Auto Tool Zero in Mach 3

[@rhfabrication]

To all that have asked for the script, I have posted it below. I just realized that my website is actually down currently and am working to get it live again. As I mention in my video, the "PlateThickness = GetUserDRO(1151) 'Z-plate thickness DRO" line can be replaced if there is no DRO input. Simply measure your own block thickness and change the line of code to read something like: "PlateThickness = 2.00" for a 2" thick plate. Copy and paste from here: CurrentFeed = GetOemDRO(818) 'Get the current feedrate to return to later PlateThickness = GetUserDRO(1151) 'Z-plate thickness DRO If GetOemLed (825)=0 Then 'Check to see if the probe is already grounded or faulty DoOEMButton (1010) 'zero the Z axis so the probe move will start from here Code "G91 G4 P2" ' two second delay Code "G31 Z-1.0 F5" 'Z goes down a max of 1.0 at 5IPM While IsMoving() 'wait while it happens Wend ZProbePos = GetVar(2002) 'get the axact point the probe was hit Code "G90 G0 Z" &ZProbePos 'go back to that point, always a very small amount of overrun While IsMoving () Wend Call SetDro (2, PlateThickness) 'set the Z axis DRO to whatever is set as plate thickness Code "G4 P0.25" 'Pause for Dro to update. Code "G90 G0 Z3.0" 'retract Z to 1.0 inch Code "(Z axis is now zeroed test)" 'puts this message in the status bar Code "F" &CurrentFeed 'Returns to prior feed rate Else Code "(Z-Plate is grounded, check connection and try again)" 'this goes in the status bar if applicable Exit Sub End If Thanks for looking. Please post back with questions.

[@rhfabrication]

Here is the code: CurrentFeed = GetOemDRO(818) 'Get the current feedrate to return to later PlateThickness = GetUserDRO(1151) 'Z-plate thickness DRO If GetOemLed (825)=0 Then 'Check to see if the probe is already grounded or faulty DoOEMButton (1010) 'zero the Z axis so the probe move will start from here Code "G91 G4 P2" ' two second delay Code "G31 Z-1.0 F5" 'Z goes down a max of 1.0 at 5IPM While IsMoving() 'wait while it happens Wend ZProbePos = GetVar(2002) 'get the axact point the probe was hit Code "G90 G0 Z" &ZProbePos 'go back to that point, always a very small amount of overrun While IsMoving () Wend Call SetDro (2, PlateThickness) 'set the Z axis DRO to whatever is set as plate thickness Code "G4 P0.25" 'Pause for Dro to update. Code "G90 G0 Z3.0" 'retract Z to 1.0 inch Code "(Z axis is now zeroed test)" 'puts this message in the status bar Code "F" &CurrentFeed 'Returns to prior feed rate Else Code "(Z-Plate is grounded, check connection and try again)" 'this goes in the status bar if aplicable Exit Sub End If

[@howajo]

Nice clean build. I think I need to make a little one for my Taig Mill.

[@dr427]

Nice block and cabeling!

[@MentallFloss]

hi can you please post the script lines here, I lost the script and want to set it up again. thank you

[@geordie331]

what could the cause when my digitizer led does not light up i have tried loads of things but nothing seems to work

[@rhfabrication]

Does it light up on your control board? I don't recall any special setting in Mach 3. Mine is just a passive switch so seems most likely to be a ground issue.

[@geordie331]

@@rhfabrication yes it lights up and works fine other than the probe doesn't work to honest I have three other boards and not one of them will work on probe even I have checked the settings over and over I'm baffled

[@rhfabrication]

@@geordie331 I dont recall a setting in Mach 3 but I'll take a look at my setup again later and get back.

[@geordie331]

@@rhfabrication I have noticed in the plugins setup that the input area is greyed out but I dont know if this is normal or not

[@rhfabrication]

@@geordie331 on the ports and pins setup menu, did you go through the auto find pin option? See 6:00 in the video. It shows my setup used and how I found the pin. At least that will give an indication if the switch is being sensed.

[@alihaussin4247]

Thank you've given me a great service to this video excited you better Thanks again from the...

[@rhfabrication]

Mach 3 will only.move in one unit system at a time. the g code has no units so to speak. if the program is made in metric units, you need to make sure Mach is set to metric. otherwise a movement intended to be 3mm could move 3 inches is the system is in inches mode. Does this answer your question?

[@jesscast5122]

+rhfabrication HI, can you tell me, When you set up the probe in the inputs window. By default it said PORT 1 and you said to change it to "8" ?? (I cannot see the numbers since the video has low Res. and cannot distinguish.) So you changed that to port 8 and it worked?? BTW: the reason it does not work on PORT 1 is because the computer only has one LPT port (port 0) for Port 1 you would have to Plug in a Card in the PCI slots with a second LPT port that will be Port1 but you only do that when you have 5 or 6 axis to operate. Normally the existing LPT is good for 4 axises.

[@16506246]

very helpful, thanks

[@HookedOnCNC]

Thank you for your help.

[@gunracksonline]

Just found your video and starting to look at how to save tools to mach 3. Question if your tools are standard sizes but you use them in metric gcode sometimes how does that work or does it make a difference when saving them to mach3? Say the Tool 3 is saved as a .125 diameter and use it as .125 in a program but another program you are running a 3mm tool size but use the .125 instead of a 3mm does it make a difference to mach 3 as long as the gcode says i am running a 3 mm tool?

