Program too big for Mach3

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Leo
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Program too big for Mach3

Post by Leo »

I have a 3D program that I cannot get loaded up into Mach3

It took 4 minutes to just get the g-code loaded, but Mach3 stops on the M30 - I am assuming that it is trying to regen the display. It just sits there for 10 minutes doing nothing.

There is almost 9 million lines of code

When I try anything Mach3 hangs up (not responding)

Any thoughts
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Re: Program too big for Mach3

Post by garylmast »

I had similar problems because of the model was either corrupt or too big. I solved it by taking it into ZBrush and decimating it to a smaller file, and fixing any problems it had. Another software I use is Netfabb, which takes a stl file and repairs it. If you want to email me the model, I can try and fix it for you. garylmast at earthlink dot net (at=@ and dot=.)

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Re: Program too big for Mach3

Post by martin54 »

Leo, I know you write gcode so is there no way you could edit the code to split it up into smaller files before running mach3 & then run them one after the other. guessing that is going to take some amount of machining time :lol: :lol: :lol:

Oh have you asked this question on the mach support forum ?

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Re: Program too big for Mach3

Post by ger21 »

Turn off the toolpath display before loading.
It's common with Mach3 to have to turn off the toolpath with much smaller programs. 9,000,000 lines is approaching Mach3's limit.
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Re: Program too big for Mach3

Post by Leo »

Ger - how do I turn off the display?

Martin - yeah I thought about editing the code.

I did something, and it worked. Just hoping there is a better way.

I drew 2 vertical lines and cut the tool path in half by creating new boundaries similar to tiling. I have some overlap between the 2 sections. Hope that makes sense.

That was for the roughing 3D toolpath. The finish will need to get cut into 4-6 toolpaths.

Still waiting for the magic answer.
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Re: Program too big for Mach3

Post by ger21 »

Leo wrote:Ger - how do I turn off the display?
Diagnostic's tab, just above the Reset button. (Toolpath On/Off)
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Re: Program too big for Mach3

Post by antennasDIY »

Use tape splitting and turn it into a few files..

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Re: Program too big for Mach3

Post by Dan.H. »

Leo I am so curious as to what you are cutting... and your bit size ?

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Re: Program too big for Mach3

Post by Leo »

It is a 3D relief about 24 x 18 with a 1/8 tapered ball nose and about .005 stepover
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Re: Program too big for Mach3

Post by IslaWW »

Leo...
Is this a product of the capabilities of Mach or the control computer itself? I have a "test file" that uses a full size 3D model of an engine block that when toolpathed with an 1/8 ballnose as an Aspire Rotary Wrapped file ends up being a couple hundred megabites. Took 30+ mins to generate on my control computer, but less than 3 on my design box. Both however, were able to be loaded (never cut) into WinCNC.
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Re: Program too big for Mach3

Post by Will Williamson »

Step over for that 1/8 ball should be .01 = 8 percent
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Re: Program too big for Mach3

Post by Dan.H. »

Leo, I have done some big cuts full table and never run into it, I have played with tool paths that wouldn't complete with ultra small tip size.

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Re: Program too big for Mach3

Post by ger21 »

IslaWW wrote: Is this a product of the capabilities of Mach or the control computer itself?
Mach3 has a 10 million line limit, but the toolpath display is very inefficient with PC resources.


Leo, did turning off the display help?
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Re: Program too big for Mach3

Post by Leo »

ger21 wrote:
IslaWW wrote: Is this a product of the capabilities of Mach or the control computer itself?
Mach3 has a 10 million line limit, but the toolpath display is very inefficient with PC resources.


Leo, did turning off the display help?
No I never got to the display turn off mode.

What I did was to reprogram into 4 sections with a 1" overlap - similar to tiling. It was just better that way as I also cut the machine time down to manageable sections. I don't really like to leave the machine fully unattended. The project looks good.

Next time I have something massive I will try turning off the display.

My solution was satisfying to me, and I learned new stuff along the way.
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