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Alphacam refusing to properly nest multiple copies

7/24/24       
Morli

As a form of introduction - I have 'inherited' a CNC without receiving any training whatsoever and my boss is a strong believer in my ability to teach myself on the kob, but my current issue seems to be way outside of my paygrade.
To keep it short and sweet, I will cut to the chase right away. I have issues nesting multiple copies of the same part in alphacam. We have an Anderson Omnitech CNC (Selexx) with FANUC controller, 8 tool carousel, 9 tool multidrill. Most of work is straight up cabinetry which we do from Cabinet Vision, whereas custom pieces are designed in AutoCAD and imported as a .dxf file into Alphacam (2023 version), where I apply machining styles and whatnot. This is pretty much where my problem occurs. Boss gave me a .dxf file to machine 20 copies of the same part. When I nest a single copy, CNC machines it with no issues whatsoever. However, when I nest all 20 it seems to forget about 90% of the code. I suspect it's an issue with the postprocessor that I have also inherited from the previous boss, who set up the whole machine himself (using a lot of shortcuts, mind you, also on an ancient version of alphacam that had almost no graphic interface and felt like it was written for windows 95).
Spindle will start up, machine easily travels in all 3 axis, but as soon as it lowers the spindle to machine the first hole "004 address not found" gets prompted, which again happens only if there are multiple pieces. First difference between single- and multiple-piece run I noticed is that rapid traverse Z height changed from "Z 25.1" to just a digit "1". So far I tried different size gaps between toolpaths (I added support tags, since these pieces are fairly small), anything between 0 and 20 mm. I tried removing the code responsible for the first piece and running it from there, still craps out. I tried machining it with no tool changes (using the same compression bit we cut shapes with to machine holes). I tried setting safe rapid down and rapid traverse to the same height. I tried locking and unlocking different extensions in the nesting menu. What is tripping me up is the fact that alphacam always colour codes different toolpaths if they involve different tools from the carousel, yet when I nest my sheet, first piece is colour coded as if it was just straight geometry and only remaining elements have colours corresponding to a specific operation (as in first one is white, the rest is green and teal). I don't have access to the code, but I can try posting it here tomorrow, if anyone thinks it would help.

7/25/24       #2: Alphacam refusing to properly nest ...
cris

I have a thermwood with ecabinets , but Imsure you can do the same. Pull up a cabinet, delete all parts except the back. set the back to flush sides, top and bottom. Save it as a resize sheet in you're library as a resize sheet. You can now edit it to whatever size and shape with pockets an holes. Youre software will think it is nesting cabinet parts.

7/25/24       #3: Alphacam refusing to properly nest ...
Dropout Member

What version Alphacam?
Alphacam is not very intuitive, expecially if you are not used to cam programs.
How are you nesting? Manually?Automation Manager?
What nesting engine are you using? AC has several options.
Do you have a specific Nesting Setting for DXF files?

Lets start with that. The fact that one part will cut fine suggests it's not the past.

7/25/24       #4: Alphacam refusing to properly nest ...
Dropout Member

A quick option may be to covert the file to an ard file and then process as if it were a CV file.

Home Input CAD and follow the trail.

I find that you need to join all non-circular geometry afterwards.

If you need 3D use Set Geometry Z levels and away you go.

7/25/24       #5: Alphacam refusing to properly nest ...
Morli

I got it figured out through trial and error. I have been erroneously using subroutines nesting instead of linear, but I can still post photos later today, if anyone is interested

7/25/24       #6: Alphacam refusing to properly nest ...
Mike

Morli,
Alphacam really is the most intuitive CAM package I've run across in the past 30 years. Yes, the best option with Fanuc controls is to choose linear code whenever prompted. Safest way to go, especially since you don't care about program size.


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