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The BEE and ME

Discussion in 'CNC Mills/Routers' started by Colin Mccourt, Feb 11, 2019.

  1. GeoffH

    GeoffH Journeyman
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    The Vcarve grbl post-processor does not allow multiple tool files. It seems that automatic tool-changing would need to be implemented in the Control GUI, I use Universal G-code Sender (UGS) which has no support for tool-change so far as I know. Not sure whether the Duet GUI has anything? Geoff
     
  2. Colin Mccourt

    Colin Mccourt Journeyman
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    I dont know Geoff if I'm honest, perhaps not...I think you just have to save each toolpath separately and run them as such
     
  3. Alex Chambers

    Alex Chambers Master
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    @sharmstr is working on a tool change post processor - I'm going to have a look at it one day. I would think tool changing is down to the G code - pause job, move to safe position, change tool, resume job, move to WCS zero, etc.
    Alex.
     
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  4. Alex Chambers

    Alex Chambers Master
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    You are correct in your assumption (at the moment). Things may change (if I can get my head around @sharmstr's new post processor - she has written it for grbl - need to see if it works with Duet). It may prove to be more hassle than it's worth.
    Alex.
     
  5. Alex Chambers

    Alex Chambers Master
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    NB @sharmstr's post processor is for Fusion 360.
    Alex.
     
  6. GeoffH

    GeoffH Journeyman
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    If it's just a change to the Post-Processor then it will be an easy job to make an equivalent Vcarve grbl Post-Processor. However I think there is more to do to interact with the user in the GUI. Geoff
     
  7. Alex Chambers

    Alex Chambers Master
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    Agreed, but the pause and resume macros have already been written.
    Alex.
     
  8. GeoffH

    GeoffH Journeyman
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    Alex, I've changed the Vcarve Grbl Post-Processor to do Tool Changes, but my Control, like my Machine is in bits, I'll test it later, to see if it's of any use. Geoff
     
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  9. Alex Chambers

    Alex Chambers Master
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    That will be interesting @GeoffH, I don't use Vectric (sticking to Fusion 360) but I will be very interested to see the result.
    Alex. :)
     
  10. GeoffH

    GeoffH Journeyman
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    I've had a quick look at the Fusion 360 Post and if this works for Vcarve, it should be an easy job to do Fusion 360 also (JavaScript). At the moment, I have a good looking output from the Post-Processor but my Arduino grbl control isn't playing ball yet, probably need to change the config file I think. Geoff
     
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  11. GeoffH

    GeoffH Journeyman
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    Not good news for my Arduino running grbl, it seems that M6 doesn't do anything and M0 has problems after resume. Having looked at others attempting similar things, the GUI (UGS in my case) has to handle the tool change by intercepting the M6 and pause sending further lines to the Arduino until the Manual Tool Change has completed, reset WSO etc.. This isn't something I'm interested in doing at my age:(, and I haven't found anything that has a solution.
    Regarding the Duet, although Vcarve uses the grbl post, it's not grbl firmware so you may have a better chance of tool-changing with a new Post-Processor with M6 etc..., but since I don't have one, I'll give that a miss also. Hopefully @sharmstr will have done it.

    Sticking to individual tool files, :mad:Geoff
     
  12. sharmstr

    sharmstr OpenBuilds Team
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    Havent had a chance to read all these but my fusion post changes dont support real tool changes. All it does is creates a gcode file for each tool change so you dont have to post multiple times.
     
  13. GeoffH

    GeoffH Journeyman
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    I have created a single file like yours I guess where a manual tool-change could take place. That is, pause the program, jog the tool to enable a manual change the tool, jog the tool to touch the part in Z (or onto a slip or automatically onto a touch probe), reset the work co-ordinates and continue. I was able to create a single file with tool change details T2 M6 etc by modifying the Vcarve Post-Processor but unable to get my Arduino that runs grbl to work correctly after the manual tool-change. Others who have attempted similar think that the tool-change must be implemented in the GUI - I now agree with that. Maybe a Duet user, @Alex Chambers who also uses Fusion 360 could try your post to see if a manual tool-change can be achieved with your post-processor change? If it works then I could make the same modifications to the grbl post used in Vcarve for the Duet - Geoff
     
  14. Colin Mccourt

    Colin Mccourt Journeyman
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    Ultimate...me in my previous job when auto tool changing was a dream :cool:

     
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  15. Alex Chambers

    Alex Chambers Master
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    I'm going to have a look at how the Duet does pause and resume. It should be possible to insert a move to do a manual tool change in between.
    Alex.
     
  16. sharmstr

    sharmstr OpenBuilds Team
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    Mine is not a single gcode file. If you use 3 different tools, 3 files will be created. You run one, then insert the next tool, load the gcode file for that tool then run it. Rinse and repeat.
     
