I'm using Carbide Create v6 and had an issue with changing a tool

gSender ❓ Question
1

I created a job for an advanced vcarve in Carbide Create v6. the first operation in the advanced Vcarve is to use a 1/8th EM to clear out some material and then change over to the 60 deg v bit for the detail. GSender recognized the pause for me to change bits. I raised the router to access the bit, powered off the router and changed to the 60 deg V. I was about to set the new zero on my Z axis bit GSender would not allow me to jog the machine at all. The only option I had was a resume to job which I knew wasn’t right.

What did I do wrong?

Lou

2

I’m having the same issues. Not sure on what the solution might be but I just want to follow this post. What I have done as a solution is to stop the job, change the tool, then “start from line” to restart with the new tool. Not ideal but it works.

3

If you want the M6 toolchange command, you’ll need to set the post processor to Shapeoko with bitsetter or something like that. Otherwise, you just get an M0 pause on toolchange.

4

Moving from Carbide to Vcarve was no issue and I am proficient in Vcarve desktop using carbide motionCAM seems that when Vcarve came out with V11.5 , there was a glitch win Carbides carving program as it would not read the files to cut. And now need to move to Gsender from Carbide motion. Very impressed with Gsender, have a couple questions. Have read the intro and documentation for Gsender and had successful trial runs on my shapeoko. First question - Is there not a place to put your type/name of machine of machine in Gsender > I thought I saw such, but now unable to find a pulldown selection?
2nd question. I have touch pad that works with the Gsender in XY&Z, I also have a tool length device called the BIT setter (carbide) that measure the tool length ( believe this is duplicating the touch pad), is this bit setter usable with Gsender? or a boat anchor? Tom

5

Hello @Rxman and welcome to the forum, lot’s of nice folks here if you ask me.

As to your first question I don’t think there is a place to enter your machine in gSender. Perhaps you are thinking of the one in VCarve?

As to the second I know people use the bit setter with gSender. @NeilFerreri has developed macros and a VCarve post processor for using the bit setter, I think he might have a Shapeoko as well but don’t quote me on it. His Vectric pp’s can be found here.. Searching this forum for ‘bitsetter macros’ yields 12 results. The first result is here and there are some macros to download but I don’t know if they are the latest he has or not.

Hopefully Neil will see this and point you in the right direction if I have not. In any case don’t anchor your boat with your bitsetter just yet!

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6

Everything @_Michael says is correct except for the answer to the first question. There is a place to select one of a list of machines, but most of us have only done it ONCE! :smiley:

I don’t have my machine running (because I’m too cold), or I would be able to tell you. I know it was part of the original setup, so look on sienci.com for documentation that will tell you how to set it up.

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7

The only list of machines that I have found in gSender is for flashing the firmware. I’m not saying there isn’t another place but I have not found it.

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My CNC is not listed in the Machine Presets
Much of the information that gSender needs about your CNC actually comes from its built-in EEPROM values. This means that as long as your CNC is GRBL-based gSender should be able to control it just fine, even if it’s not listed in the presets. If some aspects of your machine don’t seem right, it’ll either be because your machine’s manufacturer didn’t flash your CNC with the appropriate EEPROM settings out of the box or they have some type of documentation which explains the values you need to change manually – if you find this information from your manufacturer then you should be ready to go in gSender. Select the “Generic” preset if you wish as well as send us a message if you’d like to see your particular CNC listed in gSender in the future!
Currently, presets are there to list common machines supported by gSender as well as to support firmware flashing and reset defaults for Sienci machines since we don’t have access to the exact build information needed for other CNCs.

I guess I was thinking of the firmware flashing area. Seems like the presets for my Shapeoko’s bed size etc. were there. The gSender documentation is a little short on choosing different (competing) brands! :smiley:

Sorry, I’m a little foggy right now, because me and my machine are too cold. :smiley:

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9

I’m in New Hampshire and it’s pretty cold and supposed to get worse. I tried to fire up my 3D printer this morning, it’s in the basement, and I got a too cold error. Need to get the basement up to temp in order to print. :unamused:

10

Correct me if I’m wrong but the machine settings would be set in the Vectric software and done ONCE as @CrookedWoodTex stated. Unless you have more than one CNC machine.

Have used a bunch of firewood this year to keep the girls warm.

11

Well, gSender just needs to know things like the size of your cutting area, etc. Hardware stuff. That’s all under the Settings area, but specifically the firmware/EPROM area. Its a machine setting. That’s why you usually only need to get to this area once.

12

WOW!!! Can’t believe we have all forgot where to put in Machine!
Go to ‘Firmware’ (upper right of home screen). Very first line will have where we put in Machine.

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13

Another way, is to break the advanced v carve gcode down into 2 separate files. The first Tool or part of the gcode will be your Pocket Tool. The Second your VBit. Open you gcode in note pad and open a second note pad to copy into. You want to find the change so you can Ctrl-F M0 and go until you get to a section like this.

