I’m using two sided tape to hold a project to the table. I also use clamps as some of my cutting is aggressive. When it comes to cut out the project from the original board I want to cut half down, then pause, take off the clamps and cut the remainer. Can’t figure out how to put the pause in. Maybe add a dummy toolpath that changes bits?
But I don’t want the dummy path to actually cut anything…but I’d have to give it something to do right?
Would be really nice if I could put in a toolpath that simply navigated to a position and held there somehow…that would get it out of the way for me to remove the clamps
How about two toolpaths, the second with a different start depth. One would cut halfway down and another to start halfway down and finish the cut. Disable the second toolpath and send only the first. When it finishes, move your clamps.
Then, disable the first toolpath and send the second one. It will start at the new start depth and finish your cut
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OMG, did you guys know you can disable toolpaths…
Thanks Ed, I did NOT know that. I see it there now. That would certainly enable what I’m looking for.
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Lets say you have 4 toolpaths. Two you use clamps and two you use your tape. So you run the first tool paths and shut down your Shapeoko and Carbide Motion disconnects. Open the file in CC and disable the first two tool paths and save with only the last two tool paths active. Start up the Shapeoko and CM. Your zeros are still set but one caveat. You have to have the machine touch the BitSetter to remember the Z. But when you load your file and start it will ask for the 1st tool and will go to the BitSetter and remember the last zero.
Not sure what machine you have but on my SO3 there is a pause button and the router shuts off and raises up. Since I dont have an SO5 I think they have a pause hold (feed hold) in the router/spindle keeps spinning but stops cutting. Since I dont have one not sure of the action of an SO5 to get a pause like on my SO3.
Unfortunately, there is no way to get a pause on an SO5 to work like on SO3.
In order to add the capability for dual homing, something else had to be removed - that’s how cramped GRBL is on these boards. The thing they removed was the ‘Stop spindle and lift’ functionality.
I can understand wanting to keep using the existing controller - it’s already proven and in the pipeline. But, at some point you have to ask if perhaps newer really could be better. Even switching to the next size up MEGA would likely do the trick.
Can you fake it a pause with a tool change ?
Yes, that should work.
Just assign a tool number to indicate that this is where the pause is which has a different number than the preceding operation.
I thought about suggesting a tool change but figured that would put the gantry near the front of the machine during the pause. Possibly making it difficult to reposition hold downs. Allowing the first tool path to end moves the gantry to the rear.
Perhaps if the workspace was made large enough you could place a small toolpath (or peck operation) farther back on the workspace with a tool change, .001 depth of cut?
Then the next toolpath is right back to you existing stock after moving the clamps etc.
You would have to pay attention to your flow path of cut assignments but it should work. I will try this this weekend and see how it goes.
If you have a router instead of spindle you can have a second toolpath with a speed difference and it will pause asking you to adjust the speed.
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I’ve played with a few variations here.
I would like to officially request that Carbide Create (perhaps PRO? Which I have) add a new toolpath option fo “Pause at Location” where you specify a place that can be jogged to and then the app pauses and pops up a resume button that you can click when done.
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I did not realize the gcode was generated differently for a router versus spindle from the same CC file. Why ?
The spindle adjust the speed automatically but for the router CM pauses and asks you to adjust the speed. I don’t think that the gcode is different but CM handles the trickery.
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In the end I started with the toolpath disabled. I ran it to that point. Then I disabled the leading toolpath and enabled the ending toolpath and ran the file again. Worked great. If I needed more complicated “on/off” between multiple tool paths that might get cumbersome, but this wasn’t too bad.
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Finally got around to making the drawer fronts for my drawers on the cnc table. Several different tool paths used. I set a fake toolpath, off of the actual stock I was cutting for .05” circle on the work space which is set to 48”x48”. This allows me to set this fake circle close to the bit setter (@.001” depth) to minimize time for this fake operation. I left the same tool in, even though I set the tool path for a different tool, just hit resume for the fake tool path and when complete it comes back to the bit setter. Same process, asks for the previous tool, hit resume and it touches off the bit setter and back to normal programming.
This allowed me to skip the step to go back to the file, enable a different tool path and then load that file back into CM. Several ways to get around this, this was the most efficient for me.
I was able to adjust the clamps as needed. I know this is extra work but in the end it allows your desired action for moving the clamps until perhaps a software change is implemented.
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The latest release of Carbide Motion sends the spindle back home - which can cause Sweepy to crash into bitsetter.
I created a new tool called Job Over - Raise Sweepy that I put at the end of every job. Same principle would work for a pause.
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Even a better idea.
I’m still on V813, when you say “home” do you mean for a tool change between tool paths?
As of this version I’m using the home point for the tool change does not crash the sweepy version that was shipped with my S5Pro? It stops well to the left and almost at the top of the Z axis.
I’m new to all this CNC. For ‘Home’, I’m referring to the back right over my bit setter. It’s an HDM, if it makes any difference.
I should look at moving my bit setter…wonder if that would also solve my problem?
I have the S5Pro 4x4, so that is different. It might solve the problem? I don’t know about the HDM but I have the ability to relocate my bit setter if needed. As of now its in the stock position in the front right corner as per the assembly manual.
When the Final Cut is finished the spindle goes all the way to the rear of the table and stops, when I shutdown the machine it asked if I want to park it and I say “yes”. At that point it returns to the back right corner, which is good for the next start up for initialization.