QtDragon hd: Tool measure runs in the wrong direction

Hi all,

I put QtDragon_hd into operation a few days ago. I have already milled a small demo part with it. Everything is fine so far, the probing functions - I'm using the Versa Probe version - are also working wonderfully. What is giving me a headache, however, is the tool measurement. I don't have an automatic tool changer. With a Txx M6, the spindle comes to the change position and waits for the OK that I have inserted the new tool. The machine then moves to the tool length sensor. From now on I have a misunderstanding problem, the Z-axis moves to Z+ instead of in the direction of the length sensor and then of course stops with an error message.

Have I overlooked a setting somewhere?
Peter
 

I am happy to hear of your success with qtdragon_hd and versa probe - thanks for the feedback.

I don't have your config files so am guessing...
I assume you mean the auto tool probe routine.
Is your [VERSA_TOOLSETTER] MAXPROBE (in the INI) setting a negative number?
It should be positive.

Ahh I see in the docs it shows negative!

relevant section of qt_auto_too_probe.ngc:

F #<_hal[qtversaprobe.searchvel]>
G91
G38.2 Z- #<_ini[VERSA_TOOLSETTER]MAXPROBE>
G0 Z #<_hal[qtversaprobe.backoffdist]>

So the code assumes MAXPROBE is a positive number.
I guess I could add a check for that - and fix the docs!

Let me know if that fixed it.

Hi Chris,
thank's for your answer. Yes MAXPROBE is a negative number. I will change it to positive.

[VERSA_TOOLSETTER]
X = 441.4
Y = 57.0
Z = -1
Z_MAX_CLEAR = -2
# MAXPROBE = -20 ### negative seems wrong
MAXPROBE = 20

How should Z be defined? On my machine, Z=-1 is at the top.

Peter

Another thing I haven't quite understood yet is that with my old control system, when setting up a milling job with the 3D probe, I first probed the surface of the workpiece (Z=0), then the tool length sensor. Then the milling job was started. Each time the tool was changed, the changed tool was measured at the tool length sensor and the milling process continued. So I didn't have to enter a block height or a probe height. I did not have to measure against the machine table.

This should also be possible with Versaprobe, if I have read the instructions correctly. The tool measurement button in the Vesa probe tab is enabled. I probably simply overlooked it...

Peter

Hi Chris,

It's done, I've figured out the procedure.
MAXPROBE must be positive, you are right!

Many thanks for your help!

Peter