Laser power not on for lead in/out moves

[pMetal]

I am using HSMWorks and a modified version of the IPG Photonics Lasercube post.

Note that HSMWorks does not support laser/plasma/waterjet out of the box, so I am using regular contour toolpaths, and my tool is set up as an endmill with diameter equal to my beam kerf.

Things are working overall, however the code is being generated such that the laser power is OFF for lead-in and lead-out moves. The beam needs to be ON for the leads (otherwise the leads are meaningless air moves).

I can't figure out how the post is differentiating between the leads and the main movement, or why it isn't turning laser power on for the leads.

Any ideas for how to get this working properly?

[Tom.Hemans · Accepted solution]

Hi @pMetal,

You could write a conditional in the post to check whether the move is a lead in, then output the laser on command there. It would look something like this

function onLinear(_x, _y, _z, feed) {
    else if (movement == MOVEMENT_LEAD_IN) {
        writeBlock("Laser ON");
        return;
      }

Hope this helps,

Tom

[pMetal]

Tom - that worked - thanks!

My new conditional statement for onLinear and onCircular is:

if (movement == MOVEMENT_CUTTING || movement == 14 || movement == MOVEMENT_LEAD_IN || movement == MOVEMENT_LEAD_OUT || movement == MOVEMENT_EXTENDED || movement == MOVEMENT_FINISH_CUTTING)

I don't know what movement 14 is, but it was already in the post.  And I'm not entirely sure what MOVEMENT_EXTENDED is, but it sounds like it would also be a desired time to have the beam on too.

Thanks for your help!

[serge.quiblier]

Hi @pMetal 

Here is the definition for the move type 14 :

MOVEMENT_FINISH_CUTTING = 14; ///< Finish cutting movement type.

Regards