[CFLBob]

That's wisdom. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I've gotten into too much trouble over the years ignoring that advice.

[bobmagnuson]

I'm using the 2010 Screenset auto zero functionality and I'm trying to adjust my post processor file to work with it. My gcode post processor file has a G43Hx (x being the tool number) after the M6 which I have commented out. Is it needed? Harm to leave it in?

Does this snippet of code before and after the M6 look correct for the auto zero to work??

N2020 Y21.7249
N2030G1 X89.7929
N2040 Y22.7249
N2050G0 Z1.2500
N2060M5
N2065 (Tool=3/8 Compression)
N2070M6 T3
N2080M3 S18000
N2090G0 X34.8306 Y42.2928 Z1.2500
N2100G0 Z0.2500
N2110G1 Z0.0000 F70.0
N2120G1 X35.8306 Z-0.7000 F70.0
N2130G1 X55.9558 F200.0
N2140 Y45.5428

[ger21]

I prefer to remove the G43, but if you don't have any tool lengths in your tool table, it shouldn't cause a problem.


It looks fine like you have it.
You just need an M5 before the M6, and the M3 S## after.

[bobmagnuson]

I prefer to remove the G43, but if you don't have any tool lengths in your tool table, it shouldn't cause a problem.


It looks fine like you have it.
You just need an M5 before the M6, and the M3 S## after.

Thanks Gerry!

[Machinehead57]

Do you have a tool table with tool lengths recorded in it? If so t1 is you default 0 in order to get the other tools to auto 0 you should call a G0 G43 H(tool #) Z1.2500 after the M6 . This will send the new tool down to its 0 plus the Z dimension. Even if you don't have a ATC you can set Mach to pause at M6 so you can do a manual tool change and it will still offset to the new tool if its in the tool table correctly.

Steve
PS sorry I jumped ahead.The 2010 screen set have a probe call for an auto zero as a macro.
I do like the looks of the screen set and will try it.

[jake76]

What could be a possible cause of the z-axis cutting about 2 times its programed depth. We zero the z with a puck touch plate 0.625" thick.

The axis is properly calibrated, we've used the machine by zeroing with a piece of paper and it cut as it should. The x and y axiis are fine, we manually zero these until we can make up a touch plate. When we use the 2010 simple auto zero its like it is not calculating something properly. We always have to press reset to prevent it from going into the table. We are not using material offset, it's set to zero and not selected. Its like some compensation is selected somewhere but we can't find it. The machine homes properly, goes to the proper park and tool change postion. Whenever we try the auto zero for the z-axis its always to deep no matter what we try.

EDIT

*The zero probe itself works i.e it will touch the probe twice then retract 1" ofF the work piece. Thats what makes it more baffling it must be getting the right distance but then you run the nc for the part and it goes to deep.

[RCaffin]

Hi Jake

I have no idea what CNC HW you are running, but I guess you are using Mach3 at least.
There is one reason why touch probing does not always work, and that is because the Chinese controller does not support g31 (the touch probe command) properly. We have seen this in the past. Could this be happening to you?

Cheers
Roger

[jake76]

We are using a chinese controller, AKZ250 by leafboy.
Leafboy77 - Mach3 Usb Motion Card (AKZ250)

Is their a known issue with that particular controller? We were working on this for a couple of hours today. Its driving me nuts.

the machine came with this hardware including the touch plate. Yes we are using MACH3, I don't recal the exact version, I'm at home now.

[ger21]

It's a known issue with most chinese controllers. Send me an email, and I'll send you some alternate macros to try.

[jake76]

Thanks ger21

email sent.

[RCaffin]

As Gerry said - known problem with the AKZ250.
IF I remember correctly (that's IF), the AKZ250 stops where it should but does not report the XYZ values back to Mach3. However, the actual Z DRO value is quite close, especially if you were going slowly.
Chinese controllers ...

