With help, I'm comfortable with the toolpaths being generated. However, the G Code that is coming out isn't "machine ready"even though I'm targeting the Tormach PCNC1100 Mach3. I actually have PathPilot which is supposed to use the same G Code commands as Mach3.
I admit I'm new to this and I very easily could be doing something wrong, but if I am please explain it to me. I'll be glad to learn.
Here are the issues I'm seeing and wondering if the post processor isn't really 100% working for the Mach 3 TorMach PCNC1100 "out of the box" so to speak:
First 6 Lines of generated code (untouched by me):
G00 G49 G40.1 G17 G80 G50 G90 G64
G20
(T10_Roughing_FLAT_END_0,25_C30826_30IPM_0.2Depth)
M6 T10
M03 S4300
G01Z3.000
Line 1: G40.1 is not recognized by PathPilot or GWizardE. What is this supposed to be doing? I don't think it should be in there unless it can be explained. I couldn't find any info on it when I searched for it, just other people getting errors on G40.1.
Line 1: G50 should be on it's own separate line according to PathPilot.
Line 6: G01 on this line generates an error in GWizardE saying that the feedrate is not set. If you put G00, the error goes away. When I read up on G00 and G01 I think GWizardE is correct for saying this. A few lines further down and the next G01 in the Z axis has a feedrate specified.
I had to make the two changes to Line 1 just to be able to run the code on PathPilot. I had already made the change to Line 6 before that point, so I didn't actually test if PathPilot had a problem with Line 6 as it was written.
Lastly, I have tool offset numbers setup in my tools in madCAM. How come a G49 is being issued? Why are my tool offsets being disabled at this point? (Maybe I'm missing something here or making a mistake myself, so please help me understand if I'm wrong here) I would like to be able to put in my Touch Probe that has a known length and known probe diameter. I'd use this touch probe (tool 99) to set my origin work point 0,0,0. Then I would like to load tool #10 (rougher) which has a known length and diameter and have everything work based on the relative length differences / offsets. For me, Tool 10 also has an entry in the Offset table on row 10. My finishing end mill Tool 11 has an offset entry in Row 11. Since G49 turns off all the offsets, doesn't that ignore that data?
I'm running my g code as two separate files. Tool 10 Rougher is being run first and Tool 11 Finisher is being run second. I didn't want to have to re-zero when I switch tools. I was thinking that the offsets would take care of that.
So, it seems like the madCAM default post processor for the Tormach 1100 needs some work out of the box just to generate code that will process (G40.1 removal, G50 on a new line and maybe the G01 on Line 6 being G00?). Then does it need further work to be able to use tool offsets? I could see how that last part might just be personal preference.
The attached zip file has my Rhino model in inches, the saved workspace, and the 2 different tools that I'm using. T10 has two different files because I have different feed rates set for the different cuts. I've also included a copy of the original output from the post processor. If I make the changes to Line 1, the mill will run up in the air. I'm not confident enough yet to actually try cutting.the work piece yet.
Any help in understanding what I'm doing wrong, how to correct the post processor and/or understand how to use tool offset numbers properly would be greatly appreciated!