Tool change issue

[woffler]

Hello Dave,
Mach Mill V3.043.068
MSMPRO V 2.06
Using master tool mode with probe and touch plate
Plug in's, either-net smooth stepper ,shuttle pro

This is what happened loaded a program with several pockets and a profile
1.M6 T 250 typed into MDI move to tool change pos. measure tool probe

2. Moved to corner of job probed corner every thing worked fine

3. Removed probe tool inserted #1 cycle start moved to tool change position measure tool cut first pocket

4. Moved to tool change position for tool #2 measured tool # 2 cut second pocket

5.Tool # 3 same thing cut finish pass every thing work's fine

6.Machine moved to tool change position for tool # 4 tool change light comes on and is blinking ( Preparation for positioning box fly's open) and abort's tool change and will not come out of tool change.

There is another one that happens also ,measures tool # 1 say's it measured it goes to top of Z for tool change and stop's but will not start spindle gives no error .
If you continue by pressing cycle start it will start spindle and move to g54 setting's and the drive the Z axis thru the table.

That little error cost me a Albrecht drill chuck and snapped the the drill chuck spindle off .

[DaveCVI]

Hi,
let's see what we can figure out -

Hello Dave,
Mach Mill V3.043.068
MSMPRO V 2.06
Using master tool mode with probe and touch plate
Plug in's, either-net smooth stepper ,shuttle pro

This is what happened loaded a program with several pockets and a profile
1.M6 T 250 typed into MDI
move to tool change pos.
measure tool probe

What was described is likely the result of the MDI command and a ATLO sequence -
Before I make any bad assumptions, I'd like to confirm the tool change option settings that are in use.
Here is what I think you have for settings on the Tooling page:
TC Auto TCP = on
TC Auto TLO = on
TLO = PTL = off
Skip RH Tools = off
Master Tool Mode = on
Please confirm that my assumptions are correct.

2. Moved to corner of job
probed corner
every thing worked fine

OK

3. Removed probe tool
inserted #1
cycle start
moved to tool change position
measure tool
cut first pocket

Before this next step, I think that you started running a gcode program and that the tool change command in this step is in the gcode program - correct?
If this is correct, then I don't understand the order of events that you report - it would more likely to have been:

Removed probe tool
started gcode program
program excuted T1 M6
moved to tool change position
inserted #1
cycle start (AFTER tool is physically changed)
MSM measures tool
gcode continues after tool change and it cut first pocket

Did you just mix up the order of things when writing it down?

4. Moved to tool change position for tool #2 measured tool # 2 cut second pocket
5.Tool # 3 same thing cut finish pass every thing work's fine

OK

6.Machine moved to tool change position for tool # 4
tool change light comes on and is blinking
( Preparation for positioning box fly's open) and abort's tool change and will not come out of tool change.

Now then, I'm going to fill in some details - please tell me if any of the assumed details are incorrect.
OK the details of this sequence should have been:

a) GCode program excuted T4 M6
b) MSM switches to the Tooling page
tool change light comes on and is blinking
c) Ok, this matches as the next step is that on the tooling page, the "tool Change" LED copmes ON and blinks at the start of the tool change sequence. The dynamic cycle start button on the tooling page will be off/disabled (it is not the green button with the black triangle) at this stage og the sequence.
d) Next the machine will move to the Tool Change Position.
e) the machine will reach the tool change position
f) The dynamic cycle start button will become enabled.
None of these steps will show a dialog box of any kind for a normal tool change.

( Preparation for positioning box fly's open) and abort's tool change and will not come out of tool change.

I need to know exactly what this dialog box is and what it says. A screen shot would be the best thing for me to be able to look at. I can't say what is happening without this information.
I also need to know when during steps a)-f) above the dialog showed up.
Whenever an error happens, it is also a good idea to use the Hist button at the top of each page to open th mach error log and see if there is any information at the end of the log that will help to identify what happened.

Without knowing the contents of the dialog, I am only guessing, but I'll make a couple of guesses to see if they ring a bell for you....
Guess 1: Maybe this is the dialog that mach puts up to ask about a "preparatory move" when mach has been jogged (usually during a feed hold state).
Could you have bumped the shuttle wheel while doing the tool change?

Guess 2: Do you have "safe Z" turned on in mach's config?
If so turn it off.
The mach SafeZ "feature" can cause mach to put up a dialog box asking about making some kind of move that is invented by mach. The problem with SafeZ is that it does not reliably do what it's name implies and it works from assumptions that are sometimes wrong.

============================

There is another one that happens also ,measures tool # 1 say's it measured it goes to top of Z for tool change and stop's but will not start spindle gives no error .

I will need more information to take a crack at this one.
Can you make this condition happen on demand?

If you continue by pressing cycle start it will start spindle and move to g54 setting's and the drive the Z axis thru the table.

When something unexpected happens, it's best to stop and figure out what happened. Forging onward by pressing cycle start multiple times will rarely make things get better...


Dave