I ran my first program using BackGauge and became frustrated with the “R” axis. My first bend was a short flange so I used the lower fingers due to clearance issues then used the rear with the step to hold up my material for the remaining two bends. I put the “X” and “R” values for the first bend then a lower “R” value along with “X” values for those two bends. Everything worked fine on the first part but on the second part the fingers dropped about .300” and when lining the height up the value had to be changed causing me to reset the “R” values for both positions. I ran the second part no problems but when returning to the next part same problem again, realign the fingers and again change the “R” values. By this time I decided time wasted I could have had the parts done manually. I ended up running all my parts in the first position then deleted the first move and ran both positions. Any clues to where I may have missed something or if having two “R” values can’t happen?
Where were you changing the R values? Did you have two different bend programs with different R axis movement location? Or were you using one bend program and editing those R axis positions? Or were you only changing the R axis reference frame coordinates on the backgauge tab?
On the small chance this issue is due to mechanical binding, then the tuneup fixes on the backgauge troubleshooting guide should help.
Backgauge Troubleshooting.pdf (3.1 MB)
Hello Sam thanks for all your help, the card you sent last week fixed my problem and worked out well. Thanks for a quick response to my issue with the “R” value on the Back Gauge I am just wondering if I needed to specify a second Edge Stop for the Back Stop, when I was doing the program the drop-down had two lower finger and several user defined so I just used the same lower finger for all three positions.
I have a guide I made to use as a target to verify position and every time I home the Back Gauge my values repeat every time. Below are the “R” values I had to change for each part I was making yesterday as I ran the first bend only as well as the second and third bends together and each time the Back Gauge came right where it was supposed to.
I haven’t tried your recommendation from this morning yet only because of the Back Guage repeatability.
I think the next step is for me to change the Edge Stop and see if that takes care of the problem.
Thanks for all you do not only for your help on problems but also what you are doing for the Cottage Industry making competitive equipment for the entire population.
Step 1 - 135 degree bend “X” -14.300 each part “R” values 2.655, 2.775, 3.075 and 3.575
Step 2 - 90 degree bend “X” -6.300 each part “R” values 1.655, 2.300, 2.575 and 2.720
Step 3m- 90 degree bend “X” -14.050 each part “R” values 1.655, 2.300, 2.575 and 2.720
Interesting. You could just make this 16 different bends with those coordinates while using the same backgauge reference. Then have those in a single long RUN program. In theory that should work just fine.
I’m very glad you are getting good use out of this machine!