Z-axis problems!

[Smokey930]

I have finished up, or very close, few odds and ends to do, a new diy build....I've got all my axis operating well except when I try to cut z always plunges into the material right at first and stops the whole show. When I first started trying to cut the machine did cut the gcode but at about 1/4 of the size it was supposed to be. So I then found that I needed to calibrate steps/inch or scale the axis on each axis which I know have done through the use of Mach 3. I'm zeroing to the surface of the material each time using Mach 3......when I intentionally zero Z to 3 or 4 inches above the table and run gcode, the spindle plunges down then raises back up and begins as if its cutting material...I don't know if this is in the gcode or Do I need to set some offsets for tool differential? and I also read something about a G28 setting which i'm not far enough along to understand what that is other than it has to do Z starting movement/position.....any help would be appreciated, Thanks

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[Jim Dawson]

Can you post your G code, just the first 20 lines or so lines should do.

[Smokey930]

I would be glad to, but how do I do that?....when i'm in mach3 I can see the gcode but haven't found a place to view it in vcarve…..in a text editor of some sort?

[Smokey930]

G90
G0 X0.0000 Y0.0000 Z1.5500
(SBULLDOG8)
T1
(V-BIT {90 deg 0.5"})
F100.0
F30.0
S16000
G0 X1.9979 Y2.5338 Z0.9500
G1 Z0.5700 F30.0
G1 X2.0042 Y2.5296 F100.0
G1 X2.0042 Y2.5708
G1 X1.9655 Y2.5566
G1 X1.9979 Y2.5338
G1 X1.9923 Y2.5256
G1 X2.0411 Y2.4934
G1 X2.0070 Y2.5430
G1 X1.9787 Y2.5881
G1 X1.9506 Y2.5552
G1 X1.9923 Y2.5256


THATS THE FIRST 20 LINES OF GCODE FROM VCARVE


























































]

[Jim Dawson]

What is the Z position before you start the run? It looks like Z should moving down correctly.

[Smokey930]

TO THIS POINT I HAVE JUST ZERO'D THE X & Y AXIS TO THE BOTTOM LEFT CORNER OF THE MEDIA I'M WANTING TO CUT ON.....SO I HAVE BEEN ZEROING TO/OR JUST ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE MATERIAL WITH THE Z...THATS WHAT MAKES ME THINK I'M NOT ACCOUNTING FOR THE BIT AND MAYBE I NEED TO SET A OFFSET...

[Smokey930]

LOOKING AT THE CODE I CAN SEE THAT X & Y ARE SIMPLY COORDINATES....Z IS TO BUT VERTICALLY 1.55 INCHES ABOVE THE SURFACE? JUST ASKING...I ALWAYS FEEL THE MORE YOU UNDERSTAND THE MORE YOU CAN IMPROVE

[Jim Dawson]

You need to zero the Z with the bit installed, in other words, Z zero is the tip of the tool bit. The top of the material is fine for Z zero.

[Smokey930]

I have been zeroing z to the tip of the tool bit....that's whats got me stuck...from everything ive read that is an acceptable practice...but certainly isn't working

[Jim Dawson]

LOOKING AT THE CODE I CAN SEE THAT X & Y ARE SIMPLY COORDINATES....Z IS TO BUT VERTICALLY 1.55 INCHES ABOVE THE SURFACE? JUST ASKING...I ALWAYS FEEL THE MORE YOU UNDERSTAND THE MORE YOU CAN IMPROVE

That's what the code reads. But first we need to understand why Z is diving down then going back up to start cutting. Z should move to 1.5500, then to 0.9500, then to 0.5700, always moving down.

[Jim Dawson]

Is Z zero set to the top of the material in Vcarve?

[Smokey930]

The last hurdle I was trying to get over was scaling the axis....I was at 1/16 and when I did the calibration on mach 3 I ended up with some crazy big numbers of steps to reach 1 to 1 to match the code that was being input...so i'm now at 1/8 and brought the steps down considerably, I thought that was the issue for a while, but now not so much

[Smokey930]

So was typing the last issue......yes to the top of material in vcarve…….give me a few and i'll jump over there and verify that

[Jim Dawson]

When you tell the Z to move 1 inch, does it actually move 1 inch?

[Smokey930]

In vcarve it says Safe Z 0.2 X 0.0, Y 0.0 and Z 0.8

[Smokey930]

yes, when I tell Z to move 1 inch it moves 1 inch......that was the pretty much the sum of the last mess....had to scale all the axis

[Jim Dawson]

In vcarve it says Safe Z 0.2 X 0.0, Y 0.0 and Z 0.8

I'm not sure I understand what the Z 0.8 is

[Smokey930]

Sorry for the delay apparently had a little glitch in service...……..In vcarve it says Safe Z 0.2
home position X 0,0, Y 0,0 AND Z 0.8

[Smokey930]

WOW MY SYSTEM HAS LOST ITS MIND IT DIDN'T SHOW THAT THE LAST MSG'S WENT THROUGH SORRY FOR THE DUPLICATE.....WITH THE Z 0.8 TO ME THAT SAYS ITS STARTING OUT 0.8 OF A INCH BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE MATERIAL, BUT I HAVEN'T TOUCHED ANY OF THOSE SETTINGS...…..DOES THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED TO 0.0? AND CAN I DO THAT KIND OF EDIT IN MACH 3?

[Jim Dawson]

Below the surface should be -0.8, positive numbers should be above the surface, negative numbers below