This one was fantastic! I had trouble with a drill bit in the changer running into a part during a tool change and this will be great. Thanks for this tip. I Took Pascal, FORTRAN, COBOL , RPG2 and C back in the 80's and got sick of debugging in favor of machining and mech design! Glad you can walk us thru this stuff as this is a great tip!
Kudos to you John for the info. I have my 4th axis mounted on left side of table so I have been going in and modifying my program to move the table out of the way each tool change. This will help so much, while I was at it I moved the coolant off command to signal before z retract to keep coolant from spraying everything. Thanks again keep the tips coming!!
I do a lot of work in N++. Something you should do to help you a lot is to use syntax highlighting. In N++ click on Language on the top bar>J>JaveScript. This will automatically color all of the comments and things like numbers/variable types. If you like the way it looks then you can go to Settings>Style Configurator. On the left most list, click on JaveScript, and to the lower right of that box there is a place called User Ext. Type the letters "cps" in there and the syntax highlighting will be applied every time you open a post processor file. Let me know if you have any questions. Also, I have a video request: Could you make a video about how to go from the post processor to actually making chips? When I was first playing with the Tormach years ago I spent an hour trying to figure out how to write the tool offsets to HSMXpress because I didn't know about the offset tab. I am sure I am not the only person who had to go through that. Thanks for the good videos. Also, it was good to hear you on the Amp Hour podcast.
Hello John, in my eyes the possibility of editing the post processor is a very strong feature of Fusion 360. I also use it quite a lot to tune the g-code generation for my mill - a German made one. This mill comes with a German CAD/CAM software package that is clunky at best. Thus, Fusion comes to the rescue. Not just because of its very superior toolpath generation :) My next machine will be a different one, for sure.
Great video. A random question I had was how to setup the milling machine where the Spindle is rotated such that it is facing the -y direction rather than the -z direction? Is that possible? Thanks!
Trying this with no luck, the files look significantly different. where to put the the if statement? could you revisit this or maybe fusion now has something built in to do this but I only see options for g28 & g30. Z isn't enough to clean the umbrella on some parts. working with a pcnc440. I want to change the stock vise out for a fixture plate or the SMW low profile vise but my hands are tied. the part ends up about 6" off the bed, the drills and the 3" doc end-mill will definitely hit during the umbrella cycle. thanks for the great tips!
Almost perfect...any luck creating a new property, and filling that into the custom tool change location. ie..XTCL as a property, and that value appears as G53 X("XCTL") ? Seems more flexible in the long run as opposed to fixed locations in the post processor
Can't be too descriptive without a wall of text but you can just add pretty much exactly what he did just name it something different and put it in the post where the call outs for M30 are instead of G30. M30 ends the program so if you place it right before that it will be the last move your machine makes before the program ends. Basically follow exactly what he did except do it before M30 instead of after G30.
Here is what I added using the properties for my Fadal to move the table to X0 Y8, follow what John did to edit and place the property lines below in the right place. // user-defined properties properties = { --- only showing my code ----- homeAfterOption: true, // DJH If true set home X and Y at end of job homeXaxis: 0, // DJH Set X home position after G28 homeYaxis: 8 // DJH Set Y home position after G28 }; if (properties.homeAfterOption) { writeBlock(gFormat.format(53), "X"+ properties.homeXaxis + "." , "Y" + properties.homeYaxis + "." ); } // DJH End of home code ---- Last portion of the original cps file ----- onImpliedCommand(COMMAND_END); onImpliedCommand(COMMAND_STOP_SPINDLE); writeBlock(mFormat.format(30)); // stop program, spindle stop, coolant off writeln("%"); }
This might be a stupid question. Can you make changes in the post processor to change everywhere in the generated file the tool changes T# M6 with something else (let's say G122 T#). My CNC controller does nothing on T# M6 but I have an umbrella magazine which works with G122 T#. Thanks.
reason being knee mill with 5" of z travel i need to move it away from the part to change tools. and i would like to set it up from my part zero to keep movement to a min.