  17. Alex Chambers

    Alex Chambers Master
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    This is a bit ambitious for me, but I am going to try to create a single g code system. Tool changes would still be manual. If I don't succeed I hope the process will force me to learn some g code. Will let you know if/when I make any progress.
    Alex. :eek::rolleyes::eek:
     
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  18. Alex Chambers

    Alex Chambers Master
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    PS initially I am not going to try programming for tool Z offsets - I am a beginner at this after all.
     
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  19. GeoffH

    GeoffH Journeyman
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    Good for you Alex, below is a simple test that fails completely on my system,

    (First Tool T1 - End Mill (6.35 mm))
    T1
    G17
    G21G90
    G92X0.000Y0.000Z10.000
    S12000M3
    G0X0.000Y0.000Z3.000
    G1Z-1.000F500.0
    G1X100.000F1500.0
    G1Y100.000
    G1X0.000
    G1Y0.000
    G0Z3.000
    M5
    G0Z10.000
    G0X0.000Y0.000
    (Tool Change T2 - End Mill (3.175 mm))
    T2M00
    S12000M03
    G90
    G0X25.000Y25.000Z3.000
    G1Z-1.000F400.0
    G1X75.000F1200.0
    G1Y75.000
    G1X25.000
    G1Y25.000
    G0Z3.000
    M5
    G0Z10.000
    G0X0.000Y0.000
    M30

    It cuts a 100mm square followed by a 50mm square. At the tool-change I have an M00, which stops my machine, but after that no restart is possible. Using M06 which is the ISO standard for tool-change, rather than M00, no pause, it's ignored; arguably M00 is good for a manual tool-change. Ignore the G92 line;)
    Maybe you could try the test on the Duet to see what happens. Probably needs more to set the Z after jogging, but I don't get that far.
    Geoff
     
  20. GeoffH

    GeoffH Journeyman
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    I just knew you wasn't a Newbie;)
     
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  21. Alex Chambers

    Alex Chambers Master
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    I am thinking along the lines of nested macros.
    1) run first toolpath
    2) call re-written pause macro to include move to tool change position (may be WCS x0y0, z up)
    3) z probe/set WCS Z 0
    4) resume
    5) etc, etc
    6) programme stop, move to safe position.
    As the toolpaths can be called as macros I may only need an overarching program to call the relevant elements in turn.
    I'm busy cutting up bits for model buildings today, but might have a closer look at this tomorrow. The Duet firmware already has most of the macros/G code needed.
    Alex.
     
  22. Colin Mccourt

    Colin Mccourt Journeyman
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    I am a total newbie Geoff that is a given..seeing all those numerical calculations is making my head spin...and to think I'll probably have to indulge at some point...
     
  23. Colin Mccourt

    Colin Mccourt Journeyman
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    I am working on this Football Plaque (Soccer to our US fans) at the moment.

    LUFC.PNG
    What I would like to do is to put some word art inscribed into the recessed area (pocket) of some of the Leeds United great players over the years, just lines of text maybe varying fonts and sizes, am I being over ambitious on this project, what tooling could I use for inscribing into wood given that the pocket is pretty narrow. Any advice please (if it can be done)
    Regards
    C
     
  24. Giarc

    Giarc OpenBuilds Team
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  25. Alex Chambers

    Alex Chambers Master
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    You will also find these bits on Ebay for a fraction of the price.
    Alex.
     
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  26. Colin Mccourt

    Colin Mccourt Journeyman
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  27. Alex Chambers

    Alex Chambers Master
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    If you want a 10 degree V bit in a hurry I could post you one or two.
    Alex.
     
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  28. GeoffH

    GeoffH Journeyman
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    The cutter that you propose has non standard tool geometry so you would need to create a Form Tool to get the correct simulation, that said you cannot Vcarve with a form tool because a form tool has no tip angle concept.
    So the answer to your question is "maybe or don't know", but in any case you must define it as a V bit. The simulation will not show if you have undercut the larger diameter into the pocket walls, if you are relying on cutting with only the small end diameter. Unfortunately Colin, only you can know the answer to this since you haven't given any size details what-so-ever in your post - Geoff
     
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  29. Colin Mccourt

    Colin Mccourt Journeyman
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    That would be nice @Alex Chambers, (only if you're not going to need them, as I know you do a fair bit of Railway moddeling).. I could try them and if they work out I'll return the favour when I buy some.
    Thanks again for the kind gesture
    Regards
    C
     
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  30. Colin Mccourt

    Colin Mccourt Journeyman
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    Not a problem @GeoffH
    This would be a secondary addition to the real job in hand which I cut out today, I encountered a few problems of my own doing and I will relate later for some help...Ince that is ironed out then I will turn to engraving.
     

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