CNC machine errors NUM 1040

[mcuser99]

I'm trying to cut a 3D star with a CNC Router. The toolpath is a Surface Rough Parallel. The router has a proprietery format for its native software, which we do have a post for. Any file over 95kb will not load into the memory, we have to use the dripfeed mode. Problem is, the NUM 1040 control is a b*&ch when it comes to complex code. It runs slow, or stops at every change in Z, or spits out circular errors.. I've been experimenting with the control definition, trying to find the right settings that will work. There are settings that work great at first, then it will stop in the middle of nowhere with errors. The manual says to use IJ for > 180 degrees, but I've tried a dozen combinations of arc settings with little succes. Can someone shed some light on what settings to use for the NUM 1040?

[mcuser99]

What I don't understand about Mastercam's tolerance filter is this:

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - NC File Size

min arc size 0.1mm - - - - 1500kb

min arc size 1mm - - - - - 800kb

 

Shouldn't the code get bigger if there are less arcs?

 

What I'm thinking is maybe trying to eliminate most of the arcs so i don't run into arc errors.

[mcuser99]

..bumpie

[dougm]

what brand of router is it ?

is the software Xilog

[Thee Rickster ™]

quote:

---

Shouldn't the code get bigger if there are less arcs?

---

I would have thought that the arc filter reduces

size?

 

You can have what looks like a simple arc that is

actuall a polyline or spline made up of lines or arcs.

 

It its an arc 'like' spline made up of many arc

it should join them so it analyzes as 1 arc,

thus smaller code file. If I am not mistaken.

[mcuser99]

It is a BIMA 310 Router from IMA (Germany).

 

The software is IMAWOP. But, I am not outputting to IMAWOP format with this part (too big). I'm generating gcode from Mastercam. Then drip-feed direct to the control by serial port from the CNC's Windows 2000 PC interface.

 

Rickster, that was my understanding of arc filtering. Perhaps the part shape causes the strange size. Anyway, it doesn't fix the control problems. I still get slowwwww cutting, or freezing with circular errors.

[Todd Tracey from Fastech]

Do you need to break the arcs?

[mcuser99]

The IMA manual (I don't have a NUM manual) says that all arcs > 180 degrees require IJ. That's all I know.

[mcuser99]

I programmed two connecting helical arcs in IMAWOP.

1st ARC: CW R400 X0 Y0 Z35 to X500 Y100 Z10

2nd Arc: CCW R10 X500 Y100 to X650 Y365 Z75

 

This is the g-code output:

 

G02 X500 Y100 Z10 R400

G03 X650 Y365 Z75 I575 J232.5

 

Does this look familiar? Its native code, runs fast (20m/min) with no errors. Why does it choke on Mastercam's g-code?

[mcuser99]

This is Mastercam g-code (with drip-feed post) for the exact same toolpath as above:

 

G94 G17 G02 G90 X500. Y100. Z35. I310.447 J-252.235 F20000.

G01X505.777Y97.183Z32.673

X511.693Y94.632Z30.39

X517.738Y92.354Z28.154

X523.898Y90.352Z25.971

X530.161Y88.63Z23.844

X536.516Y87.192Z21.777

X542.95Y86.041Z19.776

X549.45Y85.179Z17.843

X556.002Y84.607Z15.983

X562.595Y84.327Z14.2

X569.215Y84.34Z12.496

X575.848Y84.645Z10.875

X582.482Y85.241Z9.341

X589.104Y86.128Z7.897

X595.701Y87.304Z6.544

X602.258Y88.766Z5.287

X608.765Y90.512Z4.127

X615.206Y92.538Z3.067

X621.571Y94.84Z2.109

X627.845Y97.414Z1.255

X634.017Y100.253Z.506

X640.075Y103.354Z-.136

X646.007Y106.71Z-.669

X651.8Y110.313Z-1.094

X657.443Y114.157Z-1.408

X662.925Y118.235Z-1.611

X668.236Y122.537Z-1.703

X673.364Y127.056Z-1.684

X678.3Y131.783Z-1.554

X683.033Y136.709Z-1.312

X687.555Y141.822Z-.96

X691.857Y147.115Z-.498

X695.929Y152.575Z.073

X699.764Y158.192Z.752

X703.354Y163.956Z1.537

X706.693Y169.853Z2.427

X709.773Y175.874Z3.421

X712.588Y182.006Z4.515

X715.133Y188.237Z5.709

X717.403Y194.554Z6.999

X719.393Y200.945Z8.384

X721.1Y207.397Z9.86

X722.52Y213.898Z11.424

X723.649Y220.434Z13.074

X724.487Y226.994Z14.805

X725.031Y233.562Z16.616

X725.28Y240.128Z18.501

X725.233Y246.677Z20.458

X724.892Y253.197Z22.482

X724.256Y259.675Z24.57

X723.327Y266.097Z26.716

X722.106Y272.452Z28.918

X720.596Y278.727Z31.171

X718.8Y284.908Z33.47

X716.722Y290.985Z35.811

X714.365Y296.944Z38.188

X711.735Y302.775Z40.598

X708.836Y308.465Z43.035

X705.674Y314.004Z45.496

X702.256Y319.38Z47.974

X698.588Y324.582Z50.465

X694.678Y329.601Z52.964

X690.533Y334.426Z55.466

X686.162Y339.048Z57.966

X681.572Y343.458Z60.459

X676.775Y347.646Z62.94

X671.777Y351.606Z65.405

X666.591Y355.328Z67.848

X661.225Y358.806Z70.265

X655.691Y362.032Z72.65

X650.Y365.Z75.

[Superman]

2 senarios would create point to point machining on arcs

 

1- splines in place of arcs ( you eliminated that by creating arcs )

2- "Filter" is not being used at all ( under "Lead in/out" )

 

You want to have "Create arcs in XY" checked on

and you also need the Machine Definition file to have "arcs in XY" enabled

[mcuser99]

The toolpath filter is enabled with arcs in all planes. The machine definition's post page also has arcs in all planes enabled.

 

I did decrease the tolerances in the post setup. Did that cause it?