X34.580Y16.583
Z3.000
(Advanced…)
M0 ;T10
S10000
G0X33.456Y15.462
G1Z-1.000F250.0

Copy everything under the (Advanced…) into the second notepad you have open. Then Delete it from the original notepad. At the top of the new notepad you can add any of Your header GCODE such as G90 G21… (You can copy anything above the first (Advanced…)) Save your GCODE for your first tool. Then save the second notepad ad_vbit_second.nc (You can name it what every you want, just make sure to type in the .nc)

If you want your Pocket tool to go back to job 0,0 then after the last Z add X0.00 Y0.00

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14

I’m running into a similar issue and trying to find the easiest solution. I use carbide create, and am learning Fusion too. I ran a project last night (from carbide) that needed a tool change. Whatever reason I had to stop the program while it was awaiting tool change, since I couldn’t jog to actually get the bit out. Unfortunately the program froze and I couldn’t jog after either, so I had to turn the controller off and on, losing my X and Y 0’s as well. Naturally I didn’t get XY0 perfect so the cut more or less failed. Just a test project anyways, so no big deal.

BUT, I want to get this figured out the best way. I know I could just run separate Gcode files for each tool change, but that seems unnecessary. I switched the program to Manual instead of ignore (why is ignore even an option?, let alone the default on install? I can see no reason anyone would ever want to ignore a tool change haha) Anyways, does someone have an example of Gcode that they use, using the “Code” option?

I don’t have a bitsetter yet, so I’ll have to be able to manually jog it back to the XY 0, then just set the Z 0 again. Ideally I would think I could do something like have the m6 command come in, then have it turn off the router, looks like that’s an M0. So:

M6 (tool change - I wouldn’t have to re-enter this in the code part though as it’s already happened, correct?)
M0 (stop - may not be needed since it’s likely part of the M6 command?)
X0 Y0. (move to the X and Y 0)

Then I have to be able to jog the Z and set 0. I’m guessing this still won’t allow me to do it since it’s still in the program, disabling the jog commands?

Then to restart just have the turn router on command? which should be an M3?

The other problem I see with this is that I won’t have enough room to change bits with it over the XY0 of the stock. I suppose I could tell it to go to like X500 and Y 200 so it’s further away from my bottom left corner and likely out of the way of the stock. But I’d still need to be able to manually jog during the pause. Is this even possible or is there a different work around? Other ideas? Thanks, all, this is my first post by the way!

15

You migt have alook here. I’ve been meaning to try this for some time now.

Andy

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16

Thanks for the response. I kind of understand what he is doing, but is doing it with a tool probe, which can be accomplished strictly through Gcode. I unfortunately don’t have one just yet, though will make one soon.

I’m trying to understand if it might be better to try an M0 in place of an M6, if that might let me jog and re-zero? Guess I’ll have to try it out

17

Andrew , he has an earlier version of this using M0 , however he talks of a problem with it.
To be honest i don’t know , Neil is in this thread , he likely will have an opinion on how bets to handle this.

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18

So I’ve been using the advanced Vcarve tool in Carbide Create V6. It produces exactly what I’m looking for for an output a lot of the time. My problem is, I used to run each tool as a separate Gcode, redoing my Z0 no issue. Unfortunately, the advanced vcarve is 1 tool path, but uses 2 tools. I normally use a 1/8th bit for clearing the flat portion, and a 60V for the tight spots. So this now presents an issue.

When the machine pauses using Gsender, I can no longer jog the machine, and the router keeps spinning. The router is easy, just click it off, though I’d rather turn it off through Gcode as that’s a better route (and the noise signals to me to go check machine if I’m not watching it close). But when this pause occurs, the unit is too close to the stock to physically remove the bit and carry on. I have recently installed homing switches, and have a standard touch plate for setting Z0. So I think I have enough hardware installed that I should be able to get this working, or is it a bug?

I’ve done advanced Vcarve a few times now, but each time to make it work, I’ve had to write the job line down, and tell the machine to stop the job, then resume after I change the bit, from that line number. Sometimes, I’ve even had to disconnect the machine, because the jog buttons stay locked out. Not sure if this is a bug?

My question is, is there simple code I can add to that “code” section when pauses occur? Do I need to make a macro? Do I just need to install edge to fix these issues? I tried making a macro, but my gcode skills are weak, and it didn’t do anything (I think I just put in g0 z10, expecting it to go up 10mm, but nothing happens).

I’ve seen many topics on similar issues, but most seem out of date, so thought I’d ask. Also, RE: edge, is it stable enough that most are using this instead of the stable release? Thanks in advance!

19

I use GcodeSplit - Split gcode files by toolpath

It produces a file per tool.

20

@Andrew I don’t use CC, so I can only offer up what I just watched on Youtube. Winston Malloy of CC, clearly says in his video that the advanced vcarve tool path was created exclusively for Shapeoko CNC using their BitSetter.

I am assuming since your post is about stopping the machine to change bits that you don’t have that hardware. Is that right?

If so, there are Youtube videos that show you how to use the advance vcarve tool path without bitsetter. In short, you do what @mhforbes set out and split the gcode file into two. You can do that manually or use the tool that he suggests.

Finally, you can search on here for the gSender-compatible macros created by @NeilFerreri . I have not used them, but all the “reviews” are positive.

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