[SPEEDRE]

I used V Carve Pro V 4.6 to generate toolpaths for Mach 3. I have my motors set by the calibration utility in Mach 3. So, I go to the part, set the surface as zero and clear the Z by about 1.00". I load the code using a post for Mach 3 ATC inch, click on the cycle start button here's what happens. The Z axis goes into the table, moves to the left and ramps out and into a position approximately neg Y 3.75" , neg X 3.75" , and cuts air ! The really baffling thing is that it only cuts air for about a dozen or so lines of code and then stops and freezes and it will not start again. I did this twice and the second time I got an error message about an improper something or another. Mach 3seems to be working, my motors move, the axis move smooth and quietly. What I don't get is the jumping out and the freeze. Any ideas ?

[ger21]

First, did you delete the line that Neil and I recommended in the other thread? And second, I need to know what the error message was.

[ger21]

Also, are you just using one tool? If so, I'll post a simple Post processor for you to try.

[SPEEDRE]

No, I did not remove that line, and, I can't get it to repeat the error message again. Yes, I am using only one tool for this particular project. I tried using a different PP, from the drop down list in VC, and got similar results.

[neilw20]

Does moving down make the DRO value go more negative.
It will think the table is made of air if Z- is up.

[ger21]

I'm pretty sure the plunging (and retract) is caused by the G43 tool length offset. You have ramping turned on in Vcarve, so that's why you see the ramping. I made a simple post processor you can try and see if it works ok for you. Unzip the file and put it in your V Carve Pro PostP folder. It'll then show up as Mach3 Arcs Simple Inch or something like that.

[SPEEDRE]

ger 21, on a new part the toolpath when running in Mach 3 gives this error- Compile Error, syntax error in script N60 S36000 M03 and stops

[ger21]

You can delete that line and it should work fine, but I'd recommend re-installing Mach3.

[neilw20]

Did your skull code stop there. The code is the same.
Reboot then restart Mach3 or reinstall it if that still does not work.
Is this a demo version of Mach3? Demo has 500 line limit.
Mach3 demo stops dead after 500 lines are processed. No messages. Just stops.

[SPEEDRE]

Not using demo version, I have the latest lock down version 2.63. People over at the V Carve forum say it works fine on their machines. So this means I've got something set funky in Mach 3 configs. I have re-set it numerous times, and, I could just be making the same config errors over and over. Are there any common settings that we all use? Is there any hope for the Mach Challenged. What could this system error be?. I'm lost and adrift. Don't know what to do now.