How to change tool Manually?

[happytriger2000]

Hi,
I'm testing out a g-code file generated by Rhinocam, and there are 3 tools needed to be changed, the g-code will be inputed to Mach 2 and my questions are:
1: how do I change the tool manually? and what needed to be set in Mach 2?

2: Do I need the M6start macro?

*the G-code is in the attachment.

* The spindle = RotoZip RZ5

Thanks for any help,

Freddy

[ger21]

Call M6 to change it, and there should be a configuration setting to pause and wait for cycle start. Haven't seen Mach2 in years, but that's how it's done in Mach3.

[happytriger2000]

Hi ger21,
I think I need help on Mach 3 as I have been using Mach 2 all this time, upgrading to Mach 3 is quite a challenge to me.

I recorded a clip of the code I was running from:

YouTube - Mach 3 Troubleshoot

YouTube - Mach 3 Troubleshoot

When the code reaches to T3 M6, shouldn't the spindle raise to a point and wait for manual change?, and the machine is running strangely slow or not smooth compare to mach2.

Here is a clip of my machine in Mach 2:

YouTube - Rhinocam + Mach2 + BZT desktop cnc.

YouTube - Rhinocam + Mach2 + BZT desktop cnc.

Freddy

[happytriger2000]

Hi ger21,
OK I'm a bit confused....when you said "Call M6 to change it" , the code Line 5: N50 T3 M6, Do I leave it as it is? and I know I have to edit the VB, but which file? the M6Start? or Do I create a new .M1s file as M6.M1s?


G-code:

N10 G21
N20 G0 G17 G40 G49 G80 G90
N30 G64
N40 (Pencil Tracing)
N50 T3 M6 <-------------------Do I need to Edit Vb code in M6Start?
N60 S5000 M03
N70 G00 Z-2.2225
N80 X113.8931 Y77.2267
N90 G01 Z-27.1947 F889.0
N100 G01 Z-27.8297
N110 G01 X113.5821 Y76.6842 Z-27.9400 F1016.0
N120 G01 X113.3706 Y76.3152 Z-11.1806 F1143.0
N130 G01 X112.8049 Y76.4470 Z-10.2533
N140 G01 X112.2392 Y76.5125 Z-9.7715
N150 G01 X111.6735 Y76.5617 Z-9.4867
N160 G01 X111.1079 Y76.5971 Z-9.3423
N170 G01 X110.5422 Y76.6201 Z-9.3066
N180 G01 X109.9765 Y76.6375 Z-9.303


Freddy

[ger21]

What do you want it to do when it gets to the M6? Do you have it set like this in General Config?

If you want to change somethng, edit the M6Start macro. Post the contents of it here so I can see what it's doing.

[happytriger2000]

Hi Gerry,
Thank you for replying.

When the code hits M6, the spindle move away from the ref point, let say Z= 50mm , Y= -25, x = 0 so I can change the tool by hand, then Auto Tool Zero at this point and then continue milling.

Total tool of 3,
tool 0 = 4 mm end mill
tool 1 = 2.5 radius
tool 2 = 2radius.

'ToolChange Macro For Bed type tool changer 11/05 Brian
Sub Main()
OldTool = GetOEMDRO (1200) 'Tool In spindle DRO You must add this to your settings screen
x = GetToolChangeStart( 0 )
y = GetToolChangeStart( 1 )
z = GetToolChangeStart( 2 )

tool = GetSelectedTool()
NewTool = tool
'Tool Changer Macro (Bed Type)
MaxToolNum = 3 'Max number off tools for the changer
ToolDown = -3.125 'Z Pos to Get or drop a tool
ToolUp = 0.0 'Z Hieght to Rapid from tool to tool
If NewTool = OldTool Then
Exit Sub
End If
While NewTool > MaxToolNum
NewTool = Question ("Enter New Tool Number up to " & MaxToolNum)
Wend
Code "G00 G53 Z" & ToolUp
While IsMoving()
Wend
Call MovePos(OldTool)
While IsMoving()
Wend
Code "G53 Z" & ToolDown
Code "G4 P.75"
While IsMoving()
Wend
ActivateSignal(Output1) 'Turn On Draw bar to release the tool
Code "G4 P1.0" 'Wait for the tool to release
'SystemWaitFor (7) 'Wait for the tool Release Limit switch
Code "G53 Z" & ToolUp
Call MovePos(NewTool)
While IsMoving()
Wend
Code "G53 Z" & ToolDown
Code "G4 P.75"
While IsMoving()
Wend
DeActivateSignal(Output1) 'Turn Off Draw bar to Clamp the tool
Code "G4 P1.0" 'Wait for the tool to Clamp
While IsMoving()
Wend
Code "G53 Z" & ToolUp
Call SetUserDRO (1200,NewTool)
SetCurrentTool( NewTool )
Code "G00 X" & x & " Y" & y 'Move back to where the tool change was prompted
End Sub