Hey there, do you mind if I ask you a simple question. I'm just new to 3d modelling. I would like to know how I can move a face of a 3d body parallel to the surface of the plane. Eg. If I have a cylinder and I want to move one of the circular faces sideways so that I have a slanted cylinder (similar to leaning Tower of Pisa)
Not sure if you read these comments, but my properties in the post processor program settings don't include "Custom Tool Location" or "G30." Is there something hidden that I'm not seeing? Maybe some properties are hidden and I need to change some settings to make them appear? I'm a little lost here to be honest and I would like to figure out how to follow along with your tutorials, but I'm having troubles doing so when I can't even get past step one.
i like this but i would like to be able to enter x,y location right in the little properties window. so i can change the location. and you go through this so fast its hard to follow.
One example: You have a really long tool so you need the machine to move to a certain spot on the table (away from workholding/part) so there's room to remove tool. Similar idea if you have a huge part/fixture/4th axis on the machine
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This one was fantastic! I had trouble with a drill bit in the changer running into a part during a tool change and this will be great. Thanks for this tip. I Took Pascal, FORTRAN, COBOL , RPG2 and C back in the 80's and got sick of debugging in favor of machining and mech design! Glad you can walk us thru this stuff as this is a great tip!
Kudos to you John for the info. I have my 4th axis mounted on left side of table so I have been going in and modifying my program to move the table out of the way each tool change. This will help so much, while I was at it I moved the coolant off command to signal before z retract to keep coolant from spraying everything. Thanks again keep the tips coming!!
I do a lot of work in N++. Something you should do to help you a lot is to use syntax highlighting. In N++ click on Language on the top bar>J>JaveScript. This will automatically color all of the comments and things like numbers/variable types.
If you like the way it looks then you can go to Settings>Style Configurator. On the left most list, click on JaveScript, and to the lower right of that box there is a place called User Ext. Type the letters "cps" in there and the syntax highlighting will be applied every time you open a post processor file.
Let me know if you have any questions. Also, I have a video request: Could you make a video about how to go from the post processor to actually making chips? When I was first playing with the Tormach years ago I spent an hour trying to figure out how to write the tool offsets to HSMXpress because I didn't know about the offset tab. I am sure I am not the only person who had to go through that. Thanks for the good videos. Also, it was good to hear you on the Amp Hour podcast.
Hello John, in my eyes the possibility of editing the post processor is a very strong feature of Fusion 360. I also use it quite a lot to tune the g-code generation for my mill - a German made one. This mill comes with a German CAD/CAM software package that is clunky at best. Thus, Fusion comes to the rescue. Not just because of its very superior toolpath generation :) My next machine will be a different one, for sure.
As always, John = great info
Thanks!
Getting deep John. I love this!
You are the man John! I was looking for this a while ago for my LinuxCNC machine! Thank you very much!
Great info! Have to edit my post by hand everytime, now I can fix it NYCCNC style!
Done. This was just the help I needed to fix my posts.No more intermediate editing. Keep up the good work John
Great video. A random question I had was how to setup the milling machine where the Spindle is rotated such that it is facing the -y direction rather than the -z direction? Is that possible? Thanks!
Thanks for sharing your experiment John. Much appreciated. Ciao, Marco.
Trying this with no luck, the files look significantly different. where to put the the if statement?
could you revisit this or maybe fusion now has something built in to do this but I only see options for g28 & g30. Z isn't enough to clean the umbrella on some parts.
working with a pcnc440. I want to change the stock vise out for a fixture plate or the SMW low profile vise but my hands are tied. the part ends up about 6" off the bed, the drills and the 3" doc end-mill will definitely hit during the umbrella cycle.
thanks for the great tips!
Beautiful just what I needed
Thanks Johnny CNC
Thank you John, this helped me out a lot! Kind Regards!
C'mon, man. We wanna see it work!
