Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: mikemill on December 19, 2008, 04:57:49 AM
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Need help with Lazycam Turn, having spent hours trying to create code from a dxf file, a simple shaft dia reduction as in the wizards and looked through lots of posts it seems Turn does not work!! Art was working on a new version, is it finished and working? or has anyone got Turn to work?
The Mill version is very good, easy to use and relyable.
Thanks
Mike
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mikemill,
Post your dxf file and i will have a look at it.
LazyCam Turn works but can be a challenge. Have you taken a look at the info on Lazycam Turn that is in the members docs section of the forum? LazyCam Turn will be replaced by Lazyturn in the future.
RICH
MODIFIED: HERE IS THE LINK FOR THE LAZCAM TURN MANUAL
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,8426.msg53573.html#msg53573
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Hi, Mike
LazyCam Turn is a Bata version as is LazyTurn at this time.
LazyTurn is being worked on and at this time will do Rough Passes very well at this point.
LazyCam Turn will for the most part generate a finish pass, If you just load your dxf and use the Optomize function and Post the Gcode file,
Then you can Paste the 2 files together and cut your Part.
We are all hopping that in the near future that both versions will merge together and graduate past the Bata versions Status.
To use LazyTurn, Download and install LazyCam 3.00.2 Update
In Downloads near to bottom of page, http://www.machsupport.com/downloads.php
Then install latest http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,5767.500.html
Posted on Page 50, Posts: 513 File * LazyTurnDec17.zip ", Copy the File to your C:\Mach3 Folder.
Post your dxf on the LazyTurn Thread and will look at it.
Hope this Helps, Chip
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Rich
My reasoning to learn how to operate LC Turn, was to emulate code produced by the wizards as we know they work. I had downloaded your LC Turn manual, which is helpfull and although you mention the addition of a line to represent start point and material diameter, I failed to realize it is fundamental to the operation of the program. However if the vertical line is connected to the 'toolpath line' I get some very strange code, but if it is not connected Turn seems to work. So I have made some progress, but several issues remain. If my dxf is a 1" bar to be turned down to 0.5" dia an 1" long, wizard code shows the Z lines as a minus value, but code generated by LC Turn shows plus value, however it still works!! there is no feedrate box, so rate generated is F 60.00 and has to be corrected via 'Edit Code'
I then tried a more complex shape and again very strange code was produced. so still confused
Chip
Would you recommend to forget about LC Turn, and start again with LazyTurn, and is there any info on how to use new version?
Thanks for your help
Mike
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Mike,
There is no info on Lazyturn other than the postings, but, it is easier then Lazycam Turn and intuitive.
So it won't take you long to be able to get roughing results out of it, even for complex profiles.
LazyTurn, as of this time, will not give you profile cuts where Lazycam Turn will. So in the interim, if you want finish
profile gcode you are going to need something else to provide them. The wizards can be used for a complex profile
but you need to piece meal it together.
Learnings / familarization from Lazycam Turn will help you, to some degree, with the Mill side in Lazycam.
Code out of LC Turn does produce some unwanted code, and as lightly noted in the manuals, you need to pay attention.
Please post your DXF's. I makes helping you easier on my side.
As far as placing lines on the profile in Lazycam Turn:
I suggest you create a dxf representing only the part of the profile you want, generate the code, and cut/paste/edit.
You can play around with addional lines on the profile but i can't give you any guidelines on what to expect.
You can manipulate the profile in the PROJECT down at the chain level, but,.....just how much fun do you want to have ?.
RICH
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Hi, Mike
I'm using both, LazyTurn for the Rough and LazyCam Turn for the Finish profile, When finish profiles are implemented in LazyTurn there wont be a need to use both.
As I stated earlier: " LazyCam Turn will for the most part generate a finish pass, If you just load your dxf and use the Optomize function and Post the Gcode file, Then you can Paste the 2 files together and cut your Part".
We are all hopping that in the near future that both versions will merge together and graduate past the Bata versions Status.
Chip
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Hi Rich & Chip
Have downloaded LazyTurn,it seems a lot simpler than its predecessor, have loaded dfx, and selected tool, pushed rough, but LazyTurn seems to ignore drawing shape, can't find optimize do you mean options? Here is DXF and Gcode, where am I going wrong?
