Z Axis Returning home before every 4th axis rotation, Haas post processor
You can eliminate the retract code for a work plane change by modifying the following code in the onSection function.
First find this code ...
// retract to safe plane
writeRetract(Z);
writeBlock(gAbsIncModal.format(90));
zOutput.reset();
... and change it to this ...
// retract to safe plane for tool change only
if (insertToolCall || toolChecked) { writeRetract(Z); writeBlock(gAbsIncModal.format(90)); zOutput.reset();
}
You will then need to take GREAT CARE to make sure that your clearance plane at the end of an operation is high enough to avoid crashes when the table is rotated.
Bob Schultz
Sr. Post Processor Developer
Accepted solution
We have recently changed the retract and home positioning code in all of the stock post processors to use the writeRetract function to make it more consistent and easier to change. You should download the latest version of the post from the online Post Processor Library and you should then see the writeRetract calls and function.
Bob Schultz
Sr. Post Processor Developer
Hello Scott,
Yes, there are more places in the post now that want to make sure that the tool is retracted. Here are the following locations in the Haas With A-axis post that require changes to disable the G53 G0 Z0 blocks from being output.
Make the following change towards the top of the defineWorkPlane function.
if (false /*!retracted*/) { // CHANGE THIS LINE
writeRetract(Z);
}
forceWorkPlane();In the onSection function make the following change.
if (insertToolCall || operationNeedsSafeStart) { // ADD THIS LINE
// retract to safe plane
writeRetract(Z);
} // ADD THIS LINEIf you are using the Haas Next Generation post there is one more location in the onSection function that needs to be changed.
if (/*newWorkPlane || */(insertToolCall && !retracted)) { // go to home position for safety // CHANGE THIS LINE
if (!retracted) {
writeRetract(Z);
}
if (properties.forceHomeOnIndexing && machineConfiguration.isMultiAxisConfiguration()) {
writeRetract(X, Y);
}
}
Bob Schultz
Sr. Post Processor Developer
Accepted solution
Hi Ben,
Yes, the post has changed quite a bit since the suggested changes were posted. For the current version of the Haas NGC post you will need to make the following changes to get the same results.
In the onSection function make the following change.
function onSection() {
...
// if ((insertToolCall && !getProperty("fastToolChange")) || newWorkOffset || newWorkPlane || toolChecked || state.tcpIsActive) { // <<< Replace this line
if ((insertToolCall && !getProperty("fastToolChange")) || toolChecked || state.tcpIsActive) { // <<< With this line
In the positionABC function move the call to writeRetract(Z) into the IF-block that handles retracting in XY.
function positionABC(abc, force) {
...
var a = aOutput.format(abc.x);
var b = bOutput.format(abc.y);
var c = cOutput.format(abc.z);
if (a || b || c) {
if (getSetting("retract.homeXY.onIndexing", false)) {
writeRetract(Z); // <<< Move this line to inside the IF-Block
writeRetract(settings.retract.homeXY.onIndexing);
}
And the same change in the setWorkPlane function.
function setWorkPlane(abc) {
...
writeStartBlocks(workplaneIsRequired, function () {
if (getSetting("retract.homeXY.onIndexing", false)) {
writeRetract(Z); // <<< Move this line to inside the IF-Block
writeRetract(settings.retract.homeXY.onIndexing);
}
Of course you will need to disable the Force XY home position on indexing property when running the post. You can default this setting to No in the post by changing the following line.
forceHomeOnIndexing: {
title : "Force XY home position on indexing",
description: "Move XY to their home positions on multi-axis indexing.",
group : "homePositions",
type : "boolean",
value : false, // <<< Change to 'false'
scope : "post"
},Bob Schultz
Sr. Post Processor Developer
Hi Ben,
The suggested changes assume that you still want the tool to fully retract at a tool change and the end of the program, as you only mentioned retracts with table indexing. The changes just turn off retracts when the work plane or work offset changes (the tool will remain at the clearance plane). You will need to set the Safe Retracts property to either G28 or G53 for these changes to take effect.
Bob Schultz
Sr. Post Processor Developer
Hello @nassim_sparks,
You added the writeRetract(Z) call inside of the retract.homeXY.onIndexing conditional in the setWorkPlane and positionABC functions, but did not remove the calls before the conditional.
// writeRetract(Z); // <<< this line needs to be removed or commented
if (getSetting("retract.homeXY.onIndexing", false)) {
writeRetract(Z);
writeRetract(settings.retract.homeXY.onIndexing);
}
Bob Schultz
Sr. Post Processor Developer