Tailstock IN / OUT - M78 etc - RESOLVED

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Muzzer
Posts: 728
Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2018 2:52 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
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Oak CNC controller: No
CNC Control System Serial Number: 38D269594F9C-0110180512
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Location: UK
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Tailstock IN / OUT - M78 etc - RESOLVED

Post by Muzzer »

I'm trying to post process some CAM from Fusion. The workpiece is fairly long and thin, so I need to support it using the (hydraulic) tailstock. Fusion has a tickbox option for tailstock support ("use tailstock") in the profile roughing and finishing operations. These are said to generate the appropriate M codes for tailstock control. Looking at the Centroid M code list, those appear to be M78 (tailstock in) and M79 (tailstock out). However, when I generate the g code, there's no M78 to be seen.

;8880
N1 G98 G90
N2 G21
N3 G50 S2500
N4 G53 G0 X-130.

;PROFILE ROUGHING2
N5 M0 ;CHANGE TO T3 ON REAR TOOL POST
N6 T0300
;TURRET 102 FOR X POST
N7 G54
N8 G99
N9 G97 S2040 M4
N10 G0 X39. Z6. T0303
N11 G50 S2500
N12 G96 S250 M4
N13 G4 P1.
N14 G0 Z1.
N15 X17.
N16 G1 Z-65.353 F0.05

...etc

I could manually add the M78 or engage the tailstock before starting the machining but obvs I'd rather it was generated automatically.

Should this be generated by the Centroid Fusion lathe PP? Without digging into the PP Javascript, I'm not sure where the problem lies. Can anyone tell me if I should be seeing the M78? Thx.

EDIT: I seem to have misread the Centroid M codes, perhaps confusing them with Fanuc. Although the Acorn brochure mentions tailstock control, there doesn't appear to be a dedicated M code. Do I need to to edit one of the macros to include tailstock control?
Last edited by Muzzer on Sun Mar 26, 2023 7:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
Muzzer
Posts: 728
Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2018 2:52 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
Allin1DC CNC Controller: No
Oak CNC controller: No
CNC Control System Serial Number: 38D269594F9C-0110180512
DC3IOB: No
CNC12: Yes
CNC11: No
CPU10 or CPU7: No
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: Tailstock IN / OUT - M78 etc

Post by Muzzer »

The macros seem to be M32 (in) and M33(out).
Muzzer
Posts: 728
Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2018 2:52 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
Allin1DC CNC Controller: No
Oak CNC controller: No
CNC Control System Serial Number: 38D269594F9C-0110180512
DC3IOB: No
CNC12: Yes
CNC11: No
CPU10 or CPU7: No
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: Tailstock IN / OUT - M78 etc - RESOLVED

Post by Muzzer »

Seems to require the PP to be edited:

// fixed settings
var firstFeedParameter = 100;
var gotSecondarySpindle = true;
var gotTailStock = true;
// changed EME 25/3/2023


(This tells the PP that you have a tailstock)
....

function getCode(code) {
switch (code) {
// case "PART_CATCHER_ON":
// return mFormat.format(SPECIFY YOUR CODE HERE);
// case "PART_CATCHER_OFF":
// return mFormat.format(SPECIFY YOUR CODE HERE);
case "TAILSTOCK_ON":
// added EME 25/3/2023
return mFormat.format(32);
case "TAILSTOCK_OFF":
// added EME 25/3/2023
return mFormat.format(33);

// case "ENGAGE_C_AXIS":

(This tells the PP to send M32 when the PP encounters a "use tailstock" switch)

Now I get the tailstock M32:

;1001
N10 G98 G90
N11 G21
N12 G50 S6000
N13 G28 U0.
N14 G28 W0.

;PROFILE ROUGHING2
N15 M0 ;CHANGE TO T3 ON REAR TOOL POST
N16 T0300
;TURRET 102 FOR X POST
N17 G54
N18 G90 G99
N19 M32
N20 G97 S2040 M4
N21 G0 X39. Z6. T0303
N22 G50 S2500
N23 G96 S250 M4
N24 G4 P1.
N25 G0 Z1.
....etc


Hopefully I can now machine my part!
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