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mikemill
Repost your dxf it has "0" for size.
Also in the tap file, which will run after if you editing it to add a ")" after the year.
Coments in gcode require (******************xx).
RICH
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MIKE,
I'll post a little tutorial for you and also a dxf file for turning a 1" diameter down to 1/2" dia for length of 1" .
Need my coffee first!
RICH
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Rich
We are now dealing with LazyTurn so current tap different to earlier post, here is dfx file again, I understand comment line but that's what LazyTurn generated.
Mike
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ok Mike i will take a look, but here is a very rough tutorial i created
RICH
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Mike,
Please bear with me.
How are you generating your dxf file?
What version of dxf are you saving it as?
What program is generating the dxf file?
see my comment
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MIKE,
Here is another little tutorial for you for getting the profile out of LazyCam Turn.
Now make note of the code lazyCam Turn generates on the profile.
My code changes in the txt or tap file are in ( ) but dry run the code and see if you pick
up on the quirky thing out of the profile generated code.
RICH
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Rich
Thanks for your help and tutorials, much appreciated. I am using TurboCad V14.1 bought about a year ago and have used it successfully with LazyCam Mill, not sure were to find what version of DXF it generates!!
Dealing with the dfx I sent to you, and reading your guide lines I removed the vertical line to the left and opened file in LazyTurn and all I got was a Z axis 0.0368 long, I toggled between radius an dia mode with no difference. I then drew a dfx, a shaft with radius end, ( no vertical lines) LazyTurn generated straight cut lines, but didn't follow profile. Regarding finishing cuts in LazyTurn could you reduce the last cut X value to say 0.010 via edit code? What does the Optimize function do to the file in LazyCam Turn? By the way I can't seem to print the PDF tutorials!!
Thanks again
Mike
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I don't use turbocad so can't comment it other than all dxf's are not created equaly out of different cad
programs. I have seen this for years and continues even today and just don't even deal with it anymore.
Professioinaly, if the vendor provided dxf is not 100% importable, equivalent money is withheld to redraw the drawing
until submitted version works, that's in my specifications and must be met. Some just don't work.
LazyTurn will not gnerate profile / finishing cuts yet. It only generates rough cuts and they are basicaly
numereous horizontal paths. The paths do follow the profile within the clearance you select and dependant
on tool definition You can't expect a 1/32 radius tool to go into a < 1/64" radiused corner. You will
get a different following of the rough cuts to the profile dependiing on how the tool is defined.
You can edit out any gcode you wish from the text / tap file with a word processor such as notepad.
Optimnize is defined or commented on in the video tutorials down loadable or viewable from this site.
It basicaly cleans up the file and optimizes the order for use by Lazycam.
Sorry, I protected the PDF's, but will repost them so they print later today.
Suggest you follow postings in the LazyTurn thread for first hand info about it.
RICH
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Hi Rich
Will play with tool settings as you suggest, I am sure you are a busy man, but could you draw a simple profile similar to mine and load it in LazyTurn, enter tool settings that will follow profile and then post, as that could give me a clue as what to expect.
Thanks in anticipation
Mike
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Attached file is a combination of the tutorials posted in #10 & #12 which alllow printing.
RICH
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Mike,
Attachment showing effect of tool settings and passes.
RICH
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Rich
Eureka it works, the problem is to the uninitiated, is that the values entered in the various fields don't relate to anything I know i.e. 'inscribed circle' in the tool menu what does that relate to? but I am sure I will get there!!
I think Chip and the ArtSoft team should buy Rich a large Christmas present, as looking through the posts the amount of effort Rich is spending towards explaining how LazyTurn works to us dummies is considerable, let alone my recent plea for help.
I will try some cuts over the holiday and let you know how I get on.
Rich have a happy Christmas, and thank you once more for your help to understand LazyTurn
Best Wishes
Mike
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:)
Good for you Mike and have a Merry Christmas.
Now you need to go to and follow the thread on Lazyturn since Art is constantly
modifiying LazyTurn. That's where you will fiind info on use as it develops. ;)
RICH