Machsupport Forum
G-Code, CAD, and CAM => LazyCam (Beta) => Topic started by: timbear3 on December 02, 2010, 03:14:23 PM
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I am exporting a DFX file from AutoCad14 as DXF 12 into LC taking a good care that the origin at AutoCad is where I wanted and at 0,0,0. I checked the "loading options" at LazyCam and check mark the As drawn box so the origin keeps in it's place. Doesn't happens, the origin at LC is at the corner of the drawing and if I relocate it were it should be there is no way that I can change it to 0,0. I have tried to change the MinX and MinY of that point and its impossible! There is something that I am overlooking or don't know how. I am sure that somebody had this problem before. Please give me a hand. Thanks
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Never had the problem you described. Please post your dxf file.
RICH
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Here it's the file.
Before I posted the problem I did some searching within LC postings and found a member that wanted to do the same as me, transfer the origin 0,0,0 to the center of his drawing and he could do it just by resetting the origin. When I do that the origin goes to the lower left corner with the minx, miny coordinates instead of asking for new coordinates. Also I have tried to right click on the origin but I got a complete different window that he got. I am using LC 3.00.2 and I have tried also ver. 2.02 and 3.00.1 with the same results. Without relocating the origin 0,0,0 to the center of the drawing I can’t continue the preparation of the cuts. Thank you in advance for your time and interest.
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have you tried left click hold down move with mouse for move of origin.
bill
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Yes I have. I can move the origin but it changes its coordinates to the new position where its placed. I need it to be 0,0,0 at the new position.
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Tim
maybe i do not exactly understand what you want to do.i downloaded your file and brought it into l-cam.origin is located bottom left.
moved the origin to center with mouse.checked the two chains and the x0 y0 is centered to the drawing.if you did the code from that point
it would machine the part based on setting the tool to the center of the stock.is that what you would like to do,set x0 y0 to center of stock?
bill
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Yes, I do. I probably do not explain my self well. That file was only an example of what I am trying to do. With AutoCad I generate a drawing with the origin at the center of the piece and exported it as a DXF 12 to LC. Assuming that LC will show the origin point at 0,0 as the original DXF drawing has it. Well no, LC shows the origin point (0,0) at the lower left corner. Then I moved it to the center where I want the origin point to be and it takes the coordinates of that center point (-2.295, -1.888). I need the center of the piece be origin 0,0. Thanks.
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Tim
really dont know what to tell you.when i do it i get x-1.7103 and x1.7104
try uninstall of L-cam do a reboot then reinstall.
bill
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Hi Tim,
When you move the origin to the center of the job in LC, the X and Y coordinates shown are for LC to know the displacement from the drawing to the NEW selected origin.
Just select the center as the new origin, then post to Mach, set your work/part coords to the center of the stock and you should be good to go.
Works this way here.
Russ
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Thank you docltf and overloaded. I’ll try that. The reason for having the center of the piece at o,o is because all the points around the center should be related to it. I will cut the piece in a rotary table using only A , X and the Z axes. So I most convert all the XY coordinates into polar coordinates. If I don’t have all the points relates to the center 0,0 then the polar points will be back and forward and that is a disaster on a rotary table cuts. When ever you jump from 30 deg to 29 deg the plate will turns 359 deg to get back to 29 deg. That’s happens every time the angles are not in an order sequence. I am using the rotary table because in that way I am expanding my machine cuts capability. My Y axis is only 5” and my X axis is 19”. So using this method I can cut in theory pieces of 38” diameter. The real limitation is the mill’s throat. Thanks.
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.....edit...
I meant to say "displacement from lower left extent of the drawn entities".
But ... you know what I meant, I'm sure.
Let us know how it works out for ya.
Regards,
Russ
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Try the attached dxf. I got rid of your redifined origin ( that dot you placed in the center) in CAD. That point becomes a reference center away from the CAD origin.
Then the profile was moved in CAD to 0,0,0.
As shown in the attached pic, CAD origin / LC origin ( when as drawn is checked ) and then the file as posted to Mach. All the origins are the same.
I used to do what you did to a new drafter to see if they could figure it out a long time ago as a joke. >:D Redefinng or having a temporary origin can be handy at times but don't screw around
when your cnc machining. Also do not put dots or extraneous points in a drawing as LC will import those points and think you want to machine them. Or put a point way outside in space on the drawing.
RICH
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Ok, I think I understood the concept. I am going to ignore my reasoning and stick to yours. Today I’ll start a test from the beginning and I’ll report the results shortly. Thanks to all of you.
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OK, I reloaded the DXF file on AutoCad and cleaned the drawing, sent it to LC and relocate the origin at the center and sent the .tap to TKcnc editor and converted the XY to polar coordinates The polar listing was not in order, so I when back to LC and relocated the origin to the beginning of the cuts instead and back to TK still no good. I am posting the two files so you can have an idea what’s happening. It’s imperative that the rotary table turns only in one direction always. If we can find a solution to this method a script could be writing later on to do this process automatically or at least more practical.
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I really don't know what you are trying to do.
I am going to ignore my reasoning and stick to yours
No need to if all works for you..... What is your reasoning?
Mine only has to do with providing an acceptable dxf import into LC such that the origin (my desired location that i will use to set up the machining operation ) is where i want it.
RICH
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Mr. Rich, my apologies if I express wrong. I am very grateful to you and the rest of you who has tried to help me. Please understand this is not my native language and I am making an effort to convey to all of you what I wanted to do in my best way. I am sorry.
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I found the posting that I was referred in my first post. http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,13262.0.html This member had the same problem I am facing now and he found a solution. I have try to duplicate his approach and couldn’t. It could be that he uses a different version of LC than the one I am using. Thanks.
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No apologies required my friend.
Seems your trying to use the code from LC and then convert the gcode to use the rotary table.
Sorry,try again, I honestly do not understand what your trying to do.....
RICH
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Tim
that post that you reference to where that person had the same problem as yours was to be done on the mill table.you want to do your part on a rotary table.two completely different things.L-cam does not do code for rotary axis .L-cam does 2d flat stuff not 3d.why do you want to cut that part on the rotary table.
bill
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Yeah, you are right, but if I could do what he did I’ll manage to do what I wanted do. All what I wanted to do is to call the piece’s center point 0,0 That’s all. I am probably asking too much but that's the way the west was made.
Tim
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All what I wanted to do is to call the piece’s center point 0,0 That’s all
Then either do it in CAD as i have already shown or per the instructions in that post or if you want you can move the rapid start point as shown in
attached pic. You right LEFT mouse click on the target and then drag it to the center ( the pieces center point will highlight). ;)
RICH
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I tried that and when I right click the origin it doesn’t move. If I click on it (left click) then I can relocated it to a new place but as I said before it takes the new position coordinates. When I right click on it an option window is shown: “Delete Selected Items”, “Join two selected Primitives”, ”Load shape file to screen”, “Save chain as Shapefile” and “Remove shapes”. Thanks.
Tim
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Tim,
My bad....i meant to say left mouse button and updated reply #20.
RICH
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If I click on it (left click) then I can relocated it to a new place but as I said before it takes the new position coordinates
The attached shows the relocated origin based on the gcode in Mach. It is in the center of the piece and at 0,0 just like you wanted. ???
RICH