Restart

[tonywish]

Not knowing anybetter I turned off the machine last night in the middle of a large mantel project. This morning I came in and turned on the machine and opened the file and went to restart. I saved the line number in the G-code and told the restart to start there. I backed off a hundred lines or so to make sure it did get started correctly. I tried every possible configuration on the restart menu with no results. I talked to Mick and Jim and the consensus is basically not to turn off the computer and CNC, just turn off the spindle. Then resume in the morning.

OK so what if you do shut it off or just want to shut it off what is the detailed procedure to restart??

Tony[book]

[mezalick]

Here's what I do.
I hit the space bar on the keyboard. That pauses the machine.
I then click on the red X to stop the program from running. I Click on the X0Y0 button to return the spindle to the starting position of that file. I check to see if the Z is at zero, which it should be BUT not always.
I turn off the spindle, the machine and then the computer.
After a well deserved rest ( ya right!)
I turn on the computer, turn on the machine and the spindle.
Warn up the spindle and the routers for a bit.
When I'm ready I hit "control R" and wait for the machine to show me the last files that were run.
It should be that the last file was the "return to X0Y0" and the one directly about that should say "Unfinished".
I select that one, adjust the line I want it to start on and hit "Okay".
The machine will go to the location and pause , waiting for me to hit the "enter" button.
If everything is good I can then go about what I need to.

Not shuting off the machine and the computer is an extra step so that you do not lose any steps.
Michael

[JohnnyCNC]

One thing that I noticed on restart, if it had too long of a path it wouldn't run.

Try moving the file to the root directory: "C:\". That might work. I can think of another thing or two that might cause it, but post processors don't have that in them.

Is your machine a tool changer Tony?

Does anything at all happen when you try to restart the file?

I use restart all the time. And I shut my machine down. I always make darn sure my machine has been homed before I start on anything of importance. That way if this ever happens, all I have to do when I want to do the restart is re-home it and do the restart from a few lines back from where I aborted the file.

Maybe I've just been lucky, but I've had great success with restarts.

[mezalick]

I’ve incorporated a tip that Jim showed me at last years meeting.
After I initialize the machine, I set up the file to run, using a different X0Y0.
I then save the this “Home Position” ( go the “ Settings” and click on “Home Positions” ) so if anything does happen I can find it again.
After I re-initialize and can then go the “ Settings” and click on “Home Positions” and choose the position I previously saved, naming it what ever is appropriate.
Works like a charm.
This meeting are good for something.
Michael

[tonywish]

Thanks Guys,

That gives me a new procedure to try. I was opening up the restart screen and wondering which options to use on the WINCNC restart screen. Or do you leave all of them unchecked. Here again where do you find what these options do?

On the post I started I gave up and started running it again. When it did go to the area to restart it started to run but the Z was 6-7 inches above the board. Re initializing and Touch T1 and Touch top did not help.

Tony[book]