Hello
so after a few days running plasma I switched to router…
did the tool height setting and work surface calibration.
loaded a simple 3mm depth cut about 2 inches above the spoilboard and I got the msg z travel exceeded…
I restarted cnc12 redid the calibrations again and it ran no problem???
For the Avid team:
When you go and set your tool height setter…its called tool height setter calibration, then touch plate then touch off plate.
a bit confusing if you ask me… for someone that not using the machine daily and or switch over… its a bit weird/confusing.
What tool number is your gcode using? I ran into a problem where I was using tool number zero, which will result in this error. Changing to a different number helped.
You should notice that when you first start you will see your z where zero is at the topmost part of the z axis. But then after tool height setting, zero will be at the spoilboard for the currently loaded tool.
When you load GCode for a job CCN12 does a scan through it and will report “z travel exceeded” for all bits that aren’t measured (0 height so a z exceeded would happen). Once you run the code and install and measure a bit the problem will not actually happen.
RE The naming of the “Tool Touch Plate” - I noticed that too; it should probably be a bit more consistent to avoid confusion with the normal “Touch Off Plate”.
Hello
So today I was running the machine no issues.
Switched to another job
where I had to drill holes with an 1/8" (tool1)then profile cut with a 3/16" (tool2)bit
So I do a manual tool change for bit 1 goes to the tool setter… then set my x,y,z 0
start the job it drills all the holes ask me to change tool…so I change to bit 2 goes to the tool setter again…press cycle start to resume the job and I get z exceeded.
Hello
after the z exceed I ran a similar cutting job just a different size.
Did a manual tool change to tool 1 send it to the tool setter…after this set xyz 0 (i rarely use the touch plate) started the job, it ran the first part good , asked me to change the tool , changed the tool to tool2 send to tool setter, asked me to cycle start to resume, spindle starts and went thru the work and spoilboard. am I doing something wrong here or is it a bug? let me know.
attached z exceed gcode
and the other job where the machine crashed crash.cnc.
when it crashed the machine seems to indicate that it is still 0.2" above not including about 1" of additional tool length.
I do not have the spoilboard dig in option on,
and also do not set the work surface height everytime I use the machine.
Since the z0 is set and the job only requires 2mm depth of cut.
Thank you.
After running another similar job again…after tool change to tool2 and after the toolsetter I moved to xy0 and lowered the z to touch the material surface and it ended up at 1.8" but it should be 0.
Hello…I changed ran a test and it works!
Question that has me puzzled why every time I do a tool change cnc12 asked for the diameter of the tool? what is the purpose of this? since xy and z will be set at 0?
Hello
still some z dilema here.
I was cutting allot of pieces today…no issues.
After the job was finished …I was testing the intercon to get used to
and ran about 10 tests…while zero 4 inches above the spoilboard.
all ran as supose to and then another test the spindle went all the way down thru the spoilboard…I stopped it since I had the mouse cursor on the stop icon. right no I am trying to understand why this is happening.
attached…ic1/ic2/ic3 the intercon settings when it went thru the spoilboard.
One thing I noticed let say I z0 about 4" above the spoilboard when the spindle goes all the way up if it has about 8" travel shouldn’t the dro have a positive number? because after a 1" cut and when the job finish and the spindle goes all the way it indicates a negative number like -3.4
before I wrote this msg I went again in the shop restarted everything
zero about 4 inches above the sb ran another intercon and got z exceeded which is attached as ic6/ic6 z exceeded.
Then send the bit for a manual tool change rerun the intercon and ran good…but to me the z reading on the dro is allover the place and has me a bit confused as sometimes it reads at+9 and this in theory would mean the zero would be below the spoilboard if you have an 8" travel.
I am trying to understand here…tomorrow I will set the prevent the spoilboard dig in option to see what happens next.
It’s a little hard to tell from your screenshots but this comment has me thinking I know what the issue is:
Here’s what I’m sure is happening:
The DRO reading accurately is based on two things: Your Z offset being correct AND your tool length being correct. Focus on that second one…
EVERY time you run posted G code from Fusion/Vectric a tool change is called. IN the tool change macro it applies the tool length. Tool length is critical for your DRO/Z zero to work properly
When you’re using Fusion/Vectric you don’t have to think about this at all because it just happens for you.
Intercon is a manual G code programming tool. It’s a good one, but it’s not going to hold your hand.
By default when you create toolpaths you get a “tool length comp cancel” command at the beginning of your code. The ONLY way you get tool length comp back on in Intercon is to issue a tool change.
So what’s when you run the intercon generated programs is that your Z zero is now off by the tool length because it’s been cancelled, and you’re trying to compensate by messing with your Z offset… Then when you eventually get back to a tool change your Z offset is even more off because it was set when there was no tool length.
So your intercon program would have to be structured like this:
-Tool change
-Intercon generated toolpaths
That first tool change will not only apply a tool length, but if there’s not one it will automatically go over and touch off the tool for you.
A little off subject but related. I have looked for videos regarding the Centroid Intercon software but have not found any. The only information I have found is in the Centroid Operators Manual but I have found it to be pretty difficult to learn from. Since Acorn limits the use of the MIDI to just a single block of Gcode the Intercon App is fairly important to gain a similar capability that existed in Mach4. Would you consider doing a video on using the Intercon software or give us a better reference?
Thanks, I didn’t know that was on Loom. It was for hole drilling but I get the basic idea. I will just play with it and teach myself. The tool change header is the most important part for the Avid users. Surprised that Centroid doesn’t have a video on this.
Thanks Eric.
Where can I recheck the numbers to see if the tool offset hasn’t changed?
Does cnc12 have logging so in case this happens again I would have the info.
The thing is that when it went thru the spoilboard I have already run a few test before.
That is the only thing I miss from Mach4… home, zero and cut away.(nothing else lol)
On the intercon as sehast mentioned would be nice to have a few short tutorials on it…
Additional would be nice to have the plasma features on the router side as well
Part off cutting and dry run cut.
I was playing with the system setting the WCS and noticed that when I zero the z it does not change like the x and y? Tool change has been performed before this…or should I re measure the work surface again?
In the tool library from the main screen, click on “Tool”
I’m certain this was because you had tool height cancelled because of your previous intercon run. Having it canceled negates the “spoilboard dig in” protection because the Z travel limit is based on tool length, which you had in a cancelled state.
You can do “part off” in Intercon now. Just code up a straight line (And don’t forget that tool change!)
Just set your Z offset above the table. Super easy.
It should, but I’m not clear what steps you took here.
Every time you Z zero that Z offset should be reflected in your ACTIVE wcs Z. Z offset = material thickness.
Ok I just started the machine …did a manual tool change moved it around rezero everything and the z did not match again in the Wcs.
I then did the work surface calibration moved it around rezero everyrhing and only.then the z matched in the Wcs.
So how often do I need to do the worksurface calibration? Everytime I start the machine?
I did another test…
So if I do a work surface calibration and after I move the z all the way up
and zero it so machine coordinates at z is 0 the wcs will show z0
after this if I do a manual tool change and do the same thing move the z all the way up, zero it machine coordinates at z is 0 in wcs this time is shows +6.28
