I have the Altmill 4x4, v carve pro and g sender 1.6.3 version. I have g sender set to standard re zero during a tool change.
Iv been running for a few days just fine, but today when the machine paused to do a tool change, the spindle popped on and machine started moving onto the next tool path, totally bypassing the wizard.
This happened 3x in a row. It did this when I wasn’t anywhere near my computer. I disabled all shortcut keys just in case. I finally was able to start doing tool changes again without issue but I don’t think the issue is resolved. This is particularly dangerous since the spindle could have popped on while I had wrenches on it.
I was reading that g sender 1.6.4 fixed a few bug issues related to this, particularly with flexible re-zero, I hope the fix was also applied to standard re zero as well.
let me know if there is something I’m missing here. Pretty spooky seeing the machine start acting on its own. I know there could be some other things it is that I’m missing but seeing that there was a big fix related to this makes me suspicious.
I would like to keep my fingers and face intact while doing tool changes!
This is in part why I would never use tool changes in between toolpaths. I am an old fart whom has seen the digital revolution unfold from Z80 till now and aware how easy bit flipping mistakes can creap into software. I would never rely on any soft safety without a hard step required in the real world to make sure that safety can’t be comprimised by someone switching on tube lights in the next room or some kid playing hacker on the other side of the world.
A spindle without a tool change switch hard-cutting the power to the motor, overruling any and all bit mistakes or evil doings is a nogo. If there was none, I would either install that switch myself, keep working with “stupid” spindles, like the makita router I have right now, or upgrade beyond manual tool changes.
Hell, I even use a switch cover when changing tools or zeroing xyz, so chance does not have an opertunity to have a go at it while I’m exposed. Sure, I will forget to remove the cap, to turn on the switch when I’m done, but that will be a harmless learning moment. A broken bit, a ruined project, a cue to stop working and take a break. Not a trip to the first aid kit or worse.
You are right to step back and question who stands between you and harm. If the answer is anything other than “I am”, the answer is wildly insufficient and injob toolchanges are not an option.
Safety first is knowing that you are in charge, not gsender, not a pc, not the controller, not the vfd…
I don’t have an answer to your question. All my toolpaths are separate files so any tool changes require loading a new g-code. So I typically close the current file before doing the tool change.
But…
A few of us older users…and, yes that includes @Spamming_Eddie … have posted here before about a safety disconnect switch for the spindle to use during tool changes. I too get nervous when doing a bit change and just relying on software to keep the spindle off.
I did a Google AI assist search and all I found was an old topic on the Mechmate forums. A user there did link to a disconnect switch but it’s an old link that no longer works.
Thank you both! I think I am going to resort to doing the tool paths one at a time as you guys do. The time savings aren’t very big anyway to run the wizard.
I am a machinist by trade and typically run the big 100k + industrial CNC machines that have plenty of safeguards to prevent machine movement at inopportune times. I am learning that most CNC routers are just a different animal / don’t have those safe guards in place, which is kinda shocking to me but understandable since the cost of a high end CNC controller would be prohibitively expensive.
Hoping to sell enough stuff to purchase the ATC if I need it in the future.