Problems with exporting gcode

[galaxyman7]

Hey, I have Mastercam X, and I have tried to export gcode and open it with Mach3. However, when I open the gcode up in Mach 3, and I zero the tool, the program thinks the zero is very far away from the zero I have in Master Cam. I am using the basic 3 axis machine type in master cam. How do I get the zero on Mach3 to be the same zero as Master Cam?
I have a feeling it is mixing up the machine's zero and the zero for the workpiece, but I do not know how to change that.

[Mike Mattera]

Its probably your work offset. Does this control use G54 & G55 type offsets? Whats in the NC program you created? What is that offset set to in your machine?

Mike Mattera

[Limpan]

Hi, if the coordinates in your G-code correspond to your workpiece zero in Mastercam then something must be wrong in the Mach3 work setup. Does your Mach3 display the machine coords or the workpiece coords? I think there is a button in Mach3 to switch between those two display options.
Limpan

[foxsquirrel]

did you check to see that your T plane is the same as the gview and Cplane are at the same location. And if you changed your T plane after posting you will have to delete the toolpaths and start over again, for some reason X3 does not update anything like it should and you will have the old t plane origin.

[galaxyman7]

Limpan, Mach 3 has the machine coordinates button off, so it isn't that. Plus even if I turn the computer on with the tool at one position, Mach3 doesn't recognize that as zero. It thinks zero is way outside my machine limits.

Fox, how do I check the position of the T plane and C plane? I did set the WCS origin to the middle of the workpiece.

By the way, it is a 3 axis milling machine, and it does not have a home position. This happens with any NC code I export from Master Cam X.

To Mike, the work offset is 0 for everything. The problem is with the NC code.

I have attached some test gcode that is messed up, and the same gcode that I fixed manually. There is a portion in there that moves the origin for some reason.

This is the piece I took out.
I think it has to do with the slashes not being recognized in Mach3 as comments. But why would Master Cam put that in?


/ N104 G91 G28 Z0.
/ N106 G28 X0. Y0.
/ N108 G92 X10. Y10. Z10.

[foxsquirrel]

Originally Posted by galaxyman7 Limpan, Mach 3 has the machine coordinates button off, so it isn't that. Plus even if I turn the computer on with the tool at one position, Mach3 doesn't recognize that as zero. It thinks zero is way outside my machine limits. Fox, how do I check the position of the T plane and C plane? I did set the WCS origin to the middle of the workpiece. By the way, it is a 3 axis milling machine, and it does not have a home position. This happens with any NC code I export from Master Cam X. To Mike, the work offset is 0 for everything. The problem is with the NC code. I have attached some test gcode that is messed up, and the same gcode that I fixed manually. There is a portion in there that moves the origin for some reason. This is the piece I took out. I think it has to do with the slashes not being recognized in Mach3 as comments. But why would Master Cam put that in? / N104 G91 G28 Z0. / N106 G28 X0. Y0. / N108 G92 X10. Y10. Z10.

On the bottom bar click on gview or tplane or cplane, I believe tplane is hidden by default and you will have to turn it on ( I don't remember where) open it up and it will state the location. You can also hit F9 and the cross hairs will pop up showing the origins. Be aware that if you do change one of them MCAM does not update the locations all the time so you might have to do it a couple of times.

[Limpan]

Hi galaxyman, I think the best in Mach3 is to use work offsets G54-G59, you can change in your control definition in Mastercam so the postprocessor generates G54 instead of G92. G92 was used many years ago when the Fanuc controls were still not equipped with the local work offsets G54-G59. The function was to translate your zero point from machine zero to workpiece zero and then you could translate again to your next workpiece if you had one. I think that Mach3 cannot handle G92 translations. If you want I can post a screenshot to show where to change in the control definition.
Limpan

[galaxyman7]

Sure, that would be great. I don't know why it would be set to G92 on default.

If that doesn't work I will try fox's idea and change the T plane coordinates.
However I would rather have it automatically work rather than have to change it every time.

Thank you very much guys

[Superman]

to set G54/G55 instead of G92


on top toolbar select the
- "Settings" pull-down, then
- "Machine Definition Manager" - opens a dialog box
now select "Edit the Control Definition " - this opens your machines' control settings of all future jobs that you do and where you post it and what extension blah blah blah

in the L/hand window, select "Misc Int/Real values",
in the R/hand window, the #1 setting is for Work Co-ordinates----- set this value to 2 to get G54/G55 outputs

now back out accepting the new settings for them to stick

The other bit about G28 and the block skips is actually a post edit, but do 1 step at a time

[galaxyman7]

Still not working. I set the home position to 0, 0, 0 on the "Edit Axis combinations" button. It still offsets the zero.

[Superman]

Mastecam ---you programmed Z-0.1
NC output---you got Z-0.1
no issue here

the issue lays in your machine
-you need to diagnose further, MDI in a G0Z0, Z-1., Z1., have the tool go to the point form the + and - directions, if the differences between the programmed and actual points are common , it's not major, it may just be a zeroing out problem on the readout, and better resolved with "masters" in the machine forum

You changed your posting ?? I'm now confused
"home position to 0, 0, 0" is where you would normally program your part and set the machine to, The G54/55 line is where on the machine you want the part machined around.This is the part origin point co-ordinates from the machines datum point, and may have to be edited manually. We use a point reference, where that point is adjusted by a work offset page---no editing of the code needed

[galaxyman7]

the reason i changed the post is because i found out why it goes down .094. It was in metric units, and it cant get to exactly .1 because of the accuracy of the machine. Anyways, here is the gcode. How do i cchange to G54 instead of G92? I tried changing it in the control definition under misc values, but it still outputs g92 code.
%
O0000
(PROGRAM NAME - TEST )
(DATE=DD-MM-YY - 24-04-10 TIME=HH:MM - 18:44 )
N100 G20
N102 G0 G17 G40 G49 G80 G90
/ N104 G91 G28 Z0.
/ N106 G28 X0. Y0.
/ N108 G92 X10. Y10. Z10.
( 1/16 FLAT ENDMILL TOOL - 230 DIA. OFF. - 0 LEN. - 0 DIA. - .0625 )
N110 T230 M6
N112 G0 G90 X.9688 Y0. A0. S8556 M3
N114 G43 H0 Z.25
N116 Z.1
N118 G1 Z-.1 F6.16
N120 G3 X-.9688 R.9688
N122 X.9688 R.9688
N124 G1 Z0.
N126 G0 Z.25
N128 M5
N130 G91 G28 Z0.
N132 G28 X0. Y0. A0.
N134 M30
%