No Y axis movement

[Len-Tikular]

Need some help with my first Rotary wrapping test.

I just completed my 4th axis and managed to get a very nice 10 tooth pulley made using Mach3 wizard. This way I know X,Y,Z and A axis all work and are very accurate.

My X axis is my long length of my table, Y axis is the width of the table. Z is up/down and A is Rotary

So I thought I would get adventurous and try mapping my Masonic logo to a 22.2mm piece of bar metal.

The mapping seems to work but when I run the code I do not get and Y axis movement.

That's strange because the preview looks good.

I selected the Mach 2/3 Wrap Y2A ATC(MM) post processor before saving the code.

Clearly I have got something in my setup wrong. Looking at the text file reveals that Z goes to 10.8 and stays there throughout the cut.

Anyone know where I'm going wrong.

Thanks

George

[rscrawford]

If you are wrapping Y to A (which is what that post processor does), then you won't get any Y movements. Y movements are now rotational movements.

If you want your X-movements to become rotational, then you need an X to A pp.

[Len-Tikular]

If you are wrapping Y to A (which is what that post processor does), then you won't get any Y movements. Y movements are now rotational movements.

If you want your X-movements to become rotational, then you need an X to A pp.

Sorry if I'm being a bit slow,

whatever I try it appears that I only get 2 axis of movement.

[Greolt]

Had a look at your crv3d file and it is all set up to wrap X values around the rotary.

If this is what you intended, then you need to select the X_to_A post processor.

A profile toolpath with a 0.3mm depth of cut will have the Z axis at 10.8 for all of the cutting operation.

Greg

[Len-Tikular]

Had a look at your crv3d file and it is all set up to wrap X values around the rotary.

If this is what you intended, then you need to select the X_to_A post processor.

A profile toolpath with a 0.3mm depth of cut will have the Z axis at 10.8 for all of the cutting operation.

Greg

Thanks Greg, I selected X 2 A but I don't get any rotational movement. My 4th axis DRO remains at 0 throughout the operation.

George

Any sample file I can try ?

[Greolt]

Thanks Greg, I selected X 2 A but I don't get any rotational movement. My 4th axis DRO remains at 0 throughout the operation.

I ran the crv3d file and "Mach3 X2A" PP. The result had A, Y and Z positions called all the way through it. File attached.

Is your 4th axis designated A ?

Can you jog A and see the DRO move ?

Greg

[Len-Tikular]

Thanks Greg, I selected X 2 A but I don't get any rotational movement. My 4th axis DRO remains at 0 throughout the operation.

I ran the crv3d file and "Mach3 X2A" PP. The result had A, Y and Z positions called all the way through it. File attached.

Is your 4th axis designated A ?

Can you jog A and see the DRO move ?

Greg

Hi Greg, Only Y and Z follow.
My 4th axis on screen is shown as '4' i.e. X,Y,Z,4
I cant move the A (4) DRO using the hotkeys (Jog is enabled)
How do I designate the 4th Axis as A ?

[Greolt]

Hi Greg, Only Y and Z follow.
My 4th axis on screen is shown as '4' i.e. X,Y,Z,4
I cant move the A (4) DRO using the hotkeys (Jog is enabled)
How do I designate the 4th Axis as A ?

Can you post your xml and I will take a look at it.

It will be in the Machh3 folder. Called "Mach3mill.xml" unless you have named it otherwise.

Greg

[Len-Tikular]

Hi Greg, Only Y and Z follow.
My 4th axis on screen is shown as '4' i.e. X,Y,Z,4
I cant move the A (4) DRO using the hotkeys (Jog is enabled)
How do I designate the 4th Axis as A ?

Can you post your xml and I will take a look at it.

It will be in the Machh3 folder. Called "Mach3mill.xml" unless you have named it otherwise.

Greg

Hi Greg,

I called mine 'tron.xml' so I'll load this but I'll also load up the Mach3mill.xml as well. I have had to rename the to txt files in order that they upload.

Hopefully you can help me I'm getting a bit tied up in knots. I have probably got lots of other things wrong in my setup but as I said I have produce lots of good work with the machine so far.

Thanks

George



I have added a picture of how my 4th axis is placed on my bed. If I use the Newfangled wizzard in Mach3 and set up to cut a 15mm diameter 10tooth pulley wheel, it cuts fine.

If I use the file 'profile1' all axis now follow but not in the right direction. If I rotated my 4th axis through 90 degrees I think it would be correct.

[Greolt]

George

Can't see any problem in your xml.

Had a quick look at the NewFangled gear cutting wizard and it utilises an A axis that the centre of rotation lies parallel to the X axis. This is the conventional configuration of and A axis.

Looking at your picture I assume this is how you have the rotary axis set up on your router.

Whereas the layout in the crv3d file has the X values wrapped about the rotary. Or for a rotary that lies parallel with the Y axis.

Rotate the whole layout in Aspire 90 degrees then use the Y2A PP.

I have attached a modified crv3d file to show what I mean.

Greg

[Len-Tikular]

George

Can't see any problem in your xml.

Had a quick look at the NewFangled gear cutting wizard and it utilises an A axis that the centre of rotation lies parallel to the X axis. This is the conventional configuration of and A axis.

Looking at your picture I assume this is how you have the rotary axis set up on your router.

Whereas the layout in the crv3d file has the X values wrapped about the rotary. Or for a rotary that lies parallel with the Y axis.

Rotate the whole layout in Aspire 90 degrees then use the Y2A PP.

I have attached a modified crv3d file to show what I mean.

Thanks for your patience with me Greg.

Ok I did as you said, and here's the result. Everthing looked fine even on the Mach3 screen but the cut(forgive the quality for now) came out mirrored ?

Any thoughts ?

We are getting there

Greg

[Len-Tikular]

Thanks Greg,

That worked for me but now the work is coming out mirrored. Any ideas ?

See pictures on previous post.

Thanks

George

[dealguy11]

You may need to make a small change to your post-processor. See this thread:

http://www.vectric.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7220

Specifically, you may need to change the statement

ROTARY_WRAP_Y = "-A"

To this,

ROTARY_WRAP_Y = "A"

(or vice versa)

[Len-Tikular]

You may need to make a small change to your post-processor. See this thread:

http://www.vectric.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7220

Specifically, you may need to change the statement

ROTARY_WRAP_Y = "-A"

To this,

ROTARY_WRAP_Y = "A"

(or vice versa)

Many thanks to both you guys for staying with me on this one.

I modified the post processor as suggested and recut the logo. It came out fine this time.
However I'm still confused because now that I have done that, the image shown on MAch3 screen is now mirrored but the cut is correct.

Most odd, does this mean I have a fundamental set up error with Mach3 and I'm having to do a 'work around' by modifying the post processor ?

I would have thought that it would be a 'what you see is what you get' but not in my case.

Thanks for the help thus far Gents, I feel I'm getting results but can't help feeling a little confused.

George (See pic attached)

[Greolt]

The PP was correct for "conventional" rotary axis direction.

The right hand rule describes direction of rotation. See pic.

It's your machine and you don't have to go with convention but it makes sense to do so. Mach3 does.

To change direction, go to "Homing/Limits" and check "Reversed"

Greg