Sub MovePos(ByVal ToolNumber As Integer)

Select Case ToolNumber
Case Is = 1
Xpos = 12.00
YPos = 2.00
Case Is = 2
Xpos = 14.00
YPos = 2.00
Case Is = 3
Xpos = 16.00
YPos = 2.00
Case Is = 4
Xpos = 18.00
YPos = 2.00
Case Is = 5
Xpos = 12.00
YPos = 4.00
Case Is = 6
Xpos = 14.00
YPos = 4.00
Case Is = 7
Xpos = 16.00
YPos = 4.00
Case Is = 8
Xpos = 18.00
YPos = 4.00
End Select

Code "G53 X" & XPos & " Y" & YPos
End Sub
Main

[happytriger2000]

I found a thread which is similar to what I want to achieve:
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75878
but where do you put "Code("G1 Z1") Code("G1 X-1 Y0") " in the M6start.m1s?

Freddy

[ger21]

Code("G1 Z1")
Code("G1 X-1 Y0")
tool = GetSelectedTool()
SetCurrentTool( tool )

The code you posted is for an automatic tool changer. That's not your M6Start, is it??

[happytriger2000]

Originally Posted by ger21 Code("G1 Z1") Code("G1 X-1 Y0") tool = GetSelectedTool() SetCurrentTool( tool ) The code you posted is for an automatic tool changer. That's not your M6Start, is it??

Hi Gerry,
No no, that's not the code, I was just modifying it.

About the following code, are those code the answer for my manual tool change?, if yes, therefore raise z= 50mm, y = -25, x=0 ------------

-----> Code("G1 Z50")
Code("G1 X0 Y-25")
tool = GetSelectedTool()
SetCurrentTool( tool )

is this code correct?

Freddy

[ger21]

I'm not 100% sure what you want to do, but I think so.

[happytriger2000]

Hi Gerry,
I tested and it seems ok, but the speed is a bit slow, how do I speed it up?

Freddy

[happytriger2000]

I replaced G1 to G0:

Code("G0 Z35")
Code("G0 X0 Y-40")
tool = GetSelectedTool()
SetCurrentTool( tool )

Next: having the new tool loaded, I want it to "Auto Tool Zero" by touching the copper tube ( thread by Erniebro), like the link below:
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showth...d=56079&page=1

Question:

Can I save the M6Start.m1s lie this:

Code("G0 Z35")
Code("G0 X0 Y-40")
tool = GetSelectedTool()
SetCurrentTool( tool )

PlateThickness = GetUserDRO(1151) 'Z-plate thickness DRO

If GetOemLed (825)=0 Then 'Check to see if the probe is already grounded or faulty
DoOEMButton (1010) 'zero the Z axis so the probe move will start from here
Code "G4 P5" ' this delay gives me time to get from computer to hold probe in place
Code "G31Z-40 F500" 'probing move, can set the feed rate here as well as how far to move
While IsMoving() 'wait while it happens
Wend
ZProbePos = GetVar(2002) 'get the axact point the probe was hit
Code "G0 Z" &ZProbePos 'go back to that point, always a very small amount of overrun
While IsMoving ()
Wend
Call SetDro (2, PlateThickness) 'set the Z axis DRO to whatever is set as plate thickness
Code "G4 P0.25" 'Pause for Dro to update.
Code "G0 Z25.4" 'put the Z retract height you want here
Code "(Z axis is now zeroed)" 'puts this message in the status bar
Else
Code "(Z-Plate is grounded, check connection and try again)" 'this goes in the status bar if aplicable
Exit Sub
End If


Freddy