[wonderemporium]

I'm having a problem with multiple toolpaths post processed into one file. I'm running a 4 axis tool changer (Mach 3) post and sometimes between toolpaths with the same tool, I'll get a move that cuts through the model. It appears to be at the transition between one toolpath and the next. For example, I have a toolpath that ends with the part rotated to 270 degrees, Y=8 and Z = 1. The next toolpath starts at 0 degrees. The bit stays where it is and the part rotates under it, sometimes cutting right through it, then it continues on with the new toolpath. The simulator shows the first toolpath ending and going home but that's not what the post processed GCode looks like when going from one toolpath to the next if it's the same tool. Is there any way to force a move to home at the end of each toolpath when they're grouped together as one output file?

[turmite]

Why don't you post the portion of the code that is causing the problem? Are you saying that the actual code that is created is wrong, but it is simulated correctly?

Mike

[wonderemporium]

This illustrates the handicap of not having true 4 axis simulation. I can see each individual path and they are all fine but it doesn't show the bridge from one toolpath to the next and it doesn't do a material simulation, only the actual path so I can't detect the material collision that's happening. Here is the code that's causing the trouble. It appears to be at the transition from a planar finish and a pencil trace. The last line is where the bit stays down and the piece rotates right through it. Is there any way to tell the post processor to add some code at the end of a toolpath, even to identify it in the output so I'm not guessing that's where the pencil trace starts?

G01Y1.453Z1.719A282.568
G01Y1.454A282.565
G01Y1.478
G01Y1.494Z1.718
G01Y1.510Z1.717
G01Y1.542Z1.712
G01Y1.573Z1.705
G01Y1.605Z1.695
G01Y1.620Z1.690
G01Y1.636Z1.684
G01Y1.668Z1.670
G01Y1.699Z1.655
G01Y1.731Z1.637
G01Y1.762Z1.619
G01Y1.794Z1.599
G01Y1.825Z1.578
G01Y1.857Z1.558
G01Y1.889Z1.536
G01Y1.920Z1.515
G01Y1.983Z1.471
G01Y2.015Z1.450
G01Y2.046Z1.431
G01Y2.054Z1.426
G01Y2.125Z1.387
G01Y2.172Z1.364
G01Y2.204Z1.349
G01Y2.236Z1.334
G01Y2.299Z1.307
G01Y2.330Z1.293
G01Y2.362Z1.280
G01Y2.393Z1.267
G01Y2.456Z1.244
G01Y2.519Z1.221
G01Y2.583Z1.200
G01Y2.614Z1.189
G01Y2.646Z1.180
G01Y2.709Z1.162
G01Y2.740Z1.153
G01Y2.772Z1.145
G01Y2.803Z1.138
G01Y2.866Z1.125
G01Y2.898Z1.118
G01Y2.993Z1.101
G01Y3.056Z1.090
G01Y3.119Z1.078
G01Y3.213Z1.061
G01Y3.276Z1.048
G01Y3.371Z1.030
G01Y3.403Z1.025
G01Y3.655Z0.984
G01Y3.687Z0.979
G01Y3.844Z0.956
G01Y3.876Z0.950
G01Y3.939Z0.939
G01Y4.002Z0.925
G01Y4.034Z0.918
G01Y4.065Z0.911
G01Y4.097Z0.903
G01Y4.128Z0.895
G01Y4.160Z0.887
G01Y4.223Z0.871
G01Y4.254Z0.863
G01Y4.286Z0.856
G01Y4.302Z0.852
G01Y4.381Z0.836
G01Y4.459Z0.823
G01Y4.538Z0.812
G01Y4.570Z0.808
G01Y4.633Z0.801
G01Y4.664Z0.798
G01Y4.822Z0.782
G01Y4.948Z0.772
G01Y5.043Z0.766
G01Y5.106Z0.764
G01Y5.138Z0.763
G01Y5.232Z0.761
G01Y5.264Z0.761
G01Y5.358
G01Y5.453
G01Y5.516Z0.762
G01Y5.548Z0.762
G01Y5.579Z0.763
G01Y5.611Z0.764
G01Y5.642Z0.766
G01Y5.705Z0.770
G01Y5.737Z0.772
G01Y5.800Z0.778
G01Y5.863Z0.785
G01Y5.989Z0.802
G01Y6.147Z0.825
G01Y6.210Z0.835
G01Y6.273Z0.846
G01Y6.305Z0.851
G01Y6.399Z0.868
G01Y6.462Z0.879
G01Y6.620Z0.908
G01Y6.715Z0.923
G01Y6.778Z0.933
G01Y6.809Z0.937
G01Y6.872Z0.946
G01Y6.904Z0.950
G01Y6.967Z0.956
G01Y7.062Z0.966
G01Y7.093Z0.969
G01Y7.125Z0.973
G01Y7.156Z0.976
G01Y7.219Z0.983
G01Y7.283Z0.989
G01Y7.314Z0.993
G01Y7.409Z1.001
G01Y7.472Z1.007
G01Y7.566Z1.015
G01Y7.630Z1.021
G01Y7.693Z1.026
G01Y7.724Z1.029
G01Y7.787Z1.037
G01Y7.882Z1.051
G01Y7.945Z1.060
G01Y7.976Z1.064
G01Y8.008Z1.068
G01Y8.040Z1.071
G01Y8.071Z1.074
G01Y8.103Z1.077
G01Y8.134Z1.080
G01Y8.166Z1.083
G01Y8.197Z1.086
G01Y8.260Z1.092
G01Y8.323Z1.096
G01Y8.355Z1.099
G01Y8.387Z1.102
G01Y8.450Z1.106
G01Y8.513Z1.108
G01Y8.544Z1.109
G01Y8.576
G01Y8.607Z1.107
G01Y8.639Z1.104
G01Y8.702Z1.095
G01Y8.734Z1.092
G01Y8.749Z1.090
G01Y8.765Z1.091
G01Y8.797Z1.092
G01Y8.828Z1.091
G01Y8.860Z1.090
G01X-0.000Y8.860A-77.440 F90

[Dan B]

First, yes, you can force the tool to go to a "home position" between paths. See the attached illustration.



Second, yes, you can add a comment in the post to show you where the next path begins. Do something like this:

Attachment 190776

Of course, follow your controllers requirement for comment lines.

Third, material removal in 4 and 5-axis has been discussed for a future release.

Hope this helps,

Dan

[wonderemporium]

Thanks Dan, that's exactly what I needed! I thought I saw a post processor manual somewhere at some point but I can't find it now. Do you happen to have a link to it? It would be interesting to see what other things can be done in the post.

If 4/5 axis material simulation was added it would be amazing. I love MadCam, it's by far the best CAM software I've used and I have no regrets in buying it. That being said, looking at the cost of something like Predator for simulation made me choke so I'll wait until MadCam can do it. Until then I'll do prototype cuts in foam first to be sure everything is working :-)

[Dan B]

The post information is in the help file.

Attachment 190780

The current simulator, although much improved over madCAM 4.3, has some areas where it could be better. Expect to see the simulator completely reworked in a future release. I can't say when, but I do know it's on Joakim's "to-do" list.

Dan