Machsupport Forum
G-Code, CAD, and CAM => LazyCam (Beta) => Topic started by: ChandlerW on January 30, 2010, 01:44:52 PM
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Everything looks fine in lazycam but when I hit post code and then load the file in Mach3 I only get three circles.
Its for a plasma table.
(http://i724.photobucket.com/albums/ww241/chander_wellington/Mach3/LazyCamScreenshot.jpg)
(http://i724.photobucket.com/albums/ww241/chander_wellington/Mach3/machexporterror.jpg)
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Hey Chandler,
That does look a bit strange. Suspicions are that there is something amiss with your DXF, or possibly LCam settings.
If you post it, someone may be able to find a problem with it.
I have no experience with plasma but would take a look at it for ya.
Russ
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Thanks for the help.
Someone else made the dxf file. I don't know the version of software they used or what they saved it as.
I have autocad 2000 and I'm able to open it and save it as different version. Nothing has worked for me so far though.
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Took you DWG file and saved it as R12 DXF...attached below, and it seems to post out of LCam OK.
Are you running a licensed version of Mach ?
Russ
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No my copy of Mach3 is a Demo. I'm working with someone who has a modified copy called EZ Router. I'm using the demo version at my house.
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Well, with license or without, it works fine here as it's only about 190 lines of code.
I'm using Version R3.042.036 and the latest LCam Licensed ver. 3.00 and it loads fine every time.
Let us know how you get along.
Russ
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Hey Chandler,
Just for kicks, I removed my LCam license and get similar to what you are getting so I guess a LCam license is required to make this work for you.
I wasn't aware of this limitation with plasma mode.
Russ
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Chandler,
Don't cover Plasma in the manual. In the manual i state that there is a 50 line limit if not licensed.
Frankly, it may be more or less as i have seen different numbers posted over time, but, it is still restricted if a Demo.
Russ,
The latest version of LC is 3.00.2, i haven't updated tp Mach ver 036 yet, but i thought that a new install of Mach would install ver 3.00.2 of LazyCam. ???
Till i update Mach,
RICH
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I'm working with someone who has a modified copy called EZ Router
Know nothing about EZ Router software.
Do you mean EZ Router is a modified version of LazyCam?
RICH
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EzRouter uses a hacked together version of Mach3. There is other software available on their website.
I'm working with a guy in his 70's. He bought this plasma cutting package from EzRouter and at first observation its total garbage.
The Mach3 that is modified is weird. The wizards are for milling. No wizards for plasma. If I was modifying the software I would have taken out the milling stuff and made it look like a plasma cutter.
The hardware that interfaces between the plasma cutter and the computer looks like a project box bought at Altex.
Their tech support is nonexistent. I get routed to voice mail and they don't return my calls.
EzRouter charged the guy $1000 to make an on site visit and provide tech support.
The owner of the machine doesn't know how to get the .dxf file into Mach3. He has BobCad/Cam and I think that is what he is supposed to be using. He also has SheetCam.
I'm just trying to help the guy out and I thought the easiest way to interface with Mach3 would be LazyCam. I guess I have to learn BobCad-Cam.
http://ez-router.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=109
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ChandlerW,
Do either of those software packages provide for generation of gcode for Mach?
I don't use them. If so there would be no need for a DXf inport
I am wondering just how old of a Mach version the EZrouter uses.
Not sure, but real early versions of mach provided for import of DXF's ....before my time...
so don't qoute me on this.
There are folks in here that use SheetCam maybe they can chime in. It may be quicker to learn than BobCAD...am only quessing!
Sorry I can't help you out. Appreciate you trying to help the guy and i hate to see money go down the drain. I can't say what the limitations / bugs or whatever there are in LazyCam since i have no experience in the specifics of Plasma.
You may want to do a search "plasma" as i know there are postings in here ( never paid much attention to them).
Anybody out there using a plasma machine?.....please chime in with your expertise.
RICH
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I've had a little success with the project. I loaded a .dxf file in LazyCam on the guys computer. I cleaned, optimized and wrote a tap file. I was able to load the tap file in Mach3 and cut some stuff. Success is still a ways off but at least were cutting parts out.
Thanks for the help.