Run time not as calculated

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RoyT
Posts: 9
Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2014 6:47 am
Model of CNC Machine: 3040

Run time not as calculated

Post by RoyT »

Hi

Why is my ACTUAL run time a lot longer than calculated in PVC ?

The calculated run time in PVC was 2 hours 20 mins but the job ran in MACH3 for well over 5 hours ?

Roy

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Adrian
Vectric Archimage
Posts: 14543
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 2:19 pm
Model of CNC Machine: ShopBot PRS Alpha 96x48
Location: Surrey, UK

Re: Run time not as calculated

Post by Adrian »

Until you've set the scale factor the estimated machine time is not going to be accurate. Now you've run a job you can enter an accurate figure.

The estimate doesn't know about the constant velocity and other settings that you have set in Mach3 and PhotoVCarve jobs tend to contain a lot of Z movements which will prevent the machine from reaching the programmed feed rate.

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dhellew2
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Posts: 1322
Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 10:14 pm
Model of CNC Machine: Legacy Artisan 72 and AVID CNC Rotary
Location: Royal City Washington

Re: Run time not as calculated

Post by dhellew2 »

Just in case you didn't find the information on how to adjust the estimated time, divide the time it took by the estimate time:
5/2.3=2.17 would be a good starting point. Just remember it is only an estimate. I have mine set at 1.3 which is close enough for long cutting times which are more important than short ones. :D

Dale
You will get old if you live long enough!
Young = time, no money
Old = money, no time
Dale

RoyT
Posts: 9
Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2014 6:47 am
Model of CNC Machine: 3040

Re: Run time not as calculated

Post by RoyT »

Thank you Dale thats very useful

After reading more about Mach3 settings there seems a lot that can be adjusted
.... nightmare :-(

HerbE
Posts: 39
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2012 12:50 pm
Model of CNC Machine: Home made
Location: Tallahassee, FL

Re: Run time not as calculated

Post by HerbE »

RoyT wrote:Thank you Dale thats very useful

After reading more about Mach3 settings there seems a lot that can be adjusted
.... nightmare :-(

Roy....just remember the old saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Always make a copy of your Mach Folder before messing with it, and it doesn't hurt to have a copy on a thumb drive in case you lose some settings.

Happy cutting....Herb

RoyT
Posts: 9
Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2014 6:47 am
Model of CNC Machine: 3040

Re: Run time not as calculated

Post by RoyT »

I know what you are saying Herb .... but I am not sure if Mach3 default settings are the best for my machine ...... is there anything that is good to start tweaking ?

HerbE
Posts: 39
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2012 12:50 pm
Model of CNC Machine: Home made
Location: Tallahassee, FL

Re: Run time not as calculated

Post by HerbE »

Roy,
Playing with your settings is a good way to gain knowledge about the machine workings. Just be sure to make a complete copy of the Mach folder so if things get a little messy, you can rename it back to its original name after renaming the current active copy. And, as stated before, keep a copy with all your working settings on an external drive of some sort.

Have fun!

Herb

rsetina
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Posts: 208
Joined: Sun May 05, 2013 6:37 pm
Model of CNC Machine: Shark HD 2.0

Re: Run time not as calculated

Post by rsetina »

Mine is set at 1.4 which seems very close to the actual time my projects take to cut.
Rick

Shark HD 2.0

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dhellew2
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Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 10:14 pm
Model of CNC Machine: Legacy Artisan 72 and AVID CNC Rotary
Location: Royal City Washington

Re: Run time not as calculated

Post by dhellew2 »

Unless someone setup Mach3 to match your machine there will be tweaking to do. Most of them are quite easy to do but do require patience and testing. If your CNC supplier cannot help you, try to find someone with your same machine to help you, even Mach3 has been very helpful with their software (not your machine)
When all else fails DIY

NEVER (repeat) NEVER make changes without writing down and labeling the changes
Write down the original setting
Write down each changed setting
CHANGE ONLY ONE SETTING AT A TIME AND TEST, TEST, TEST FIRST!

Common problems are accuracy of the x-y-z axis travel and acceleration :)

Good luck, Dale
You will get old if you live long enough!
Young = time, no money
Old = money, no time
Dale

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