[Rainman229]

Mach 3

I've got an issue I Can't seem to figure out.

After a tool change cycle (not auto changer) When I start back up. The z travels up at whatever the last feed rate used was. But it will vary from .2 to 3 inches. Not sure what is doing this any help please. Thanks

Smaple of g code

N01 G0 X-2.0 Y-0.0 Z2.0
N02 M6 T6 WHEN I HIT START HERE IT Z TRAVELS UP
N03 M3 G43
N04 G0 Z0.5
N05 G0 X-0.305 Y-0.75 Z0.5

[Rainman229]

Just realized the exact movement length is the same as the new tool offset in the tool table.

[Superman]

Mach 3

I've got an issue I Can't seem to figure out.

After a tool change cycle (not auto changer) When I start back up. The z travels up at whatever the last feed rate used was. But it will vary from .2 to 3 inches. Not sure what is doing this any help please. Thanks

Smaple of g code

N01 G0 X-2.0 Y-0.0 Z2.0
N02 M6 T6 WHEN I HIT START HERE IT Z TRAVELS UP
N03 M3 G43
N04 G0 Z0.5
N05 G0 X-0.305 Y-0.75 Z0.5

Are you sure the movement is not line N03 ?
This is the line taking up the tool lenght.

You need to have a Z value on that line to have the Z travel towards the part while subtracting the lenght offset
Try
G43 Z50. (H06) .... metric

[CitizenOfDreams]

G43 without the H parameter sets tool offset to zero. Which is probably NOT what you want after a tool change.

[Rainman229]

It doesn't seem related to g code. As I tried old code that never had this issue and does the same thing. Only thing that changed is the pc and the updated version of mach 3. It may be in the m6 macro.

[CitizenOfDreams]

- Does your tool table have correct offset values?
- When the Z axis travels up, where does it stop (in parts coordinates)?
- Does it go to Z=0.5 after that (line N04)?
- What is in your tool change macros, m6start.m1s and m6end.m1s?

The tool change macro should contain G43.H command (apply tool offset from the table).
The program should NOT contain G43 without H, because that sets tool offset to 0.

[Rainman229]

The movement very between tools. Some tools go up others go down.
The G43 H in the macro changes nothing with it or without.
Even reloading mach 3 with the newest version changed nothing.

This is really annoying as 1 tool slammed the z to the highest point and now my z is noisy and need fixing.
But I need this issue to stop before I fix it.

[Superman]

The movement very between tools. Some tools go up others go down.
The G43 H in the macro changes nothing with it or without.
Even reloading mach 3 with the newest version changed nothing.

This is really annoying as 1 tool slammed the z to the highest point and now my z is noisy and need fixing.
But I need this issue to stop before I fix it.

If the movement is before the G43, then you need to investigate the M6 macro.
It seems that there may be a Z move commanded after the change, where the toollength compensation takeup occurs
You may find that the macro has the G43 Hxx Zzz on one of the last lines.... any Zzz after the G43 is making it do the unwanted move. It may be on a later line.

If editing the macro, take a copy before editing, so you can restore to original.

[CitizenOfDreams]

G43 does not cause any motion, it only sets the offset. The motion happens either inside the tool change macro, or in line N04 G0 Z0.5.

Try inserting M0 between lines 2 and 3, to see where exactly the motion occurs.

[Superman]

I need to read properly

[Rainman229]

all the motion is happening while still on N02 M6 T6 after I change the tool and hit start. Line never moves till all movements are done.

[Superman]

all the motion is happening while still on N02 M6 T6 after I change the tool and hit start. Line never moves till all movements are done.

Any chance of posting your toolchange macro ?

I'm expecting to see that it contains some method of taking up the length offset and then calling a Z move after applying the offset.

[Rainman229]

Any chance of posting your toolchange macro ?

I'm expecting to see that it contains some method of taking up the length offset and then calling a Z move after applying the offset.

It does it with the standard 6m macro that loads with Mach and one someone else wrote and I tried using.

[Superman]

It does it with the standard 6m macro that loads with Mach and one someone else wrote and I tried using.

