Newbie- Starting tool position

[grdnanthy]

I have been using sprut cam for only a few days, and i am running into the same problem no matter what i do; the starting position of the tool is in the actual workpiece. That is, everything is good except the z level is below the workpiece actually. Im not sure if it is flipped (negative instead of positive) but I have no clue how to raise the starting position of my tool. When i run the simulation, the bit comes up and mills the piece as it should, but it starts in the piece and goes back at the end. Please help, this has stumped me. Thanks in advance.

[bevinp]

Hi GR,
1. Select Machining tab on left hand side of screen, and then select the Machining group (or the machining operation that is the problem).
2. Down the bottom of that left hand panel should be a window with a list beginning with Main Parameters. Expand that item, and the subitem Approach/Return.
3. You should see a title "Tool change position" and probably no entry beside it. Left click that title and then enter your preferred position for all three axes or just the z axis.

For a newbie, it sounds like you have done well to get a machining operation working without any help. And perchance you have not found the help that is available on-line, there are some good videos on using SC located on the Tormach website (and for free). SC is a very powerful and feature rich CAM, but the learning curve has been made much easier by the Tormach videos.

Also there is Sprut UK website that offers a much wider range of video topics for a modest monthly access fee.
Good luck.
Bevin

[grdnanthy]

Thanks! Changing the z value fixed my problem, but now I have another problem relating to the tool change location. Everything works and looks right in the SprutCam simulation but when I load the TAP files into my machine (a Tormach PCNC, using Mach3) the tool change height is raised above the actual capabilities of the machine. That is, when I load the file into Mach3, it tries to go to the tool change location, but that location is too high for the milling machine; it hits it's limit. I am confused why the tool change height is being changed when loaded into Mach3, please help me. Thanks.

[MarkWink]

Do you reference XYZ axis when you start the Tormach?

Mach has it's own tool change position usually about 3 inches down from the top limit. (check the setting under one of the tabs)
-there's a checkbox to allow the tool change macro in there too

If Sprutcam is showing collisions because of tool starting position, change the origin position not the tool change.

Do you have a sign error with a number.

I've fat fingered my Safe Level number a few times 0.25 becomes 25 - that finds the stop every time - maybe I just need more Z height

[bevinp]

GR,
I assume that the GCode instruction that causes your machine to hit the upper Z limit switch is M998. That instruction will use the tool change position that is specified in the Settings screen of Mach3 ( think... too lazy to go down shop to check). Those settings are relative to machine coordinates and you can change them to a position that you prefer.

But as Markwink says, you should Ref-erence the machine by selecting Ref button on the Mach3 Simple screen. This operation runs the Z, then Y, then X axes to the Machine Coordinate zero postions.

I always Ref my machine but I still prefer to modify the Gcode produced by the Tormach postprocessor in SprutCAM. I replace the M998 lines with G00 instructions to send the machine to a tool change position I want for each individual tool change. I find this more convenient than going to the same position every time. Of course if I ever buy an automatic change then I will change my ways.
Bevin

[David Bord]

Originally Posted by bevinp Hi GR, 1. Select Machining tab on left hand side of screen, and then select the Machining group (or the machining operation that is the problem). 2. Down the bottom of that left hand panel should be a window with a list beginning with Main Parameters. Expand that item, and the subitem Approach/Return. 3. You should see a title "Tool change position" and probably no entry beside it. Left click that title and then enter your preferred position for all three axes or just the z axis. For a newbie, it sounds like you have done well to get a machining operation working without any help. And perchance you have not found the help that is available on-line, there are some good videos on using SC located on the Tormach website (and for free). SC is a very powerful and feature rich CAM, but the learning curve has been made much easier by the Tormach videos. Also there is Sprut UK website that offers a much wider range of video topics for a modest monthly access fee. Good luck. Bevin

Bevin, or anyone else....

I have a similiar problem with Sprutcam 2007 and my Tormach. When doing a drilling opperation with a long drill and a higher work piece the machine is not going high enough for its safe jog position and I have snapped drill bits when it trys to jog from one position to another.

The simulation run in SC passes and there is no interference. It seems to jog at the tool change position and not what the Safe position called in the simulation.

Is it a problem in the post, or in Mach? Any idea if the above advice for changing tool change position might fix the problem?

David

[bevinp]

David,
In logical sequence:
1. Have you set the part zero reference position in the mill to coincide with the position you set in SprutCAM?
2. When you changed to the drill bit, did you reset the Z zero position?
3. Check your tool change position in SC, the Gcode, and mill.
4. Check your safe height in SC.
5. Is the Gcode showing the desired safe height in the G0 Zxx in the line below the end of the drilling routine, or the R value in the drilling line?

Good luck
Bevin