Partworks 3D Issue

[kfitz]

I'm trying to run my first toolpath generated with PW3D on my desktop. When I run the cut file, the machine goes the opposite direction from what I intended. So, starting at 0,0 (front left corner), instead of moving to the middle of the material like the simulation/preview, it moves in the minus direction (away from the material and towards me) and grinds against the stops until I stop it. I'm thinking it's a simple matter of some check box somewhere in PW3D that I am missing, but I am at a loss at the moment. Otherwise, the machine has been working great using files made from VCarve Pro. Any ideas what I should look for?

Kevin

[steve_g]

Kevin…
Any chance that your software 0,0 datum is set for somewhere else other than front left… like the center of the job?
SG

[kfitz]

Kevin…
Any chance that your software 0,0 datum is set for somewhere else other than front left… like the center of the job?
SG

On the Material Size and Margins screen it shows XY Origin Position as x:0.0 and y:0.0

[steve_g]

Kevin…
Are you importing your files created in PW3D into VCP and creating toolpaths there? If so, check your datum location there also…
Is the “use offset” button checked? (grasping at straws here)
SG

[kfitz]

Kevin…
Are you importing your files created in PW3D into VCP and creating toolpaths there? If so, check your datum location there also…
Is the “use offset” button checked? (grasping at straws here)
SG

No, I'm generating toolpaths from PW3D and opening them with the SB control software.

[steve_g]

Can you post at least the first 100 lines or so of the .sbp file… perhaps we’ll see a clue there.
SG

[kfitz]

'----------------------------------------------------------------
'SHOPBOT ROUTER FILE IN INCHES
'GENERATED BY PARTWorks
'Minimum extent in X = -10.500 Minimum extent in Y = -6.125 Minimum extent in Z = -1.200
'Maximum extent in X = 10.500 Maximum extent in Y = 6.125 Maximum extent in Z = 0.000
'Length of material in X = 21.000
'Length of material in Y = 12.250
'Depth of material in Z = 1.200
'Home X = 0.000000 Home Y = 0.000000 Home Z = 0.200000
'Rapid clearance gap or Safe Z = 0.200
'UNITS:Inches
'
IF %(25)=1 THEN GOTO UNIT_ERROR 'check to see software is set to standard
SA 'Set program to absolute coordinate mode
CN, 90
'New Path
'Toolpath Name = Roughing Toolpath - Top
'Tool Name = Ball Nose (0.5 inch)

&PWSafeZ = 0.200
&PWMaterial = 1.200
'&ToolName = "Ball Nose (0.5 inch)"
&Tool =1 'Tool number to change to
C9 'Change tool
TR,12000 'Set spindle RPM
C6 'Spindle on
PAUSE 2
'
MS,3.0,3.0
JZ,0.200000
J2,0.000000,0.000000
J3,3.656738,-4.827208,0.200000
M3,3.656738,-4.827208,-0.375000
M3,3.410666,-4.827208,-0.375000
M3,3.337565,-4.818034,-0.375000
M3,3.277784,-4.812063,-0.375000
M3,3.184185,-4.787766,-0.375000
M3,3.148232,-4.772208,-0.375000
M3,3.838109,-4.772208,-0.375000
M3,3.905236,-4.738797,-0.375000
M3,3.944623,-4.717208,-0.375000
M3,2.602911,-4.717208,-0.375000
M3,2.518924,-4.693187,-0.375000
M3,2.396384,-4.662208,-0.375000
M3,4.020465,-4.662208,-0.375000
M3,4.079409,-4.607208,-0.375000
M3,2.125952,-4.607208,-0.375000
M3,2.077634,-4.593418,-0.375000
M3,1.952282,-4.566800,-0.375000
M3,1.853907,-4.560463,-0.375000
M3,1.815881,-4.552208,-0.375000
M3,4.128745,-4.552208,-0.375000
M3,4.146172,-4.530439,-0.375000
M3,4.187503,-4.497208,-0.375000
M3,1.603848,-4.497208,-0.375000
M3,1.526180,-4.465463,-0.375000
M3,1.479417,-4.445242,-0.375000
M3,1.467857,-4.442208,-0.375000
M3,4.242682,-4.442208,-0.375000
M3,4.274128,-4.407746,-0.375000
M3,4.288807,-4.387208,-0.375000
M3,3.619256,-4.387208,-0.375000
M3,3.582735,-4.387208,-0.375000
M3,3.521867,-4.387208,-0.375000
M3,3.473172,-4.387208,-0.375000
M3,3.412304,-4.387208,-0.375000
M3,1.281914,-4.387208,-0.375000
M3,1.196213,-4.361166,-0.375000
M3,1.121746,-4.345068,-0.375000
M3,1.025561,-4.332208,-0.375000
M3,3.241848,-4.332208,-0.375000
M3,3.290557,-4.332208,-0.375000
M3,3.327089,-4.332208,-0.375000
M3,3.387976,-4.332208,-0.375000
M3,3.497573,-4.332208,-0.375000
M3,3.546283,-4.332208,-0.375000
M3,3.582815,-4.332208,-0.375000
M3,3.643702,-4.332208,-0.375000
M3,3.680234,-4.332208,-0.375000
M3,3.716766,-4.332208,-0.375000
M3,3.741121,-4.332208,-0.375000
M3,4.325636,-4.332208,-0.375000
M3,4.355554,-4.277208,-0.375000
M3,3.797093,-4.277208,-0.375000
M3,3.748531,-4.277208,-0.375000
M3,3.712110,-4.277208,-0.375000
M3,3.675688,-4.277208,-0.375000
M3,3.627126,-4.277208,-0.375000
M3,3.530003,-4.277208,-0.375000
M3,3.457160,-4.277208,-0.375000
M3,3.372177,-4.277208,-0.375000
M3,3.311474,-4.277208,-0.375000
M3,3.250772,-4.277208,-0.375000
M3,3.165789,-4.277208,-0.375000
M3,3.141508,-4.277208,-0.375000
M3,3.129368,-4.277208,-0.375000
M3,3.007963,-4.277208,-0.375000
M3,2.995822,-4.277208,-0.375000
M3,2.922980,-4.277208,-0.375000
M3,2.837996,-4.277208,-0.375000

[steve_g]

Well… your bot is doing exactly what it’s being told, all those negative numbers in the M3 Y parameter. Now why… I’ve never created my tool paths from PW3D but rather export them to VCP… When I load an image in PW3D and ask it to show origin, it shows it right in the middle of my object even though I have origin set at 0,0.
Solutions/Work around… set 0,0 in the middle of your machine somewhere, or bring it into VCP to toolpath.
SG

[adrianm]

Have you got the centre dot on the attached screenshot selected? If so that's starting the machine off in the centre of the job. The X and Y stays at 0 no matter what you set the dot to as the values there are offsets rather than absolutes as far as I know.

If you want the origin in the usual bottom left corner then you need to select the dot as in the picture.

[steve_g]

Thanks Adrian!
In my case, I was choosing the correct “Dot” but forgetting to click “apply”.
SG

[kfitz]

I am away from my computer at the moment, but I'm sure that is my problem. Thanks Adrian!