Originally Posted by
lilricky2
I am not sure how to phrase this question, so I hope spmeone understands enough to advise me. After I make my part drawing, I import it into Mach2. When I start up, the spindle picks up and goes to a "home" location. It then plunges at whatever speed I set the z-axis to whatever depth I chose to make the first pass and starts the cut. I guess my question is this. why the hell does it do this? It's getting old chasing the endmill around with dial indicators and trying to extrapolate a starting point. It would be nice to put my piece in the vise set the mill at 0-0-0 and have it plunge and start the pass. I was in the petrochem industry as a manual machinist for 22 years, but I am a complete cnc idiot. Soren's videos helped, but the Bobcad training videos were a complete waste of time and money. I have Bobcad versions 19, 20, and 21 and am ready to give up on the whole damn idea. I am running an older version of Mach2 as I am afraid to upgrade for fear of really being confused. Someone, please help me before I take a plasma cutter to a $5000 cnc conversion.
Thanks for any help,
Rick
You have to set a Work Position Coordinate in your Mach 2 with and Edge Finder. G54-G59. This is done by inputing the machine position numbers like this.
Assume your machine is in the Machine Home Position X0 Y0 Z0.
Jog the X Axis to your Part Program Origin
Lets say that number was X-15.0000
Now do the same with the Y Axis
Lets say that Number is Y-8.5000
The Z is set by the Top of the work Piece
Lets say that is Z-4.5000
On a Work Position Offset Page for your G54 it would read like this.
G54
X-15.0000
Y-8.5000
Z-4.5000
Your part Home position should be a Corner X0Y0 or Center X0Y0
If you still don't understand sent me a PM and I'll call you later
Cheers!!!!
Toby D.
"Imagination and Memory are but one thing, but for divers considerations have divers names"
Schwarzwald
(Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)
www.refractotech.com