Help please. Dip switches and mach 3 settings

[Radu_Andrei]

I.ve started learning about this g-code, and did some basic cuts. Today I.ve uploaded a greyscale image in artcam and set a 3d relief toolpath with 2 cutters for the job, and generated some code for carving a 10 by 10 cm horse. It has 816 lines of code, but the program always stops at line 500. I assume I should change the tool at this point. It just stops and refuses to continue, no matter what I do.
Reading about this, most sugestions are about editing a file called m6start.m1s. I.ve done this with all the scripts I could find and still could not make it work.
A link with details about this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26_N4uwRWmQ

I.m hoping to make the cnc stop, come to a defined position to let me change the tool, rezero the z, and continue from where it left.
So, how do I do this?

[cropwell]

I.ve started learning about this g-code, and did some basic cuts. Today I.ve uploaded a greyscale image in artcam and set a 3d relief toolpath with 2 cutters for the job, and generated some code for carving a 10 by 10 cm horse. It has 816 lines of code, but the program always stops at line 500.

Coincidentally, the unlicensed version of Mach3 will sun 500 lines of code.

[Radu_Andrei]

Ops. My mistake. I forgot to copy the licence file into mach3 folder when I changed computers. This is solved now and it finished all 800+ lines of code, but did not finish the job as it turned out to be only the roughing toolpath.

So I.m still interested in this: How do you approach this tool changing thing?
- One long g code which the cam software exported with the toolchange commands included?
- Or separate files for each toolpath? (like you manualy move the cnc, chnage the bit, rezero z axix, and click GOtoZ button on mach 3 which takes x and y to the start position of gcode)
- Or is there other way?

[Radu_Andrei]

To be more specific, I try to figure out this post processors in ArtCam, as the one I use now GCode (mm)*tap does not support toolchange, and does not let me save multiple toolpaths in one file.
There are many post processors availabe but I have no clue which one to use and why. For example I can save the file using Andersen Multi Tool (*ncc) post processor, and I am already simulating in mach 3 the job.

Oh boy. This hobby is not as easy as I assumed it would be. I am either dumb or the learning curve is quite steep.

[Radu_Andrei]

Hi Rob.
I do not have a tool changer either. I intend to do it manually. It seems EstlCam is capable of generating a multitool gcode.
I have a auto tool zero macro which seems to work fine, and came with a audio file as well with a lady that says 2.0 complete. Quite creepy. I feel like in the movie Alien.

ˇˇI do not have a tool changer, and the code Estlcam generates is M05 (stop spindle) M00 (stop machine) and then M03 (start spindle).ˇˇ - do you use any macro for this m5, m6 in mach3?

[Radu_Andrei]

And what is most confussing is that I have so many options for saving a file:
Machine output file is formatted for: and here there are many many names and file types like in this image:
Some accept tool change, some not.

[Radu_Andrei]

I.m not fixated on a specific software. it just that ArtCam seems very easy. Take a greyscale relief and make it in g code in a few minutes.
I also had a look at Inventor HSM, but there is quite a bit to learn, and I will, when I.ll need it for something specific. Oh, and it I.ll have to sell one of my kidneys to buy that.
The main projects to be done with the cnc are: stencil cuts, relief carving and gears or other mechanical hardwood parts. Except carving, most jobs are a one tool job, I think.

Any other suggestion about an opensource or cheap software, which is easy to use, is welcomed.