I can't do a C3...

[BPM]

I left SB3 open on my PC -- shut down the Shopbot (PRSALPHA) 2010.

The spindle was was somewhere around x 70 and y 2 ...

Now.. after turning the machine on/off, rebooting - reloading SB3 etc etc

SB3 shows I'm at X -2.xxx -- and won't let me do a C3!!

I don't get it... isn't that that the purpose of C3 -- so the machine can 'see' where it's at?

What am I doing wrong?

thanks in advance for any help!!

Brent

[gene]

i think it has lost the home position. Turn on the bot , use the keyboard to get the router or spindle to the x = 0 and y = 0 then hit z2 to re zero the coordinates . now the bot thinks that it is at the home position thats why it isnt moving . i hope this makes sence ,

[myxpykalix]

Why don't you try repeating all your shutdown procedures but after you have done all the proper shutdown go over to your circuit breaker box and turn off all power to your control box. There are certain chips that hold your locations even if you turn your machine off. The only way to dump that info is to turn the power off going to the box.

Try that and let us know if that resets itself.:D

[BPM]

Guys - thanks for taking the time to post replies - much appreciated.

I ended up going to settings - entering a new X value -- I entered an approximation of where the spindle was... that allowed me to do a C3.

Thanks again.

BTW - I have another question --- after I run a part file -- I want the spindle to go to X 78, Y 0, can I set this up in Partworks?

thanks

[MogulTx]

Sure you can make this happen. What I like to do is to open up SB3, then do an "FE" (file edit) command. This will pull up the text that you can directly edit. I tell the computer to "Control" "End" to send me to the bottom of the program. When I see the line where it says something like JZ,.8000, and the next line says, "J2,0.00000, 0.00000" I know that this is right after the machine picks up and is ready to run ot the "Home" position. I simply change the settings for whatever I want the spindle to go to (usually enough to clear a work piece so I can lay in a new one)- and then I hit "Page Up" on the computer and go back to the top. I add any notes I want to in plain text above the main program, and then I go to the tool bar and hit the archaic disk symbol that means "Save".... close and your router is now set to move, at the end of the cut file, to the position that you want it to.

You can also use this step as a repetitive thing for when you have 10,20 or 30 of a single object that you want to cut. You set the file up so the router goes to a certain position that clears the product and your hands and then pauses for a certain period of time- (which allows you to change out parts) and then comes back in and repeats the base file.....

Get creative. It is a great AND MANIPULABLE system. You can change it in myriad ways. Just get to thinking about it, and get going!

All the best.

Monty

[adrianm]

BTW - I have another question --- after I run a part file -- I want the spindle to go to X 78, Y 0, can I set this up in Partworks?

thanks

You could also edit the Post Processor and change the J2 command in the Footer section to what you want.

Obviously that would mean every part file you generated from Partworks would end in that position which may or may not be what you want.

[BPM]

Thanks again - good info - I appreciate it. Which brings up another question :)

I've created 8 vacuum jigs/fixtures that are placed on the table -- I place a blank piece of material on each jig for machining.

3 tool paths per part -- the profile cutout and drilling toolpaths are not sensitive to variations in the material thickness - (from jig to jig) in other words - I over cut the profile by .125 anyway -- -- same with drilling all the way through the material.

However, my pocketing toolpath is sensitive to variations in material thickness -- since I Z-Zero using the plate on the blank material in Jig #1 -- if the material on Jig #4 is .03+ thicker or thinner than the material on Jig #1... then I have a problem -- basically, I'm ok with a 1/32 deeper or shallower pocket depth... but more than that is not tolerable.

I was thinking about running the profile & drill toolpaths on all 8 Jigs -- then... I would have the ATC grab the tool for the pocketing toolpath --
Go to Jig #1 and run (since I Z-Zero'd off that material)...

Then.. the spindle would center over the next Jig (2,3,4,...) prompting for the Zero Plate -- I would Zero on the top of the material --- the toolpath would run... then repeat for the remaining Jigs...

Is this possible... any other ideas?

Thanks again,

Brent

[beacon14]

That would not be very hard to do once you are familiar with the programming, and how easy it is to write a file with the movements you want.

If you want the spindle to go to a certain location at the end of a file just change the "Home" position in PartWorks to the proper location. Click the top left icon (Setup Material and Rapid Gaps) under Toolpath Operations on the right Sidebar. Or you can modify the post-processor to output whatever code you want at the beginning and/or end of the file..