Toolsetter and ATC for Redline

Elite Series (Masso & Redline) (Gen 1)
1

I have both of these but have not installed yet. I am trying to understand how they work, in software.

  • What GCode tells the machine that a new tool is needed (T + M06??)?
  • In response to that
    • without an ATC
      • the machine pauses and waits for me to change the endmill?
      • and when I “continue” it navigates to the toolsetter, touches off
      • does the Redline controller have a popup? Or is it the same UI as resuming a manual pause?
    • with an ATC
      • the machine pauses GCode execution and moved to the ATC position and switches endmills
      • navigates to the toolsetter? Or is the Z offset for the tool already known - because it was previously setup?
  • returns/moves the where the GCode left off
  • continues executing GCode

I want to better understand how it all is going to work before I physically install these components. Also, since I use Blender and FabexCNC (AKA BlenderCAM), I need to know that it will generate the proper GCode.

One concern I have is, with my old Onefinity (Buildbotics), I used an M00 to remind me to turn on the spindle and dust collection. That M00 doesn’t work with my Redline controller. I’m worried about other incompatibilities.

2

I have Elite Gen1 with Redline and Toolsetter and it works similarly as you described:

  • It sees the toolchange command in GCode, it shows a popup that toolchange is needed, and the spindle will rapidly move to the predefined toolchange position. You’ve to confirm it.
  • After hitting OK it moves to tool change position, and after you change the tool you need to confirm
  • After confirmation it moves to toolsetter position and touches the toolsetter
  • Resumes the job
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3

As far as the M0 code goes the Redline controller does not support a M0 command yet.
The supported G codes are found here at the Redline website.

Also you can find the redline controller manual at the onefinity main website under support - resources/manuals

Cheers

Joe

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4

I think that may be enough info to give me the confidence to take the next steps to install the ATC and Toolsetter.

Thanks for the help.

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5

Does the tool get uninstalled from the spindle on power off? Does the controller assume the spindle has no tool installed upon power on? Does it prompt the user to confirm this? If the spindle has a tool installed, does the controller ask the user which tool is installed into the spindle?

If I have tool 1 installed, and I put the GCode “T2 M06”, it needs to put tool 1 back into the ATC. AND it needs to know which slot to place it. So it MUST know which tool is installed. I’m not clear on how the controller knows this at startup?

Does it retain this information across power off/on?

I’m probably going to have to test these things, and have my hand over the kill switch. I am convinced that it is going to try to uninstall a bit at a slot that is not empty.

6

I found this - very long video - helpful. It answered many of my questions.

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7

I just realized, the above video is the one referenced from the Onefinity Support ATC Videos.

But the link on the Onefinity site is a facebook redirect (and I don’t have/use facebook):

Is there a Redline step by step for installing? I’m sure I can figure all this out, but Onefinity historically been quite good at making this a consumer friendly system.

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8

The Redline settings has an option to treat an M6 as manual tool change. It is supposed to move the spindle to the configured location, and allow me to manually change the endmill. It requires the toolsetter to be configured. I have done this; but when I run the GCode is stops at the line with the M6.

Also, it appear the controller is stuck on that line - even though the UI shows it reset to line 1. If I try to run again, it warns if I can to continue from line 5 (the line with my M6). I reset and try to run again, it gives me the same warning - saying that I’m still on line 5.

I have tried variations:
M6
M06
T1 M6
T1 M06
M05 T1 M06

All yield the same result.

Does anyone have this working?

9

What version of code are you running on your Redline Controller?

I had this working before I upgraded to 1.3.10 with the Fusion 360 post processor. After the upgrade I have the same behavior you are seeing. Once it gets to the M6 in the gcode it just hangs.

For reference here is the gcode from the Fusion360 post processor:

T1M6

This worked fine before the 1.3.10 upgrade.

I opened a case yesterday with Onefinity and they punted to Redline support. I haven’t heard anything back from them. If I hear back I’ll post what I find out.

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10

@UltraPeepi can you again confirm what CAD/CAM you are using and which PP.

11

I’m using FabexCNC (formerly BlenderCAM). I expect to have to hand edit, or tell FabexCNC to prepend GCode that I specify. I’m just trying to figure out what that GCode is. Above is me trying various things - based on my understanding of what the GCodes mean.

Oh, and I don’t know what PP means.

12

Also, I see this response in the Onefinity thread on the RapidATC Discord channel.

So we are not doing and of the development for the redline implementation. Last I heard the redline controllers do not yet support ATC

Its due out at some point just not yet
13

I updated to 1.3.10 before trying any of this.

14

PP is Post Processor the program file that creates the actual Gcode file

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15

I am using a custom post process for FabexCNC

16

It may be a good next step to share an example of the gcode your post processor produces - perhaps model a small square and have a 2D contour toolpath of its perimeter with two different tools. The resulting code can be examined to see if there is anything there that the Redline controller doesn’t like/can’t understand, or more specifically is causing the tool change issue you described.

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