Cheers
Roger

[Machinehead57]

What could be a possible cause of the z-axis cutting about 2 times its programed depth. We zero the z with a puck touch plate 0.625" thick.

The axis is properly calibrated, we've used the machine by zeroing with a piece of paper and it cut as it should. The x and y axiis are fine, we manually zero these until we can make up a touch plate. When we use the 2010 simple auto zero its like it is not calculating something properly. We always have to press reset to prevent it from going into the table. We are not using material offset, it's set to zero and not selected. Its like some compensation is selected somewhere but we can't find it. The machine homes properly, goes to the proper park and tool change postion. Whenever we try the auto zero for the z-axis its always to deep no matter what we try.

EDIT

*The zero probe itself works i.e it will touch the probe twice then retract 1" ofF the work piece. Thats what makes it more baffling it must be getting the right distance but then you run the nc for the part and it goes to deep.

Are you zeroing it on the number 0 tool? This sets the base reference for the tool table then your offsets must be right on your other tools and there must be the H word (height) call before your Z move.. ie. N10 G0 G43 H2 Z0.100.This will rapid the Z down to tool offset #2 to .100 above set 0 with the G43 tlo call.

Is the T number in the nc file the same as the one you are zeroing on?

Good luck
Steve

[RCaffin]

The zero probe itself works i.e it will touch the probe twice then retract 1" ofF the work piece.
Yes, I can do that withOUT using the faulty returned Z value.
Probe
Back off 0.1" IN INCREMENTAL MODE
Probe
Back off 1" in incremental mode.
Revert to absolute mode

Cheers
Roger

[jake76]

Thanks RCaffin and Machine head 57.

ger21 sent me some new scripts to try, I will also check all the things you mention when I'm back in the shop today. I do know for sure that we are set for tool 0.

[ger21]

Are you zeroing it on the number 0 tool? This sets the base reference for the tool table then your offsets must be right on your other tools and there must be the H word (height) call before your Z move.. ie. N10 G0 G43 H2 Z0.100.This will rapid the Z down to tool offset #2 to .100 above set 0 with the G43 tlo call.

Is the T number in the nc file the same as the one you are zeroing on?

With the 2010 Screenset, you do NOT want to use G43, and the tool # doesn't matter.
Each tool is zeroed automatically, so no tool length offets are needed.

[Machinehead57]

With the 2010 Screenset, you do NOT want to use G43, and the tool # doesn't matter.
Each tool is zeroed automatically, so no tool length offets are needed.

So you are zeroing each tool as it is selected.
Ok then no G43 and no tool table. maybe we need to see the start of the file that the problem is in .

Steve

[ger21]

No, the problem is that the motion controller he's using doesn't properly support G31 moves.
G31 are supposed to set a system var with the trip point. This var is used to set Z zero. Most chinese motion controllers don't set the var, so the zero point is not set correctly.

[jake76]

Well it works, manily. Every once in a while it seems to glitch. We actually wrote down our step by step procedure to eliminate procedure as a cause. I could tell when the value was wrong after doing a regen toolpath, after zering the axis's. Mach reads through the G-code and they flash on the DRO, when it's right 1.8" inches flashes in the z-axis DRO, when it's wrong 3.8" flashs there. I hope you are understanding what I'm trying to say? We also intermittently get out of sync errors reported.

Could anyone recommend a reliable replacement for that chinese motion board?

[ger21]

Could anyone recommend a reliable replacement for that chinese motion board?

Anything not made in China.

The Ethernet Smoothstepper is probably the most popular. All of the CNC Drive controllers are very good.

[jake76]

I was looking at this one.

UC300ETH-5LPT ethernet motion controller for Mach3

I'm guessing, judging by the amount of views, this is the one you're talking about.

CNC Ethernet SmoothStepper for Mach3 / Mach 4 CNC Smooth Stepper Motion Control

I'll have to read through the documentation on them and the stepper drivers we have (chinese drivers as well)

Thanks for all your help ger21, at least it's useable (hopefully) until I can get too doing some replacements.