the dxf file, you will create an outline for each and every pocket or profile you want to cut. You need to place each profile on it's own layer. In SheetCam now, you pick a certain layer/profile combination, and tell SheetCam what cutter, what depth etc. Them pick another layer and do the same. It is very easy and very fast to create a full 3D g-code file from this program. It is really great, and it has post processors for Mach 2/3.

I hope this helps you out.

Pete

[ger21]

Check out the 4th post here:

Paths to G-Code

If you need more help, let me know.

[ger21]

I downloaded your .dxf from your other thread and created the code for you. 1/8" tool, 1/2" depth of cut total, 4 passes of 1/8"

Here's the code, and how I changed the .dxf

[ger21]

Originally Posted by randyf1965 Below is the latest gcode I tried, the odd thing is it will start the cut and then go diagonal, curve around but ends up where it should. This is a simple square 1" across, I am trying to figure out HOW to make it cut out the exact size I need using cutter compensation. (File 1 INCH SQUARE.tap ) (Thursday, April 20, 2006) G90G80G49 G42 G0 Z0.7500 f60 x3.4904 y7.9303 G90.1 G0 Z0.5000 f60 x3.4904 y7.9303 G0 Z0.5000 G0 X3.4904 Y7.9303 F80.000G1 Z0.0000 F60.000G1 X4.4904 Y7.9303 G1 X4.4904 Y8.9303 G1 X3.4904 Y8.9303 G1 X3.4904 Y7.9303 G0 Z0.5000

Try this:

(File 1 INCH SQUARE.tap )
(Thursday, April 20, 2006)
G90G80G49
G0 Z0.7500
G1 X5.0000 Y7.0000 Z0.0000
G41 P0.125 (1/4" tool)
F60.000G1 X4.4904 Y7.7303 Z0.000
G1 X4.4904 Y8.9303
G1 X3.4904 Y8.9303
G1 X3.4904 Y7.9303
G1 X4.7500 Y7.9303
G0 Z0.5000
G40


If it's wrong, it's late and I'm tired.

[ger21]

Originally Posted by randyf1965 With both machines when starting a cut it will raise the Z-axis to it required height but will also move X & Y for no reason.

Most likely it's applying the compensation (G42) during the Z move

[randyf1965]

Ger21,

So you manually added the leadin and out in the dxf?

Also what did you use to generate that code? (the 4 pass gcode)

[ger21]

Yes, I draw the part to include the leadin and leadout. I wrote an AutoCAD macro that writes the g-code from within AutoCAD.

But, as long as you have the leadin and leadout drawn, It should be as simple as adding the G42 and G40 in the correct places.

[randyf1965]

too bad I use Solidworks...... or Alibre (free copy during their 100k signup)

[randyf1965]

ok, here is the rib.txt file cut out. part should be 9"x3" measures 9.1875"x 3.042". The notches should be .2" wide and measure .239".

So how do I correct this?

Pretty amazing to watch something I built do work (reminds me of building my 1st lcd projector).