Starting cut at a zero at a pacific location

I have had my 4x4 growth series for going on three years and I still haven't been able to figure out how to get it to start at were I zero it to the piece . I set it up in tool path to start at left lower corner at zero but it always seems to travel than starts to cut. I want to cut parts out of a 4 inch wide piece at a pacific spot. I usually dry run and stop it than adjust the piece . I shouldn't have to do this.

 

After you generate the tool path you can change the leadins to wherever you want by double clicking item to get to node edit mode, then highlight lead in node , then click start point button then roll the mouse over the cut path and click at another node

 

so pending on how you are generating your tool paths out will determine the start point.

In TM4... When you IMPORT your DXF. Verify these settings are set proper



This will set your G-CODE at Absolute Zero. So when you SET YOUR PROGRAM ZERO will be the lower left corner of your project.

If you are CAM out of TMCAD, then you would just make sure your project is in the x0 y0 coordinate prior to OUTPUTing.

 

Chad,
I should of stated I upgraded to the accumove 2. I'm use to the CNC world were x0 y0 is were the cut starts.
When I generate the tool path I always put the part on X0 Y0 and choose lower left corner tab. I always thought when you zero the machine that is were the cut should start. If I choose lets say a 4" x 24" blank in cad when I want to cut out of a 4" X 12" piece of material that should keep the part in the parameters of the piece after I zero the machine to the work piece correct. I'm going to try this method next. I always just use my default material blank setting of 24" x 47".

 

Doug thanks for the tip.

 

so when you press Y+ or X+, how does your machine move?
Being you have a GS is that you can control which location is set to x0y0.

Another question is are you moving your program to the x0y0 coordinate when you OUTPUT to the machine?

 

I usually set program zero off of the corner of the plate I'm going to cut.
I always set my part in cad to the bottom left corner before I apply tool path and set the bottom left corner as zero in the tool output.

 

X+ moves to the right Y+ away from me.

 

On the VMD software it is very easy to tell from where you set program zero and when you load the job it places the object at the bottom left corner of where program zero is going to be, that doesn't mean the torch is going to pierce at the bottom left corner. I can create a 5 x 5 square, tool path it and drop it in the lower left corner of my material, set program zero where I want the bottom left corner of the box to be at and go to run job and it will travel over to where the first pierce point is at and cut the square, that first pierce point may be on any one of the 4 corners of the square just depends on where the software wants to place the pierce point. If this is not what you are referring to, then you are going to need to provide a picture as a reference point.

 

My thought is if I want to cut a part from a 4" flat bar. If I set it up in Cad with a 4" material blank and tool path it from there and zero the corner of the 4" material on the VMD my part should cut in the border of the 4" part correct.

 

no matter where set program zero is the torch will always go to the leadin on the toolpath first, so if the part fits on material then it should cut it out

 

So you want to cut a 3" circle in the center of your 4" flat bar.

In CAD, make a 4" square with a 3" circle centered.

Move the square/circle into the x0 y0

Select the 3" circle and CREATE TOOL PATH/FEMALE

Select the tool path and OUTPUT.

This will hold the margin based on you setting your PROGRAM ZERO on the bottom left corner of the flat bar.

When you press RUN the 3" circle will be cut out of the 4" flat bar in the center.

So when you generate your tool path and you can set the program into place in the set material size based on the coordinates you place it prior to MACHINE/OUTPUT

In your example of having 4" bar and cutting 4" "could" work but the KERF correction placed on the MALE toolpath will go outside of the 4" perimeter so maybe use ONLINE straight lines to cut the square instead of a square shape.

 

Chad ,
My part is smaller than 4" so I should be good.
Thanks

 

I'm working on cutting parts from prints right now following the guide I have for Cad. Hopefully I will get a handle on it.