This is great info. Thank you!
Almost perfect...any luck creating a new property, and filling that into the custom tool change location. ie..XTCL as a property, and that value appears as G53 X("XCTL") ? Seems more flexible in the long run as opposed to fixed locations in the post processor
Awesome, any chance you could do a tutorial on how to make it so that when the program is completed it returns Z tool location
Can't be too descriptive without a wall of text but you can just add pretty much exactly what he did just name it something different and put it in the post where the call outs for M30 are instead of G30. M30 ends the program so if you place it right before that it will be the last move your machine makes before the program ends. Basically follow exactly what he did except do it before M30 instead of after G30.
In the post processor there is an entire section dedicated to end of program routine where you can add the Z0.0 line.
Here is what I added using the properties for my Fadal to move the table to X0 Y8, follow what John did to edit and place the property lines below in the right place.
// user-defined properties
properties = {
--- only showing my code -----
homeAfterOption: true, // DJH If true set home X and Y at end of job
homeXaxis: 0, // DJH Set X home position after G28
homeYaxis: 8 // DJH Set Y home position after G28
};
if (properties.homeAfterOption) {
writeBlock(gFormat.format(53), "X"+ properties.homeXaxis + "." , "Y" + properties.homeYaxis + "." );
}
// DJH End of home code
---- Last portion of the original cps file -----
onImpliedCommand(COMMAND_END);
onImpliedCommand(COMMAND_STOP_SPINDLE);
writeBlock(mFormat.format(30)); // stop program, spindle stop, coolant off
writeln("%");
}
Good to know but I have not idea where to find it or how to edit it
Do you need to call back a G54 or G55 what have you to get back to your part offset after the G53? Or is the G53 only temporary?
G53 is non modal , so only effective for that line of code.
Is that java script programming? I think I had Basic programming back in school, if only it had been g-code instead!
It is indeed JavaScript.
Or, I guess it would be more accurate to say that it is "based on JavaScript".
Very good to know for future projects. Thank You! :)
I like it! So cool, thanks for sharing Buddy!
This might be a stupid question. Can you make changes in the post processor to change everywhere in the generated file the tool changes T# M6 with something else (let's say G122 T#). My CNC controller does nothing on T# M6 but I have an umbrella magazine which works with G122 T#. Thanks.
reason being knee mill with 5" of z travel i need to move it away from the part to change tools. and i would like to set it up from my part zero to keep movement to a min.
Hey there, do you mind if I ask you a simple question. I'm just new to 3d modelling. I would like to know how I can move a face of a 3d body parallel to the surface of the plane. Eg. If I have a cylinder and I want to move one of the circular faces sideways so that I have a slanted cylinder (similar to leaning Tower of Pisa)
Now for a lathe post edit😁
MCEngineeringInc YES
Not sure if you read these comments, but my properties in the post processor program settings don't include "Custom Tool Location" or "G30." Is there something hidden that I'm not seeing? Maybe some properties are hidden and I need to change some settings to make them appear? I'm a little lost here to be honest and I would like to figure out how to follow along with your tutorials, but I'm having troubles doing so when I can't even get past step one.
i like this but i would like to be able to enter x,y location right in the little properties window. so i can change the location. and you go through this so fast its hard to follow.
Excellent reverse engineering. 👍
does anyone have any idea why the variable [Tool.material] always returns 0? should be hss or carbid !
I didn't get what is the purpose of wanting this? Why is it important? Thanks.
One example: You have a really long tool so you need the machine to move to a certain spot on the table (away from workholding/part) so there's room to remove tool. Similar idea if you have a huge part/fixture/4th axis on the machine
Oh, got it. Thanks John!
Wow post editing 🤭
BwaHaaaHAAAA! so cool...
Which BAJA SAE team is this gearbox housing for? Lol
Exactly what I'm wondering lol
я думал ты покажешь как поставить навигацию как в Maya или Houdini. А это еще одно бесполезное видео...