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new to cnc, need help with meshcam
hi everyone, im new to cnc'ing. i bought a machine a few days ago and have an stl file that i want to cut as a test to mess with settings and learn how to do this.
my problem is that when meshcam generates the g code and i run it in mach 3 the first thing it does is smashes my spindle down on the z axis, through the backing board into the t slot table and jams it up.
i have tried to run the code from the top and the bottom of stock and get the same result each time.
what i am doing is:
1) start machine and open mach 3
2) ref all home
3) auto zero tool
4) move the spindle along y/x to where i want to start
5) hit go
6) spindle fires up and then bam! its trying to destroy my machine by driving straight down.
can anyone look at my file and g code and tell me what i am doing wrong before i bust this machine?
thanks
Re: new to cnc, need help with meshcam
Quote:
6) spindle fires up and then bam! its trying to destroy my machine by driving straight down.
What does the Mach3 Z axis DRO say when it's going down?
The g-code is telling it to go down .063" and start cutting. Are you setting your Z zero to the top of your stock?
Re: new to cnc, need help with meshcam
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ger21
What does the Mach3 Z axis DRO say when it's going down?
The g-code is telling it to go down .063" and start cutting. Are you setting your Z zero to the top of your stock?
in meshcam i set it to the top of stock, i have also tried to set it to bottom of stock, i get the same result each time.
as for zero...i have a metal thing that plugs into the router then i hit auto zero tool, it goes down and touches it the backs off 5mm. the metal thing is 10mm, the readout at zero in mach3 is 15.0016mm
the person i bought the machine off used fusion 360 for a cam program, and he sent me a test file a .tap file and it cuts without issues. could it be that this machine can only run fusion g code? i have no idea really, but its going to break if i keep trying meshcam i think.
i cannot run fusion 360 because my stl files are all in solidworks and they show up as blanks in fusion 360 (apparently a common issue)
Re: new to cnc, need help with meshcam
You'r g-code is in inches, and it sounds like you're machine is setup in mm's?
But that shouldn't really matter, as Mach3 will convert the code to mm's.
So, the .063 depth should actually be cutting a 1.6mm deep.
Bottom line, there's nothing wrong with the code, and nothing in it is telling it to plunge seep into your part.
My guess is that something is wrong with your Mach3 setup, or the process you are using.
Re: new to cnc, need help with meshcam
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ger21
You'r g-code is in inches, and it sounds like you're machine is setup in mm's?
But that shouldn't really matter, as Mach3 will convert the code to mm's.
So, the .063 depth should actually be cutting a 1.6mm deep.
Bottom line, there's nothing wrong with the code, and nothing in it is telling it to plunge seep into your part.
My guess is that something is wrong with your Mach3 setup, or the process you are using.
it cuts fine with the test .tap file though, so it only has a fault when i use meshcam gcode.
i tried cutting this from my metal sheet but destroyed a few hundred dollars worth of sheet so i tried cutting it into mdf board. that mdf is 36mm thick...should i set the stock size to 36mm thick? i dont think it should make a difference because i only want it to cut down 0.63 and it should know where zero is? but im out of ideas...it will break my spindle if it keeps doing it
Re: new to cnc, need help with meshcam
Do a test run in air. Set Z0 high off the table, and watch the Z axis DRO, and see where it moves to.
Re: new to cnc, need help with meshcam
no, i have not. do i change this line
G0X0.0000Y0.0000Z0.1000 to G0X0.0000Y0.0000Z0.0000
or this line
G1A0.0000Z-0.0630F0.1 to G1A0.0000Z-0.0000F0.1
Re: new to cnc, need help with meshcam
if i set stock to 36mm it wants to cut through 18mm and then start the part there
Re: new to cnc, need help with meshcam
It's not the g-code telling it to cut that deep.
The deepest your g-code cuts is .063 deep.
Re: new to cnc, need help with meshcam
ok well that doesnt help at all...i have no idea, i know nothing about cnc but it seems like a big confusing patchwork of crap...cad/cam/machine software/hardware full of errors or incompatible, i wish i never bought it tbh
Re: new to cnc, need help with meshcam
Without physically having access to your machine, I can't tell you why it's doing what it's doing.
All I can tell you is that the code from MeshCAM is not causing the issue that you are seeing. It's either operator error, or some type of issue with Mach3.
Re: new to cnc, need help with meshcam
what does "regen toolpath" do in mach3? does it rewrite gcode? should i try that?