How to do 2-axis only CAM?

[WillL84]

Hey everyone,

 I've got a Trak K3 2-axis mill here that will accept gcode files from Fusion. How do I setup a 2-axis part? I want to put some grooves around the perimeter of a round part (think big knob). I can't seem to figure out how to do this in a way that won't use a Z-axis. Thanks in advance

[seth.madore]

Have you fed your machine any posted code yet? It's my understanding that, in the case of the Acu-Rite control, for example, any Z move will prompt the user to manually adjust the Z as needed

[WillL84]

I have not, I'll have to give that a shot

[WillL84]

Ok so it works, but it ignores the Z commands completely which in this case will cause crashing during the rapids.

Here's some images of what I'm trying to accomplish. This first image shows the crash point

This shows the overall project:

[seth.madore]

Which post processor did you use?

[WillL84]

I used the "ProtoTRAK KMX GCD" Post, although I'm using a Trak SMX controller. I did try the "ProtoTRAK Conversational" but it fails to post with errors regarding "onCircular" items.

[WillL84]

I just tried the non-KMX GCD and made sure "optional stop" was checked and I get the same result - no stop for manual z set

[johnswetz1982]

You ran the code on your machine with no part in it or are you going by the simulation in Fusion?

[WillL84]

I ran it with the tool set above the workpiece and slowed the feed way down on the rapid to see if it would pause and tell you to set the Z. It did not and it ran the tool through (over) the workpiece.

I ended up just programming a circle pocket on the controller and then doing a rotate 10 times at 36 degrees to get the part done. I'd like to know this for future things I may use Fusion for instead though.

[seth.madore]

Do you know what code or string of code would be needed for the machine to actually stop? Would it be just an M0?

[WillL84]

Not sure actually. I'll try manually putting an M0 into the gcode and see if that changes things

Edit: That didn't work. The controller apparently doesn't know what to do with M0. It hit the first one and popped up a screen with

"CRITICAL ERROR 7205: SYSTEM ERROR

The Operating System has reported an unrecoverable error.

The present operation has been terminated"

Let me shoot off an email to Trak and see what they have to say.

[WillL84]

Ok so this is what I got back from TRAK for anyone else running into this problem:

---

Attached is a 2 axis g-code program. The G00’s is what generates the Check/Set Z. Line N3 in the program is the Set Z for dropping to depth, N 10 would prompt for Check Z, then Go, then once it goes to location Set Z again. N17 would prompt the Check Z because of tool change, 18-22 would be for drilling holes in each respective parts or center drilling. Then same with 23–28 which could be drilling or tapping or other.

---

And the program:

N1 G20 G90
N2 T01 M06
N3 G00 X0 Y-2.7
N4 G42 G03 X0. Y2.7 I0. J2.7 F10.0
N5 X-0.134 Y2.6611 I0. J-0.25
N6 G01 X-2.2953 Y1.2887
N7 G03 X-2.4678 Y-0.4177 I0.5848 J-0.921
N8 G01 X-0.1735 Y-2.63
N9 G03 X0. Y-2.7 I0.1735 J0.18
N10 G40 G00 Y0.
N11 G42 G01 X0.2 F10.0
N12 G03 X-0.2 Y0 I-0.2 J0.
N13 X0.2 Y0 I0.2 J0.
N14 G01 X0.5
N15 G03 X-0.5 Y0 I-0.5 J0.
N16 X0.5 Y0 I0.5 J0.
N17 T2 M06
N18 G00 X0.7955 Y0.7955
N19 G00 X-0.5107 Y1.0024
N20 G00 X-1.1111 Y-0.176
N21 G00 X-0.176 Y-1.1111
N22 G00 X1.0024 Y-0.5107
N23 T3 M06
N24 G00 X0.7955 Y0.7955
N25 G00 X-0.5107 Y1.0024
N26 G00 X-1.1111 Y-0.176
N27 G00 X-0.176 Y-1.1111
N28 G00 X1.0024 Y-0.5107
N29 M02
%

 So now the question is, is it possible to modify/make a post that uses this?

[WillL84]

Ok so Trak got back to me and said someone at Autodesk would have to make the post for this. How do I get this done?

[seth.madore]

I'll send this over to some of the folks on the Post Team and see what they have to say!

-Edited to add-

In the sample program you shared above, there are zero "Z" moves. Is this desired/needed? How would the operator know what to position the tool at, whether it's to retract it or set it at a specific Z height?

[WillL84]

---

@seth.madore wrote:

I'll send this over to some of the folks on the Post Team and see what they have to say!

-Edited to add-

In the sample program you shared above, there are zero "Z" moves. Is this desired/needed? How would the operator know what to position the tool at, whether it's to retract it or set it at a specific Z height?

---

Thanks!

RE: The edit. Honestly I don't know. I would assume you'd want Fusion to pop up a dialog saying "set Z to -0.025" or something along those lines, that would make sense. He didn't mention anything about that though, and when you program a normal 2-axis toolpath in the controller itself it doesn't tell you specific heights, it just says "Set Z" for the depth and then "Check Z" when that particular op is finished so it can move to the next. The heights are all on the operator to set properly.

[seth.madore]

When your controller pops up the notification for "Set Z", is that a message that occupies the entire screen, or is it just a note at the bottom of the screen, still allowing you to see the rest of the program (that's on-screen)? I wonder if we could get Z moves to be put in as comments (assuming your controller can read the comments)? So:

G0 X1. Y2. (SET Z TO 1.0)     (as an example)

[WillL84]

It just pops up a tiny green text box.

[seth.madore]

And what happens when you hit the "Show Program" button? Can it run in "Show Program" mode? Sorry for the pestering of questions, I want to make sure I capture as much info as possible

[WillL84]

If you press that it just shows the program op by op. This is just a quick two-mill thing I threw together to get the Z messages

[seth.madore]

I've located the individual working on ProtoTrak posts and have shared this forum thread with them. I will let you know what I find out!