sheetcam post processor for swift cut

[samT]

hi all,
i have a swift cut swifty plasma table which comes with libellula cam software which i cannot get on with at all, and a bastardised version of mach 4.
i have gone to the trusty sheetcam software as i am quite well versed in using sheetcam, however it does not have a post processor that works with the swiftcut table, the mach 4 post doesn't have z height so the torch moves around at rapid height and never moves to cut height, it also uses the M12 command to sense the sheet using a drop down foot.
i have no idea how to modify post processors.
does anyone know where i can get a post that works or someone that can modify the post to work for me?
any help is appreciated.
cheers

[Les Newell]

I have attached a post that should work. You will have to unzip the file before you can install it in SheetCam.

[samT]

thank you so much for the reply les.
just had a brief look at the Gcode and a potential problem i can see is when m12 is used the torch moves about 30mm on the x axis so the sensing foot is central to where the pierce point is, the liebellula post accommodates for this and moves the torch back to position after m12 but before piercing.
this is copied from the libellula;
#130=1 (THC On)
M12 (reference soft sense)
G00 Z#100 X41.148 Y20.415
M03
G04 P#110
G00 Z#120
G01 X54.647 Y22.348
#130=0

and this is what sheetcam gives me;
N0120 M12
N0130 G00 Z#100
N0140 M09
N0150 M08
N0160 G04 P1.0

it doesn't move the torch back to position after m12.

[Les Newell]

Where is that M12 coming from? It isn't in the post I sent you.
Maybe the post you need is this one.

[samT]

that one looks right, i will try it later when i'm at my table.
again thank you very much les.

[samT]

the 2nd file works, except that before the first 2 cuts it references twice in a row before beginning the cut, however every cut after that works as it should.
an example of the Gcode;
G43 H3
G00 Z10.0000
G00 X45.3393 Y77.1161
M12
G00 Z#100
G00 X44.3393 Y77.1161
#130=0 (THC Off)
M12
G00 X45.3393 Z#100
M03

[Les Newell]

Do you have M12 defined in a code snippet or the tool change options? The first M12 does not appear to be coming from the post processor.

[samT]

yes i did, it now works perfect!
thanks again

[milner57]

many thanks for the reply's to this one Les, as it has helped me out a lot as i was having the same issue of the soft sense foot not operating. however I have a swifty 1250 and am not getting on with the libellula software either, I have loaded sheetcam and I was using the post processor "mach 4 Swifty" i then used the "mach 4 swiftcut" one that you kindly posted above. the problem I am now experiencing is that if I reference the torch height in libellula when i switch back to sheetcam it wants to cut higher, somewhere in the 4-5mm range, for now I have manually lowered the torch in the holder to a more respectable torch height but I'm worried if I forget and switch back to libelulla it will crash the torch in to the plate.

[Les Newell]

In SheetCam go to Options->machine->post processor. Make sure 'Z Zero' is set to 'Top of work'. If it is set to anything else it will tend to cut high.

[Tomsoffroad]

I'm going through the same process with my Swifty 1250. I have it working well with Sheetcam thanks to the top link, thank you Les.
However when mine uses the foot to soft sense it drops the foot a good 50mm to the left of the pierce not where it pierces. Challanging when theres a cut out or material edge.
What do I do?

[swiftkiwi]

hi sorry to hijack thread but i also now have a swifty 1250 and a huge thanks to les for the above post processor

do any of you guys using this have any rules for slowing down on angle etc setup? if so what settings are you using

still a novice here

Thanks in advance

[frednt]

I'm going through the same process with my Swifty 1250. I have it working well with Sheetcam thanks to the top link, thank you Les.
However when mine uses the foot to soft sense it drops the foot a good 50mm to the left of the pierce not where it pierces. Challanging when theres a cut out or material edge.
What do I do?

Tomsoffroad did you have any luck with your soft sense foot? like you i am having the same issue and have no idea how to fix it. Have you managed to find a way around it yet?

[Tomsoffroad]

Tomsoffroad did you have any luck with your soft sense foot? like you i am having the same issue and have no idea how to fix it. Have you managed to find a way around it yet?

No, no luck at all.

I have just found a new issue this morning. Once I have set up an operation and hit the post processor, nothing happens. I've reloaded the 2nd post processor above again, but no joy.

[bowers.nick.r]

Hi,
those that have a Swifty are you still using SwiftyCNC? When i export from sheetcam it is showing up blank in Swifty CNC
Cheers,
Nick