Oh well.
Seems we might have it narrowed down to being the macro.
But, you won't post it
- I can't see it
- I don't know what someone else wrote
- I don't use your type of machine
My help stops here,

ciao

[Rainman229]

Oh well.
Seems we might have it narrowed down to being the macro.
But, you won't post it
- I can't see it
- I don't know what someone else wrote
- I don't use your type of machine
My help stops here,

ciao

I'll be posting it shortly

everything is being done on 3 different computers. Only 2 are connected to the internet. my next post will have both that do the same.

[Rainman229]

M6Start That comes in Mach 3

tool = GetSelectedTool()
SetCurrentTool( tool )


M6start i tried to use with no luck sos

'Tool Change Macro For Manual tool change 09/14 CNC4XR7
'################################################# ##############
DoSpinStop() ' Make sure the spindle is OFF
Code"M09" ' Make sure the coolant is OFF
OldTool = GetOEMDRO (1224) 'Tool In spindle DRO You must add this to your settings screen
'x = GetToolChangeStart( 0 ) ' Get x tool change start position
'y = GetToolChangeStart( 1 ) ' Get y tool change start position
'z = GetToolChangeStart( 2 ) ' Get z tool change start position
tool = GetSelectedTool() ' tool to be changed to
NewTool = tool
If NewTool = OldTool Then
Exit Sub
End If
Code "G0 X-2.0 Y0.0 Z2.0" ' Move z to tool change position in Machine cord.
While IsMoving ' wait for z to move
Wend
Call SetUserDRO (1224,NewTool)
SetCurrentTool( NewTool ) ' input new tool into tool in spindle dro
Code "G43" & tool ' Call tool offsets for new tool
' Verify Tool Change Complete message box
Dim Msg, Style, Title, Help, Ctxt, Response,MyString
Msg = "Please Insert Tool : " & " ( " & GetSelectedTool( ) & " ) " & " " & GetToolDesc(NewTool)
'Msg = "Please Insert Tool Number " & " ( " & GetSelectedTool() & " ) " & " " & GetToolDesc(Tool) ' Define message
Style = vbYesNo + vbCritical + vbDefaultButton2 ' Define buttons
Style = 0 + 48 + 0 ' Define buttons.
Title = "Tool Change Requested" ' Define title
Help = "DEMO.HLP" ' Define Help file
Ctxt = 1000 ' Define topic
'context.
' Display message.
Response = MsgBox(Msg, Style, Title, Help, Ctxt)
If Response = vbOk Then ' User chose Ok
MyString = "Ok" ' Perform some action
End If
'Show user the current tool description
Message "Tool # " & GetCurrentTool() & " : " & GetToolDesc(GetCurrentTool) & " Installed " & " Returning to Tool Change Start Position"
Code "G00 Z2.0"
'Code "G00 X" & x & "Y" & y & "Z" & z 'Move back to where the tool change was prompted
While IsMoving
Wend
End

[CitizenOfDreams]

What about M6End? The default M6End macro will move the machine to SafeZ. Do you by chance have SafeZ enabled?

Also, what exactly is the height the machine moves to after the toolchange (in machine coordinates and part coordinates)? That information could be a great help for troubleshooting; we are not trying to pry it out from you just for fun.

REM The default script here moves the tool back to m6start if any movement has occured during the tool change..

x = GetToolChangeStart( 0 )
y = GetToolChangeStart( 1 )
z = GetToolChangeStart( 2 )
a = GetToolChangeStart( 3 )
b = GetToolChangeStart( 4 )
c = GetToolChangeStart( 5 )
if(IsSafeZ() = 1) Then
   SafeZ = GetSafeZ()
   if  SafeZ  > z then StraightTraverse x, y,SafeZ, a, b, c 
      StraightFeed  x, y,  z  , a, b, c
else
Code"G00 X" & x & "Y" & y
end if

[Rainman229]

The M6End is has not been change it's default.

with or without the safe z it still has the extra movement. Safe Z is set at 2 Not enabled

The Z either move - or + depending on the tool over traveling the Z2 in the m6 Then going to the Z2.

Then moving to Z0.2 off 0.0 Or

[CitizenOfDreams]

Well, you have to figure out where exactlty the unexpected movement occurs: in the m6start macro, in the m6end macro, or in the main program.

When you install a fresh copy of Mach3, do you configure it manually, or do you copy the old config files? Also, which version do you use? I personally found R3.043.062 to be the most stable. There is also 043.066, but they broke something in it, I can't remember what exactly.