I am using qtplasmac to run a fiber laser and I'd like to make a gcode program that can test various laser focus heights. I wrote the following that uses a while loop and materials via a magic comment inside the while loop:
G20 G64P0.004 G40 G49 G80 G90 G92.1 G94 G97 (preamble)
#3 = 0.5 (square size)
#4 = 0.25 (buffer between squares)
#5 = 10 (number of vertical squares)
#6 = 0.04 (starting cut height)
#7 = 0.005 (cut height increment)
#8 = 20 (feed rate)
#9 = 50 (cut amps is laser power 0-100)
G0 X0 Y0 (move to start position)
#1 = 0 (set counter to 0)
o101 while [#1 LT #5]
G0 X0 Y[[#3 + #4] * #1]
(a temporary material with varying cut height)
(o=0, ph=#6, pd=0, ch=[#6 + [#7 * #1], fr=#8, ca=#9)
(wait for QtPlasmaC to confirm that it successfully changed materials)
M66 P3 L3 Q1
f#<_hal[plasmac.cut-feed-rate]>
M3 $0 S#<_hal[qtplasmac.cut_amps-s]>
G1 X0 Y[[[#3 + #4] * #1] + #3]
G1 X#3 Y[[[#3 + #4] * #1] + #3]
G1 X#3 Y[[#3 + #4] * #1]
G1 X0 Y[[#3 + #4] * #1]
m5 $0
#1 = [#1 + 1] (increment the counter)
o101 endwhile
G20 G64P0.004 G40 G49 G80 G90 G92.1 G94 G97 (postamble)
m2
but when I load the gcode file the filter adds an M02 right at the beginning:
M02 (end program)
G20 G64P0.004 G40 G49 G80 G90 G92.1 G94 G97 (preamble)
#3 = 0.5 (square size)
#4 = 0.25 (buffer between squares)
#5 = 10 (number of vertical squares)
#6 = 0.04 (starting cut height)
#7 = 0.005 (cut height increment)
#8 = 20 (feed rate)
#9 = 50 (cut amps is laser power 0-100)
G53 G0 Z[[#<_ini[axis_z]max_limit> - 0.19685000000000002] * 1.000] (Z just below max height)
G00 X0 Y0 (move to start position)
#1 = 0 (set counter to 0)
O101 WHILE [#1 LT #5]
G00 X0 Y[[#3 + #4] * #1]
(a temporary material with varying cut height)
;temporary material #1000000
(o=0, ph=#6, pd=0, ch=[#6 + [#7 * #1], fr=#8, ca=#9)
M190 P1000000
M66 P3 L3 Q1
(wait for QtPlasmaC to confirm that it successfully changed materials)
M66 P3 L3 Q1
F#<_hal[plasmac.cut-feed-rate]>
M03 $0 S#<_hal[qtplasmac.cut_amps-s]>
G01 X0 Y[[[#3 + #4] * #1] + #3]
G01 X#3 Y[[[#3 + #4] * #1] + #3]
G01 X#3 Y[[#3 + #4] * #1]
G01 X0 Y[[#3 + #4] * #1]
M05 $0
#1 = [#1 + 1] (increment the counter)
O101 ENDWHILE
G20 G64P0.004 G40 G49 G80 G90 G92.1 G94 G97 (postamble)
M02
;qtplasmac filtered G-code file
There might be several problems with my approach, including basic gcode errors. However, I am primarily wondering about the feasibility of using a magic comment for dynamic materials inside of an O101 while loop. Secondarily I'm wondering what I messed up to have the M02 inserted at the beginning of the file.
Thanks!
Scott