[@IliasTsipas_plus]

Hello, Now that you use the auto tool zero, did you enter your cutters on the tooltable for offsets, etc or dont have to?

[@rhfabrication]

I don't use the tool table because they mount differently each time. If I were able to use tool holders I definitely would. That is the problem with collects in a standard router.

[@soorenaaslani7491]

Question for you. How do I do this if my Z surface is machined already? I have the touch plate functioning with the auto tool zero but it's useless because by the second tool I have no reference point to put the plate onto.

[@rhfabrication]

I always set the table to Z0. This way, you can always reference the table rather than the workpiece. I prefer this method anyway since it doeant rely on precision workpiece thickness. I reference each tool to the table at every tool change.

[@soorenaaslani7491]

@@rhfabrication But how do you do that? You no longer have your surface so how do you match the tool length to be the same as the one before?

[@rhfabrication]

@@soorenaaslani7491 I see, the whole table is covered so no touch off point left. At that point, the only way would be to have tool holders with preset offsets. Of course a regular router wouldn't have that. Best I can think is to leave a spot unmachined to have a reference point or a known location to reference from.

[@soorenaaslani7491]

@@rhfabrication no I'm not talking about the table being covered. You said you touch the next tool off the table how are you doing that with no Z reference? If tool 1 is 1inch let's say and tool 2 is 1.2 inch how do you tell the machine that? You would need to make sure your second tool is exactly the same length as the first so I'm not getting how your doing that with the probe off of the table. If you have a z surface then you can just probe your tools off of that and they will all be equal distance from the surface of the part but with the table that's impossible

[@rhfabrication]

@@soorenaaslani7491 I always have room to the table to set the zero to the table. If theres no table left, you have to improvise a way to have a known reference height. Could make a jig that straddles the table maybe from underneath and sets a known z height.

[@ProtoG42]

Thanks, where is the script? I checked your website.

[@rhfabrication]

I had a problem with my website and apparently lost all the work I did to make the webpage with all the details in writing :(. I have added a page that has the script. Please find it at: www.rhfabrication.com/index.php/free-downloads/auto-tool-zero-script-for-mach-3/ Thanks for the comments!

[@RC-Flight]

Hi the link to the file is not working, I'm interested in trying the script.

[@rhfabrication]

GlenGH please take a look through the comments and you will find the script. my website has gad some problems because I haven't kept up with it will and Web is not my specialty. thanks for watching. I hope it works out for you! Cheers. RH

[@thediscoman2001]

where can i get the screen set as link below doesnt work

[@pbk977]

What's this field of work called? Looks interesting!

[@Sgt_Hest]

Please post code, the website still isn't working

[@geochia11]

Sir, you have a great video and instruction. how about posting the VB Script Thanks George

[@MentallFloss]

can you please help me ? no matter what I always get a 2mm difference between zeroing and going to zero, ie. auto tool makes contact, reverses up a bit and when I press gotozero button it goes 2 mm below the probe height, any idea what might be causing this ? Z axis is calibrated

[@rhfabrication]

What is the plate thickness variable set to and what is the actual thickness? it sounds like going downward is a positive movement on your machine maybe? In that case, you would need to change the code so that after it touches, it goes negative plate thickness rather than positive which the code does by default.

[@rhfabrication]

What is the plate thickness variable set to and what is the actual thickness? it sounds like going downward is a positive movement on your machine maybe? In that case, you would need to change the code so that after it touches, it goes negative plate thickness rather than positive which the code does by default.

[@MentallFloss]

rhfabrication thickness is default from your script, 2,000 is this inch or mm ? Probe is 20,07mm high. Actually I've explained the problem wrongly, I believe that when I press gotozero it should go all the way down to probe base height but it doesn't it goes only 2 or 3 mm below contact plate on top, I tried changing thickness in script to 20,07 or .0790inch and there's no difference. Btw if I press play on script editor it moves Z downwards so it is working

[@rhfabrication]

MentallFloss The code will execute in the units you are currently using I think. I use inches for mine. If using mm, you may need to make a couple of changes. first, set the plate thickness to your thickness of 20.07mm. Second, there is a line that allows it to travel up to 1 inch downward before it errors. That is too close for 1 mm I think. Try using 25th for that. All else should be fine as long as descending is negative which it sounds like it is. Again, I don't run mine in metric so I can't be sure but these steps should fix the problem. You can always private message me also. I hope this works. Please let me know. Thanks, Richard

[@malikshazil5775]

Thanks sir

[@StevenCookFX]

You have no code posted.

[@rhfabrication]

Sorry but it seems the page wasn't published and I can't find it now. I did write the whole thing up already which is frustrating. Email me and I will send it to you. Thanks.

[@Troncatore]

Hi rh...I was using the screen set similar to your made by Hoss machine but at moment it seams not working properly under Windows 10...do you have some solution?

[@muhammadshafiq7509]

thank you sir for nice information please share gcode

[@djtyros]

code??? site broken

[@taylan2279]

auto tool zero script for mac 3 u please share again