Cambam issue or Mach 3 Issue??
I have been lurking for quite some time because it took me over a year to build my CNC router and for the past month I have been learning the basics of CamBam 9.8 and the most recent version of Mach3.
I designed a pocket 2.5" X 2.5" X .5" deep in CamBam. Because I am a newbie, I took a pencil and marked the center of my work piece. I zeroed my machine using the mark on the work piece as a reference point, I loaded the g-code that I created from CamBam into Mach 3 and ran the file. The machine runs great with no problems except instead of machining a pocket dead center of my work piece 2.5" X 2.5" X .5" deep, it machines a pocket nearly less than half the size, half the depth and off center. If I remember correctly the edge of the small pocket is right on the center mark.
I have double checked all of my settings and I have machined about a dozen or so pieces of MDF and now I am a little flustered and need some advice from the Pro's.
Thanks in advance
I made a couple minor changes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ger21
The g-code says it's for a .125" tool? If so, the pocket will only be 2.25".
The g-code has the toolpaths at 2.125. Add the radius twice, and you get 2.25"
It's centered on the Y axis, but 1/16" left on the X axis. X min = -1.125, X max = 1.
So, if it's the wrong size, then you probably have your steps/unit in motor tuning wrong. Just make sure you don't have any axis scaling enabled.
Not sure on the off center part. Get it the right size first, then we'll go from there.
Yep, the dimensions were off just a little so I made those changes. I think the majority of my issues are with how mach 3 is set up. I don't have any instructions on how to set it up. I tried tuning the motors manually, but without having the right information it is difficult so I just guess. I also tried to tune motors with the auto feature. I would tell it to move one inch and it would only move 1/8" so I would enter that data and then my motors would squeal and not turn. I am to the point of pulling my hair out. My y motor is a nema 23 300 oz/in y axis is a 3/8 - 16, x motor is a nema 34 640 oz/in x axis is a 1/2 - 10. Also have xl timing pulleys on both the motors and leadscrews they are all the same diameter with 24 teeth. I am a little frustrated because I do not know how to calculate this stuff to make the machine run the way that it should.
You were absolutely correct
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ger21
The g-code says it's for a .125" tool? If so, the pocket will only be 2.25".
The g-code has the toolpaths at 2.125. Add the radius twice, and you get 2.25"
It's centered on the Y axis, but 1/16" left on the X axis. X min = -1.125, X max = 1.
So, if it's the wrong size, then you probably have your steps/unit in motor tuning wrong. Just make sure you don't have any axis scaling enabled.
Not sure on the off center part. Get it the right size first, then we'll go from there.
You mentioned something about motor tuning so I did some searching and found a good Mach3 instruction manual and read every single page until I understood somewhat of how to tune the motors. What had happened was I had set the "steps per" way too low and set the "velocity" and "acceleration" way too high. it took a few tries but I finally nailed the problem that I was having. I wanted to be sure so I ran a test and machined the clock pocket that I had designed and it turned out great. Thank you so much for making a comment that got me thinking about finding a solution.
