Rotate Job in Mach3

[Kym]

Hello Forum,

Is there a way to rotate the job 90 degrees after it is loaded into Mach3?

Cheers....Kym

[kilrabit]

Mach 3 just interprets Gcode, it would be a lot of work to edit it manually. The only way I know of is to swap the x and y output cables, which makes your x=y and your y=x. Easier to go back and rotate in the software if possiblel

[Boort]

Kym

I'm no Mach expert but I think that on most Routers/Mills you can swap your X and Y axis configuration in Mach3 to rotate the project by 90 deg. I did this by accident when I was setting up my homebuilt router. I have also gotten the same effect when I powered off my drivers and swapped the motor leads while I was trouble shooting. This works for me since my tunings between the axis are very similar.

BoorT

[Kym]

Thank you

I will have to bring the file in the way I want to machine it in the first place.

Cheers....Kym

[garyb]

You can rotate the file in Mach
Go to the MDI screen then on left under the DRO's you will find the rotate box
Add a - to the number of degrees to rotate anti-clockwise

[Kym]

Hello garyb,

I have tried your suggestion....typed in 90 and entered, all that happens is the led under box starts flashing.

Am I missing another command?

Cheers....Kym

[metalworkz]

Hello Kym,
Did you try hitting the 'recalculate toolpaths' after inputting the angle of rotation?
I've never used this rotate option in Mach, but normally when there is a change you need to recalculate toolpaths in Mach3.

[zaaephod]

Wes is right, you need to go back to the main page of mach 3 and recalculate toolpaths. For some reason, the MDI page won't show the rotation, only on the program run page does for me.

Something to keep in mind though, if you rotate 90 degrees, the X and Y axis actually invert (the DRO for X and Y will be red), and when you click 'zero x' it actually zeroes y, since the two were inverted.

Lastly, keep an eye on your clamps. The last time I did this, when the program started, it unexpectedly moved a bit past the right side of the project, instead of to the center like normal. Haven't had time to figure out why yet.

[Kym]

Thank you for the helpful information.....Do you know if there is anything in the Mach3 manual about this?
I cannot find it.

Cheers....Kym

[ger21]

You can also use the G68 command to rotate the part. You can do it in MDI after the part is loaded.

G68 A0 B0 R90 will rotate the part 90° with the center of rotation at 0,0. A is the X center and B is the Y center. The R is the actual rotation and is not cumulative.