Profile model not clearing long tool

[Forrest Chapman]

So I've been doing some deeper than usual modeling and have run into an issue with 1 of my tools that is to long to clear the part. The tool is about 5" long and the part is also about 5" thick. The problem is when the machine traverses it travels with the z at home position. This is about 3/4" to low. To get around this I have been adding a G00 Z1.0 in front of the X,Y code. But if it needs to go somewhere else during the program I end up crashing. Is there not a place/setting to get it write this extra Z value in the code? Forrest

[Josh Rayburn]

Forrest,
How would it know how long your tool is when it's writing the code? That is a lookup that happens on the fly when a tool change is called.
jnr

[Forrest Chapman]

Yes that's exactly what I thought too. The only problem is it moves in x and y before it goes to z 0.5. This create problems if Tue tool tip is below the surface when in home position.

[Josh Rayburn]

I don't know of any provision for that Forrest, but maybe TWD could help you find it if there is one.
If it were me, I'd probably just find the spots in the code and change them.
I'll be interested to see if TWD has a solution already that we don't know about

[Forrest Chapman]

Thermwood, got any ideas?

[Will Williamson]

I have had this problem before go into the code and switch the lines put the Z command in front of the X,Y line

[Forrest Chapman]

That's what I'm doing for now, but why can't it be written that way. I'm getting ready to run some parts that are almost 8" thick and will need a 6" tool. I have to admit it makes me smile watching it run these big profiles but the first time it ran with a long tool I had to put the longer tool in mid program. Not knowing what was about to occur I turned my back as it positioned and it cut a large path thru the end of my beautiful profile. Simply switching the code around will keep that from happening. Forrest

[Daniel Vonderheide]

Forrest,

The software creates the code in this manner because after a tool change, the Z axis is at its home, which should be the highest point for the axis. It moves out over the part and then moves down to the clearance height. I don't think the engineers ever thought of someone using a tool that could not clear. Usually when you have a situation when a long tool is needed and it wont clear, the model is broken into layers and then machined as such. There is no way in the software to automatically reverse the order of the retract and positioning lines.

[Will Williamson]

Daniel would it be possible to change the Zhome to Z+1.0

[Forrest Chapman]

I understand that the z home is at a predetermined height, but when it transitions if the z code is before the x,y code it will rise above the part by that amount and clearance will not be an issue. Forrest

[Daniel Vonderheide]

Will, Sorry but there is no way to change the home position's value. Home is and always will be 0.000.

Forest, The only time that it does not put the z motion prior to the x and y is right after a tool call. All other positioning moves have a z retract to the retract height prior to the x and y motion. There is no way to change this in the software. The only way to have it run the way you are wanting is to add the code manually or if you have a Qcore, create a converter for this and then run the code through it after PM has created it.