Aspire post processor and centroid question

[guerra_cues]

Hello,
Kind of a long shot here but any input or help is appreciated.
I use Aspire for 2D inlay work, I have a rotary axis on my CNC as well.
Gary Campbel was kind enough to provide at my own risk a post-processor so I could use the rotary functionality.
What happened is for some reason the post processor is not working anymore and I did not do any updates on CNC12.
I can only do flat work...

[Sword]

What's not working about it? What does it do or not do?

[guerra_cues]

What's not working about it? What does it do or not do?

Duh... That would help, right? Nothing works. The file loaded on CNC12 does not show what is being cut and when it cuts it cuts a bunch of gibberish...
The flat file actually looks like what I want cut and it works but the AX file which uses the rotary PP does not...

[cncsnw]

"Nothing works" is an all-too-common error report.

In fact, it appears that lots of things worked.
Your CAD/CAM system ran.
Your CAD/CAM system posted a valid G code file.
You apparently got that G code file loaded on the control.
The control is able to run that G code file without parse errors.

Apparently, though, it does not cut what you thought it should cut.

A CNC12 graph of your "ax" program, when I change my second axis label to 'A' and add a G51 J0.01 scaling line, looks like this:

A CNC12 graph of your "flat" program looks like this:

It appears that the rotary program is trying to engrave inside the lettering, while the flat program is trying to cut around the lettering, leaving it standing as islands.

[guerra_cues]

"Nothing works" is an all-too-common error report.

In fact, it appears that lots of things worked.
Your CAD/CAM system ran.
Your CAD/CAM system posted a valid G code file.
You apparently got that G code file loaded on the control.
The control is able to run that G code file without parse errors.

Apparently, though, it does not cut what you thought it should cut.

A CNC12 graph of your "ax" program, when I change my second axis label to 'A' and add a G51 J0.01 scaling line, looks like this:
Guerra_24_ax.png

A CNC12 graph of your "flat" program looks like this:
Guerra_24_flat.png

It appears that the rotary program is trying to engrave inside the lettering, while the flat program is trying to cut around the lettering, leaving it standing as islands.

Thanks for the reply. Are you saying that the ax file needs to have the gcode for the rotary axis changed?

[cncsnw]

It is a valid G code file, describing a valid toolpath.

If it is not the toolpath you wanted, then that is for you to sort out with your CAD/CAM software. I cannot help you with that.

[guerra_cues]

It is a valid G code file, describing a valid toolpath.

If it is not the toolpath you wanted, then that is for you to sort out with your CAD/CAM software. I cannot help you with that.

Hi,
On the CAM all looks good, however, I am trying to decipher what you said and did:
A CNC12 graph of your "ax" program, when I change my second axis label to 'A' and add a G51 J0.01 scaling line, looks like this:

How did you change your second axis label? Because that is what I was supposed to see on the CNC12 graph and I do not...

[cncsnw]

This is not something you would do on your machine to make a program run; it is just something you can do -- preferably in the offline/demo software -- to get an idea of what a rotary-axis program will look like.

Axis labels are on the Machine Configuration -> Motor Parameters table:
Press F1/Setup
Press F3/Config
Enter "137"
Press F2/Machine
Press F2/Motor

Axis labels are in the first column. You could swap Y and A temporarily, by entering 'A' for the 2nd axis label and 'Y' for the 4th axis label. Then press F10/Save and press ESC to return to the main screen.

Since your program uses about 100x as many degrees of A axis movement, as it uses inches of X axis movement, when you change the 2nd axis label to 'A' then you get a very stretched-out view of the program (because it treats every degree as an inch). Adding a line "G51 J0.01"( or "G51 X0 A0 Z0 I1 J0.01 K1" if you don't want a warning message) scales all 2nd-axis values to 1/100 of their original amounts. That makes the graphics look about right.


Eventually, you may want to invest the time to update your control to the v5.09 developmental software, or the v5.10 software when it is released. That will add a new feature whereby the F8/Graph screen will recognize and graph rotary axis movement. Your v4.xx software does not do that.

[guerra_cues]

This is not something you would do on your machine to make a program run; it is just something you can do -- preferably in the offline/demo software -- to get an idea of what a rotary-axis program will look like.

Axis labels are on the Machine Configuration -> Motor Parameters table:
Press F1/Setup
Press F3/Config
Enter "137"
Press F2/Machine
Press F2/Motor

Axis labels are in the first column. You could swap Y and A temporarily, by entering 'A' for the 2nd axis label and 'Y' for the 4th axis label. Then press F10/Save and press ESC to return to the main screen.

Since your program uses about 100x as many degrees of A axis movement, as it uses inches of X axis movement, when you change the 2nd axis label to 'A' then you get a very stretched-out view of the program (because it treats every degree as an inch). Adding a line "G51 J0.01"( or "G51 X0 A0 Z0 I1 J0.01 K1" if you don't want a warning message) scales all 2nd-axis values to 1/100 of their original amounts. That makes the graphics look about right.


Eventually, you may want to invest the time to update your control to the v5.09 developmental software, or the v5.10 software when it is released. That will add a new feature whereby the F8/Graph screen will recognize and graph rotary axis movement. Your v4.xx software does not do that.

Wow. That makes sense now. I might have to do that temporarily and then revert back since the new CNC12 5.10 will have better support for the A axis.
Where in the gcode should I add the line you suggested?
Thanks again for your help my friend.

[cncsnw]

At the top of the file, inserted as the first line, works best.