Brother Post Updates?

[glrra30]

I was wondering if someone could shed some light on how updates are incorporated into the released posts that are distributed with Fusion and other HSM products or posted at https://cam.autodesk.com/posts/  ?

My machine uses an A00 control, just to set the frame for my observations.  I would appreciate comments from other Brother operators on their experiences.

The two primary concerns I have with the current release Brother post (2017-09-14) are:

1)  The use of G20/G21 to set units - A00 control units are set in User Parameters and G20/G21 are not supported

2) The use of G17/G18/G19 w/ G02/G03 for arcs and circles - A00 Brother uses G02/G03 for XY plane, G102/G103 for ZX, and G202/G203 for YZ

Someone helping me with some other issues pointed my in the direction of a 2014 forum post by ChrisJones7720, were Laurens had made some changes to a FANUC based post that addressed both of these issues.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/hsm-post-processor-forum/post-processor-for-brother-tc-s2b/m-p/608603...

What I've done is taken the commented changes that Laurens made in that older FANUC post for use on Chris' Brother and made those same changes using the 2017-09-14 Brother Post as a starting point.  That way all of the other positive progress made on a Brother specific post are not lost by using a post from 2014.

I've done my best to comment all changes made in the hopes that someone could incorporate them into the official release version on the next update.

Question:

Do any other Brother controls need G17/G18/G19 and G20/G21 or they all like my A00 control.  If those are needed by other controls (B00 or C00), could it be turned on and off by a user-defined property? 

Here is a sample screenshot from Meld (a file comparator) showing some of the output differences between the release version (1001) and my modified version (1002).  I've also included the modified post as an attachment.

[glrra30]

Goes without saying, use at your own risk.  Not fully tested.

[glrra30]

Next on my list of possible issues is the G49 in the preamble.

It is fully supported, but I think it might have the possibility having more potential down side than good.

I believe if there is a tool in the spindle using an offset, when the offset is cancelled the machine will move in Z to maintain its Z position before the offset was cancelled.

Secondly, the offset is effectively cancelled by the G100 tool change shortly thereafter, before it is replaced by the new tool offset on the same line.

Comments from other Brother machine operators appreciated on this, I'm going to do some more testing.

[fredsi]

girra30,

Have made a number of mods to our Brother post for newest Brother - S1000X1 w/ C00 control.  We do not use G49. Also removed any call to G20/21 - this will cause the control to alarm if present. Many other changes to reconfigure G100 to the way we like it, handle an issue with washdown option, and handle issues with finish tool paths running at high feed rates. 

Glad to share what we've done, but need to warn that I don't consider myself to be a sophisticated post editor 

Fred

[glrra30]

fredsi, 

Yes, if you don't mind sharing please post you CPS file with your changes.  If you by chance also have the original file you started with before making changes that would be helpful as well but not mandatory.

I'll try to consolidate all the changes in to one updated file and submit it to the Idea Station for potential incorporation into a future Brother post-processor release.

Thanks,

Eric

[fredsi]

Eric,

Give a day or two to get together a description of all that I've done. We own two Brothers right now, one is an R650 dual pallet machine and the other an S1000 mill. The requirements for running these machines differ a bit, so I have two posts with different edits, thus I need to write up a description to help others make sense of what was done.

Fred

[fredsi]

Eric,

Here is the post for the S1000 and the notes I made to begin to describe what was done. PM me if you like if you want to discuss any of these changes in more detail as it can get somewhat long winded for forum posts. There is a certain element of 'work in progress' here as I've not encountered the full range of possibilities (patterns, multiple fixture offset, etc.) just yet.

Fred

[glrra30]

Fred, 

Thanks.  No rush on the pallet changer version.  I suspect it's going to take me a bit to digest what you've got here.

[DD26fishing]

We just received in our Brother 650x1 with pallet changer. I've never ran a brother machine but I've been reading up on some errors with the post. Would you mind sharing which post your using? 

[fredsi]

I started with the Generic Post for Brother but have heavily modified for various reasons. If you can give me a day or so, I need to put together an explanatory sheet such as I did in the S1000 post in the earlier response above. 

Can you let me know what, if any, elements you have added to the machine (such as 4th or 4/5axis, washdown option, etc.)? A great deal of what we've done to our post is result of having a 4th on each pallet and other machine options. Thanks.

Fred

[DD26fishing]

We arnt going to be using any 4th or 5th axis on this machine. I believe it
does have the wash down but wouldn't think the post would need to be edited
for that? Again, this is my first time using a brother so its all new to me.

Thanks

-Bret

[glrra30]

The current Brother Post is not capable of outputing g-code compatible with the Brother Control.

Primary issues are G17, G18, G19 and G20/21.

The G49 in the preamble is redundant and possibly dangerous.

On the plus side is supports G100.

Working on these issues, but hoping to have people with established safe post compare the output of my modified post to theirs.  

Would not encourage anyone to trust mine without having a basis for comparison.

