MultiCam MG 4000 Post Processor Issues

[Anonymous]

I just got a used MG 4000 series MultiCam CNC machine, and I can't get it to run any files that I make in Fusion 360. After spending lots of time on the phone with MultiCam and searching through many threads here I haven't been able to figure out how to fix the issue. All help is appreciated. 

Currently I am trying to cut out a simple rectangular shelf with some slots in it. Here are the steps I look to make it:

1. I created two operations doing a set of 2d slots, then a 2d contour. I ran the simulation, and it cuts just how I'd like.

2. I did the post process using the MultiCam ISO and left the "retract Z level" at "1" (I don't understand what this does honestly so I didn't mess with it).

3. On the machine side I set a "home", "surface height", and "maximum depth" using the controller.

4. Finally I went to the CNC file on my MultiCam controller and hit run program. 

This is where I get an error code on the machine control pad. It says:

Out Of Bounds

Axis = Z

Position = -0.6000

Attached is a picture of the model with tool paths, a copy of the .cnc file, and a picture of the control pad with error. Not sure why but it wouldn't let me post a .cnc file so I just changed it to a .nc file. No other aspects of the file were changed.

Thank you again for your help.

[seth.madore]

The "retract Z level" inserts a safe move before and after a tool change command so as not to collide with the material.

That said, I'm not seeing the "1" in your code (it should be in the first few lines:

N20 G74
N25 G17

N30 G0 T1
N35 G97 S18000
N40 G0 X8.8192 Y16.3875
N45 G0 Z-0.6
N50 M12
N55 G0 Z-0.2
N60 G1 Z-0.125 F40

As opposed to my attempt in another file:

N20 G74
N25 G17
N30 G1 Z1.

N35 G0 T1
N40 G97 S6500
N45 G0 X4.1028 Y-1.6512
N50 G0 Z-0.1
N55 M12

Do you have a manual for your machine? I'm curious how it expects Z values to be expressed. Looking at your code, it appears to be plunging to final depth and then working it's way up. Other program samples will help greatly. But I suspect that the Z axis is "backwards" from the rest of the machine industry; more Z negative is further away from the material, less Z negative is closer to the part. And Z positive would be digging into the table.

And yeah, .cnc files aren't permitted for upload. Just change to .nc

[Anonymous]

Hey Seth, thank you so much for replying. 

Thanks for explaining the "retract Z level" to me. The machine I have doesn't have an automatic tool changer, and the .nc file I attached doesn't involve any tool changes. Not sure if that gives you any extra insight.

As far as the other stuff you requested:

1. Since I got the machine used, we didn't get a specific manual for that machine. Instead I got from MultiCam a more generalized manual for the MG series machines. It does have all the functional stuff in it, but some of it is not applicable (like tool changing stuff). I have attached that manual.
2. We haven't cut anything on the machine yet, this would be the first one so I don't have any other personal examples that show what works. I do, however, have some sample files they included with the software setup to make the machine talk to the computer. I have attached one of those .nc files here. I have also contacted MultiCam to request a basic .nc file from them that they are sure would work on my machine. I will update when I get that.
3. Lastly, I've included a picture of the machine so you can see they type of setup we're working with for this old (but new to us) machine. 

Thank you again so much for the help! I apologize if I missed any of the information you requested.

[Anonymous]

Hey @seth.madore...

As promised I got a few more simple 2d router files from the helpful guys over at MultiCam. I have attached them here. The first file I sent in the previous post is a bit more complex, and it may not be the best example for cross-referencing the gcode. 

Thanks again for the help and please let me know if there are any other files you need.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

After lots of help from @seth.madore and the helpful tech support staff at MultiCam the issue is fixed. Turns out the errors I was receiving were related to some settings in MultiCam's JobServer program. JobServer is the program that connects the computer to the actual CNC machine and allows you to upload files to run. 

For those of you having similar issues here is a more detailed explanation:

For my machine the issue was specifically in the JobServer Settings. When I installed the MultiCam PSS programming sent to me from MultiCam (which includes JobServer) it didn't have these settings automatically picked. These settings were pointing the program to where it can store a "Job History Database" file, and picking the "Project File". The project file is super important here because it gives the program the definitions of the meanings for all the gcode it will be reading and feeding to the CNC machine. Once these were set the machine started running perfectly. Below are the steps to follow to make sure that JobServer Settings are set up properly:

1. To access these settings make sure you've started job server on your computer connected to your CNC machine. You start JobServer by clicking the start button, all programs, multicam, JobServer. Once JobServer is running you will see an icon in the lower right tray of the desktop that looks like a black and white silhouette of a server. If that server icon has a red circle and line through it then you have some other issue that this won't fix. 
2. Right click on that server icon and select JobServer Settings. 
3. The screen that pops up will have a spot for "Job History Database" and for "Project File". Mine were blank and that was causing all the issues. 
4. Click the ellipsis (three dots) button next to the "Job History Database" and navigate to the PSS folder that you installed all the MultiCam software from. Open the "Files" folder and select the file named "jobhistory". There are two files named "jobhistory", one is a text document and the other is a microsoft access database. You want the .mdb file. Hit ok.
5. Now in JobServer Settings click the ellipsis next to "Project File" and navigate to the same "Files" folder within the same "PSS" folder as in the previous step.
6. Select the file named "Multicam2.etc" and hit ok.
7. Hit ok again in the JobServer Settings and now it should all be working.

I have attached an image of the JobServer Settings screen with the correct file paths so you can duplicate it.

I ran a .cnc file that MultiCam sent me as a test, and I then ran a .cnc file that I made using Fusion 360's post processing. They both worked exactly as designed. Those files are attached in this thread as gasketinches.nc and TMB.nc respectively. 

Thanks again to everyone that helped me fix this!

[seth.madore]

This is wonderful news, glad you got it sorted!

[Anonymous]

I am having the same problem and those fields are populated with the file paths in my settings. Z -.6000 out of bounds when I try to run a file

[Anonymous]

I’m looking for some help I just purchased a used multi cam MG series and we are having  problems loading the tool and getting the spindle to start can anybody help?

4142549916.   West Allis Wisconsin