I am having an intermittent issue with the Eazy Z Tool Setter.
Background:
-Tool setter is located along the left edge of the work surface towards the back.
-No issue with the machine moving to the correct location above it or lowering down to activate the green light.
-When the plunger is depressed, the Tool Setter setting in F1 goes from Low to High as expected.
Behavior:
When I am running a job that requests a tool change, the spindle comes to the front and waits for me to change the bit, again, as expected. When I press the button to continue the job, the spindle moves to the tool setter and lowers until the green light appears.
BUT…
Sometimes the new Z height is wrong. Maybe 40-50% of the time this happens. Usually, the new Z height is too high (by over an inch) and the new bit doesn’t reach the material so the machine goes through the tool pathing but isn’t actually cutting anything. Twice, the new Z height is too low (by about 1/4") and the bit is driven into the material way too deep and the project is ruined (plus the bit was broken on one of the tool changes).
Has anyone else run into this problem? Could it be a problem with the G-code generated by VCarve and not a machine problem?
To eliminate whether it is your code, the next time it happens, look at the program in a text editor or whatever and see exactly where the NC code program is going. Learning to read the code is key to troubleshooting most issues.
Between here and the facebook group I have seen a ton of issues with the Z plunging etc with the tool setter. In theory It should be a pretty black and white process. 1F has a video on how to configure it in Masso but there are few videos explaining the actual steps of the process for probing with it
This is pretty typical issue. I have a feeling everything is working the way it’s supposed to, but programs with tool changes aren’t as simple as it seems like it should be, and can be a little tricky to wrap your head around.
When you set your Z0 position, are you doing so with a properly calibrated tool?
What I mean is…
You might throw in a tool into the chuck, but Masso thinks a different tool is inserted. Then you set Z0 with that tool, and that tool would run fine, but then subsequent tools will appear all messed up.
I see your program uses tools 4, 2, and 34.
When you set Z0 with, for example the 1/4" downtown Jenny, it’s important that Masso shows on the screen that tool 4 is currently loaded.
If you set Z0 with the DT Jenny, but Masso thinks it’s holding tool 34 or something, the behavior will be similar to what you are describing.
When you finish a carve and setup for the next one, I’m sure you remove the cutter from the spindle, and insert whichever cutter your next program uses first - but are you telling Masso the new cutter is inserted? Are you using the MDI to put in an T4M06 command before putting in the 1/4" DT Jenny?
The G-code won’t show that. That information is stored in Masso. When the program request a Z movement to a particular position, what it’s really asking the machine to do is move the tip of the cutter to a particular position. Masso uses the tool length it determined using the tool setter know where to move to.
Since the problem isn’t consistent, it seems likely that problem is the old ID10T problem on my side.
I think I need to develop a consistent routine before starting jobs that will either make the problem go away or consistently happen (which would indicate a need to change my routine).
Here’s what I’m thinking before each job:
-make note of the first tool required for the job
-use the MDI to change to it (e.g. T4 M6 in this case)
-set the XYZ positions using the touch probe
-start the job and let the tool setter do its thing on subsequent bit changes
Does that sound right? I’m headed out to the shop so I’ll know soon enough…
I think Mike XYZ has it, the only thing that i can think of that might be causing it is, or could cause something like this, is if you set your tool say in G54 and the program calls for G55. that could mess up your Z as well.
But Mike explained perfectly, I always do a T?M6, then i home my machine and let it catch the Z again. Then i go in and set my XY and Z for the material. never had a problem doing that.
it took me abit to get used to that, cause at work it works alittle different, we have a g43 at work. does not exist on the masso.
I’m having the same issue since updating to the latest masso software, and this wasn’t an issue for me before. since then, ive created a lot of firewood and damaged a bit because it plunges so deep into the workpiece.
My workflow is typically:
secure workpiece
insert first tool
run xyz probe
load run program
program alerts to insert first tool (its already in there)
cnc heads to the tool setter, and all seems fine
but then i check the z axis and its off, by alot.
Wondering if anyone else is seeing this issue since upgrading to the lastest Masso release.
This is an observation I see some of my tool in Vectric VCarve revert or are still set to tool #1. Are you tools still set to the number you have assigned them?
Just started using my Elite way different then the buildbotics, I have the Masso go to the tool setter when I home the machine.