Scam post? rotary function in Sheetcam.....

[ArchieF]

Looks like the PP doesn't like calculations with negative numbers.
Please remove in the PP in the following functions the red bold characters .
This will result in positive A-values and you might mirror the rotational direction of the A-axis in Mach3

Hope this helps

Richard

function OnRapid()
radius = Diameter / 2
post.Text (" G00")
post.ModalNumber (" X", endX * scale, "0.000")
post.ModalNumber (" A", endY * 180 / 3.14159 / radius *-1,"0.000")
post.ModalNumber (" Z", (endZ + math.tan(Angle/180*3.14159) * endX + toolOffset) * scale, "0.000")
post.Eol()
end

function OnMove()
radius = Diameter / 2
post.Text (" G01")
post.ModalNumber (" X", endX * scale, "0.000")
post.ModalNumber (" A", endY * 180 / 3.14159 / radius *-1,"0.000")
post.ModalNumber (" Z", (endZ + math.tan(Angle/180*3.14159) * endX + toolOffset) * scale, "0.000")
post.ModalNumber (" F", feedRate * scale, "0.###")
post.ModalNumber (" S", spindleSpeed, "0.##")
post.Eol()
end

[jacala]

That did the trick.

Thanks! Where would you like your statue to be build?

[ArchieF]

Hi Guus,

please build my statue where all my others where built :

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets ... allery.jpg

Thanks

Richard

[jacala]

Hello!

you're a great man when you got your own easter island. Must be difficult to stay normal and help full to us simple humans.



I'm at the next stage and searching/testing to solve it:

At the moment M03 (plasma on) and M05 (plasma off) are not in the G code of the Post.

I've been searching in the mach3 plasma Post because M03/M05 is present and working there but to no result yet. I tried to export the lines that I thought send the M03 and M05 code but that did not work. It should be quite simple so I'm gonna try and find it.

[jacala]

After digging in the Mach 3 Plasma post I've found a line that helps a bit but surely is not good enough yet.

I've managed to include the M05 and M03 commands into the G code, the problem now it that it is repeated every single command.

I took this line out of the Mach 3 plasma post
post.Text ("\n M03\n")

And pasted in a copy of the working rotary post like this:


function OnRapid()
radius = Diameter / 2
post.Text (" G00")
post.Text ("\n M05\n")
post.ModalNumber (" X", endX * scale, "0.000")
post.ModalNumber (" A", endY * 180 / 3.14159 / radius ,"0.000")
post.ModalNumber (" Z", (endZ + math.tan(Angle/180*3.14159) * endX + toolOffset) * scale, "0.000")
post.Eol()
end

function OnMove()
radius = Diameter / 2
post.Text (" G01")
post.Text ("\n M03\n")
post.ModalNumber (" X", endX * scale, "0.000")
post.ModalNumber (" A", endY * 180 / 3.14159 / radius ,"0.000")
post.ModalNumber (" Z", (endZ + math.tan(Angle/180*3.14159) * endX + toolOffset) * scale, "0.000")
post.ModalNumber (" F", feedRate * scale, "0.###")
post.ModalNumber (" S", spindleSpeed, "0.##")
post.Eol()
end


Ofcourse it was just a try with the result of giving th M03 or M05 command every line (as you can see in the attachment). The mach 3 plasma post does not have this so this is a small step but not in the right direction so fat What am I doing wrong?

[ArchieF]

I'm a milling man not a plasma guy but reading the Mach 3 plasma post I found the two functions :

function OnPenDown()
if (preheat > 0.001) then
post.ModalText (" G00")
post.ModalNumber (" Z", cutHeight * scale, "0.0000")
post.Text ("\n G04 P")
post.Number (preheat,"0.###")
post.Eol()
end
post.ModalText (" G00")
post.ModalNumber (" Z", pierceHeight * scale, "0.0000")
post.Text ("\n M03\n")
if (pierceDelay > 0.001) then
post.Text (" G04 P")
post.Number (pierceDelay,"0.###")
post.Eol()
end
end


function OnPenUp()
post.Text (" M05\n")
if (endDelay > 0) then
post.Text (" G04 P")
post.Number (endDelay,"0.###")
post.Eol()
end
end

Don't you need both to make a plasma work ?

[jacala]

Hello!

That did the trick, so for the people searching on google:

Tube notcher / tube cutter / 4th axis tube plasma / A axis tube plasma
Mach3 sheetcam post
m03 on m05 off

Angle and Dimension under post processor variable.

Functional on Mach3

(final testing on thursday)

See attachement!

Thanks for the assistance, I've learned a lot this week!

[jacala]

After cutting the first pieces of tube I've found a little error or inconvenience in the post processor.

When wrapping a text it shows that is is inverted, for example:

Type a text that is gonna be cut out of the tube: it is mirrored upside down because the wrapping is done from "above" the drawing. Mmm doesn't sound understandable here is a comparison:

Like a piece of paper and a tube: you print out the text and put the printed side against the tube. The text is mirrored when you cut it out.

It should be the other way around. You have the tube and put the piece of paper around it so that the text is readable, when you cut it now it should be good.

This must be a very basic setting in the Post but what one?

[Les Newell]

It sounds like your rotary axis is turning the wrong way. If you reverse the motor direction on that axis the text will come out the right way up.

[jacala]

mmm,

That would be quite a easy fix. Will try it on monday!

Thanks (I feel a bit like an idiot

[ArchieF]

It sounds like your rotary axis is turning the wrong way.

As I mentioned in my post above with the red bold characters

Richard

[jacala]

hello richard

i've read your post again and yes, youre probaly right. but when i restore these vallues i'm back at the 20 digit rotational problem. i'll try to change the post back on monday and try again. i think mach3 is setup fine because the text is also wrong in the cut path image in the mach screen.
sorry for the bad englisch. my girlfriend put me on the couch for evening together

is my explanation clear? mach is cutting exactly what is shown on the screen. the mirrored text.

[ArchieF]

The 20 digit problem is the result of the pp converting large x/y coordinates to degrees.
I askes Les about this and here is his answer:

http://forum.sheetcam.com/viewtopic.php?t=5829

Richard

[jacala]

Here are some photos of the cutting process.

quite happy with the result so far, now it's fine tune time.

The system is really cutting down production time, the result is great for such a cheap machine:

Total cost including plasma cutter and software 1500 euro. Yest that is cheap but remember that I've build a lasercutter before so there is a lot of small stuff left and I'm the king of cheap design . The machine is build to make easy to weld parts, precision down to the millimeter is not important. Next project would be rack and pinion tough.

Total length of machine: 6 meter, it has a double function as a storage rack for metal pipe and tubing, this also functions for weight and vibration reduction

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwMZ9trd ... e=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1HUATKPTVo

More information/video's will follow.

I would like to thank you guys for helping me, without the great sheetcam software it would not have been such a satisfying project.