Vectric Customer

I just installed Cut2D 1.5 on a new PC but didn't check my settings on my old one where I ran Cut2D for several years. I output to a CNC mill running Mach 3 (inches), so I'm pretty sure the post-processor I used was one of the Mach 3 ones, but I don't recall whether it was Arcs or ATC Arcs. What's the difference? Thanks.

ATC stands for Automatic Tool Changer, if you don't have one choose Arcs.

Thanks!

If you want to output multiple toolpaths with different tools, then you need to use an ATC post, which includes tool change commands.
Many people that don't have ATC's use the ATC posts.

ger21 wrote:If you want to output multiple toolpaths with different tools, then you need to use an ATC post, which includes tool change commands.
Many people that don't have ATC's use the ATC posts.

Please expound on this. Would the cnc then go to a known location park and wait for the tool change. I actually use a flashcut controller on my unit but would love to be able to load all of my toolpaths in one go.

I usually make multiple copies of things and find it easier to load a single tool's tool path, then subject each piece of material to it before changing the tool, than performing all operations on each piece in turn.

dwilli9013 wrote: Please expound on this. Would the cnc then go to a known location park and wait for the tool change. I actually use a flashcut controller on my unit but would love to be able to load all of my toolpaths in one go.

Well, it depends on the control that you're using.

I've written macros for Mach3 and UCCNC, so that when there's an M6 in the code, the machine moves to a user defined tool change position, and stops and waits for you to change the tool. After the tool is changed, the machine moves to a Z zero plate, zeroes the new tool, and continues cutting. A lot of the members here use my custom screens with these macros.

I use Gerry's 2010 Screenset on my Mach3. You still have to manually change the tools, but it does speed things up.