[fredsi]

breters75,

Have attached the R650 post as it currently stands and notes on various changes that have been made. This post was developed from an earlier Generic Brother post which was not up-to-date with respect to certain items such as probing. One area to familiarize yourself with is the various drilling, tapping, etc. cycles in the Brother control. Once you decide which to use, the post may need tweaking depending on the parameters you want output.

This is a work in progress as we have not run all the machining scenarios possible (such as patterns) on our 650. 

Suffice to say, post back here or with new topics as questions come up. Good luck and enjoy; the R650 is a wonderful machine..

Fred

[glrra30]

Here is an updated post for review.  Review only, this has not been tested.  

I would highly encourage you to post some test part and compare them to a post processor you trust to see what is different in the output.

There are several new User Parameters that will switch some of the new functionality on and off depending on your preference or Control.

I've recently started using Meld to compare both G-code output as well as the post processors them selves.

The Window version is available here:  http://meldmerge.org/

The Mac version here:  https://yousseb.github.io/meld/

I look forward to your comments.  

Revision List:

Dropped G20/G21 - Added comment in file header with Units, since G20/G21 is not used.

Added new User Parameter for:
Extended WCS 0 = G54.1 P1 when true/checked, otherwise 0 = G54 as normal
File Transfer Characters "%" at beginning and end of file
Safe Start All Operations - includes preamble line for each operation  (still needs work)
Use Chip Shower - On/Off at end of cycle (set timer in User Parameters)
Use AIII with Cutter Comp (C00 control only?)
End Spindle Return Home with G28 G91 Z0

Removed Underscore "_" from permitted characters. Not supported on A00
Moved Coolant Off and Optional Stop from beginning of Operation to end of prior Operation

Completely revamped Tapping Cycles:
Tapping - Uses G77/G78 with Pitch(mm) or TPI(in) without Q (no peck)
Right & Left Tap - Use G84/G74 with F(feed) format
Right & Left Tapping with Chip Break - Use G77/G78 with Q for peck/chip break
Modified G100 to exclude Spindle Speed (S) with tapping.

Dropped G17/G18/G19 in favor of G02/G03, G102/G103, & G202,G203 (hopefully this is compatible with all controls?)
Corrected Thru Spindle Coolant to M494/M495 (on/off)
Changed End X,Y Position to 0,0 to be compatible with all machines.

[fredsi]

Eric,

First off, thanks for the efforts on the revised post...I think all current and future members of the 'Brotherhood' will appreciate what you've done.

Have downloaded the post and will give it a workout sometime over the weekend; then provide any feedback where appropriate. 

One question right now that you may know the answer to; do you know what Brother machine/controller uses or used the .TCNET file extension?

And thanks for the reference to Meld; will no doubt come in handy.

Fred

[glrra30]

Fred, 

I don't think the TCNET suffix is control based.  My best guess is that that is the preferred suffix for the official Brother File Transfer software that you would use to send files over RS232.  I use RS232, but with a Highland DNC ShopLink Flash 2.0, it really doesn't care as long as it is a text file.

Would love to hear from someone that actually uses the Brother Transfer Software to confirm.

I might try creating a user parameter to switch between NC/TCNET suffixes.

-Eric

[fredsi]

Eric,

I'd wait on the parameter switch unless you're shooting to make the post as universal as possible. We have the Brother Transfer software, but I can't remember the specifics other than I never saw any mention of "TCNET". IIRC, we transfer via ethernet using only file name with .nc file extension. Will track down specifics on Monday and let you know.

Fred

[fredsi]

Eric,

Couple of observations from initial tests:

1) Post failed on first use - no output. Complained that several of the properties were 'undefined'. Checked and found several properties did not have prefix such as - properties.useExtWCS and a few others throughout the code. Once fixed, post was functional.

2) According to the programming manual for C00, the code for XY plane circular interpolation is G17 G02 (or G03) X_ Y_ etc. Legacy for G102/G103 is G102 (or G103) X_Z_,etc. And the same story for G202(203). Only the G02(03) requires the explicit G17. I expect in A00 control, the G17 is not required; correct?

Right now, when your code switches planes - from say XZ plane to XY only the G02(03) is being issued. I have a copy of the programming manual for the B00 control somewhere; will attach to another post if it has pertinent information for both B00 and C00.

Will be back with more after further exercising the post. Thanks

Fred

[glrra30]

Interesting that it failed due to the properties.  Was happily outputing g-code here.  Maybe a Mac vs Windows thing?  (I'm on a Mac)

Yes, the G17 issue needs further understanding.  I think my machine will happily ignore G17, but chokes on G18/G19.  Will double check.

Is it acceptable to run in legacy mode for circular interpolation planes, or do we need to find a way to handle it both ways?

[fredsi]

Interesting indeed. I thought you would have run the code and that if worked for you; so didn't really know what to make of the failure to run. I assume then you are using Fusion? Although I have Fusion, most of my development work and programming are in Inventor HSM. Will give the original source a test on my Mac/Fusion setup.

Have to think about the legacy issues. Hopefully someone else will chime in on the need/desirability of handling both. Thanks.

Fred