Write Wizard

[RandomCheese]

Hello all.  I am brand new to CNC and Mach3 is the first software I've used.  I purchased a small CNC mill table to make engraved plastic tags for the company where I work.  I successfully engraved several tests and made a tool fixture to hold a standard tag at a standard table location.  

Unfortunately, the Write Wizard will no longer "write" g-code.  The first few times that I used the wizard, and for all of the tests, when I pushed "write" it would send me back to the "Program Run" screen with a page full of g-code. And, as long as I had entered the starting coordinates correctly, made some very nice signs.  Now, after filling in all the parameters in the upper portion of the write wizard page (including selecting the direction.)  The "Write" button has no affect.

Any suggestions that you have would be welcome.

Thanks,
Dan

[Overloaded]

Make sure that you have selected a FONT or it will not post code.
This could be your problem.
Russ

[RandomCheese]

That was it!  Thank you very much!

[RandomCheese]

Is there a setting in the "Write Wizard" that sets the end of the G-code to return to zero?  Currently, I'm adding a couple of lines of code to the g-code to stop the spindle and return the tool to 0 on all axis but it would be nice if there was a setting somewhere that I'm overlooking that does it automatically.

In that same line of inquiry, the Write Wizard stores the end location of which ever axis I use as a direction of writing.  (I.e. if the text is written along the X axis in the positive direction, the next time I open the write wizard it has stored the end of that operation as the "Xo" start point for my next batch of text while the "Yo" remains as I programmed it.  If the text is written along the positive "Y" axis the "Xo" does not change but the "Yo" does.  It really seems like there is or should be a simple toggle or setting that would solve this, but I have not been able to find it.

Thanks,
Dan

[widpyro]

Is there freeware that writes G-code for engraving purposes?

[Tweakie.CNC]

Widpyro,

There are quite a few but "Stick Font" came to mind. http://www.ncplot.com/freetools.htm

Tweakie.

[BR549]

deskengrave is free and works very well

(;-) TP