Where do you adjust the plunge rate in Gcode?

Could you .zip the file and attach it to a message in this thread? How many holes are there? Is there a way to set the tool height during travel (something lower than .25” so we won’t have to wait as long for it to rise)

I have no idea about the Maslow G code yet. I am stil waiting patiently on mine, On the Hass I program at work, an F40 command would tell the mill to run at 40 thou per min. F4.0 would be 4 inches per min

@Kris , @TITTIGER_MASLOWCNC,

Here is a link to a web page called Gcode to English Translator , a great resource to dig in and understand what’s going on in each line of a file.
@Kris, the Haas machines are much more sophisticated than the Maslow, I’m jealous :grin:! The Maslow firmware tries to interpret gcodes in the same way outlined in the grbl project. Numeric values are interpreted as inches or millimeters, depending on a setting.

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What postprocessor are you using? The one you picked is generating gcode with no feedrate.

I’m not a VCarve user, too spendy, but it’s been mentioned here by other users so somebody should be able to say which pp they’re using.

VCarve, like a lot of CAM programs generates gcode in (effectively) two phases. It first decides how it wants to move the tool and generates a (call it) meta code that specifies it’s full capabilities. It then feeds it to a type of program called a post-procedure that translates/strips down the meat code to the dialect (there’s a whole lot of em) of gcode your machine supports. In your case it’s absolute bare minimum, feedrateless simple moves only. I’m guessing other than the initial set inch mode (g20) that file is only g0 (rapid move, no coordination between axes, some machines will use each axis’s fastest speed and might take a curved or zagged path) and g1 (coordinated linear moves, i.e. straight lines). That’s a lot simpler than what you can use, even if the Maslow isn’t up to Fanuc sophistication.

Or Haas…

This looks to me like the issue could be that the feed rate is not being specified. The G0 command (moving to where the hole should be drilled) will run at the right speed because G0 moves are done as fast as possible, not at a specified speed. Once drilling the hole commences the machine starts to move REALLY slowly because it doesn’t know how fast it is supposed to be going.

I bet that there is an option in vcarve to fix this because it is very standard to specify the speed. To confirm that is what is going on I would try editing line N2 to look like this: N2 G1 X-4.2426 Y4.2426 Z-0.7500 F1000 We clearly can’t move 1000mm/min but that will just make it go as fast as possible. Once a speed command is sent that speed is assumed for the all of the following moves so you shouldn’t have to make any other changes.

Let me know if that works, and if so let’s try to find the right setting to tweak

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I found a topic from September saying to use the x-carve post processor. I’d link to it but the G5+ is being recalcitrant

@bar Thank you! The F1000 command worked. I am using the Vcarve Intelicam_GCode_Inch.pp post processor as recommended here: CAM (G code generation) programs · MaslowCNC/GroundControl Wiki · GitHub

Is there a better vcarve PP to use?

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Your first line says to move the Z axis to 0.75 inches above the work, the second to 0.25 inches above it, the third to 0.75 below it, i.e. the full thickness of the work. In other words it’s moving from (likely, but it depends on where you left the bit) zero to 3/4 of an inch up, then an inch and a half down. Since we use a sled that slides over the work nothing (like clamps) sticks up above it. Most CAM software has you set a clearance height to miss the stuff sticking up, usually called a safe height. Since nothing sticks up with the Maslow set it to something small like 0.125 inches (or whatever Bar recommends) and save all that crawling up and down. Look around and see if there’s another option for clearance, like a special initial or start or end value that’s set to 0.75 and reduce that too.

VCarve has better post processors than the speed less one you’re using. Unfortunately I can’t help you find which one to use. Vetric, however, has a well attended forum that can help you. The Maslow supports speeds and arcs, that should be enough to get you some help. I’ve read that the grbl pp won’t work, but that could be a false rumor. Surprised that one of the current users hasn’t commented

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