Machsupport Forum
G-Code, CAD, and CAM => LazyCam (Beta) => Topic started by: Brian Barker on November 14, 2006, 07:35:36 PM
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So LCam is on the chopping block :) It is getting taken down and redone to simplify the code in it.. We are in hopes that this will make for a better base code that we can build on.
SO please post any bugs that you like but know that changes they are a coming 8)
Thanks
Brian
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In the past I've asked that conversion from machined hole to drill be put on a separate layer.
I see that everyone wants the cut reorder
How about adding offset start by a specific amount not usign the mouse. Moving with a mouse is not as accurate. Example. Move to Min xy materail ( working now) then add button to apply a specific numeric offset to position file point for a fixture. I prefer offest in LC as to MACH3 (maybe just me)
Thanks for all your hard work
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How about LATHE.
Graham.
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Brian;
Please don't dismantle LCAM before you change the code. Yes, I have had some problems with it (my fault sometimes), but in its defense, I have been able to work through and design one-off parts I am making. As bad as some people seem to think it is, I have benefited greatly from its convenience.
Bob @ BobsShop - cussing and cutting
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It is just about rebuilt :) Art cut a part for a motor mount and used it to drill holes too :) Comp was fixed (again)...
There are many things that were done to make the program more stable and I hope it works better for all.
Lathe on the other hand is not as simple as it sounds :( I need to write a bit of code to get that all working... Art and I talked and it looks like after Lcam is done and working we are going to move on to hardware plugins and some way to run a toolchanger that will make it so you don't need to know VB or C++ :o
There is one other project after that as well but that one is "skunk works" stuff ;)
Brian
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Brian, just downloaded the newest version of Mach 3 (2.0.010) and LCAM 2.66 - When using the previous version of LCAm (it also carried the 2.66 designation, but there are changes in this version). Noted some differences - I like being able to add layer numbers - nice feature.
But, two nits - No matter how I configure LCAM - it will not automatically call for two layers on its own. It is only calling for one layer - I have to manually designate the outside layer as number two - As I said the ability to do this manually is a good addition.
Second, When I post the G-Code, either LCAm or Mach3 is not recognizing tool changes. The previous version would enable me to change tool numbers that would be carried over into the G-Code. I hope this is something you can put back in.
Thanks for all your past efforts. All of you working on this software have made my cnc experience a real learning experience and a delightful (most of the time) journey.
Bob @ BobsShop -
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You can set how that layers are made by changing the optimize settings. after you load the file press the optimize button and you should be good to go:)
The tool change has been fixed along with the Drilling :)
thanks
Brian
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Hi, BobsShop
Your second Question , It's there look at the bottom of Layer/Object Properties, move that window up or scroll down to Tool Number,
Click on it, set it, don't forget to hit the Enter Key.
Don't forget to check each layer at top and re verify the tool number for each layer before Post.
Hope this Helps, Chip
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Chip,
Thanks for the response. Although I was pretty sure I was doing what you suggested, I started from scratch. Reloaded Mach3, shut down the computer and re-booted, and reinstalled. Made sure my Tool file was in the Mach3 folder, and ran Mach3 and LCAM fresh.
Same problem (I made sure I had used the "Enter," key to lock in tool changes and that the layers in LCAM reflected the tools I had selected), regenerated the G-code with the same results. No tool data was included with the new code. Frustrating.
Any additional insights will be appreciated. Thanks again
Bob @ BobsShop - reverting to previous versions for the present.
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I will up the Rev number on the next revision and we will know that it is updated :)
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Followup to my post regarding - No Tool Data. Just down loaded and installed the latest and greatest version Mach3 which included LCAM release 3.0. Tool data now flows into the G-code as it did previously.
Although I am sure I will have questions and concerns in the future, I want to say that Mach3, the new LCAM, and the support you provide is over the top. I don't know when you guys sleep!
Well, as you can tell from the time stamp on this post, I tend to stay on here too much. But, I really enjoy working with this software and what it has enabled me to accomplish
Thanks again
Bob @ BobsShop signing off for a while.
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Brian,
You are probably getting tired of my posts and nits, but I encountered something in LCAM version 3 that needs your attention (if you haven't already noticed it). It appears that inputing any value into "Cut Depth," before inputing values into the other blocks will result in LCAM locking up. The only way I could find to get out of it was to close down LCAM. Since "Cut Depth," is the first line item, this will probably cause problems for others.
Although I had been successful in developing parts with the previous versions of LCAM, I feel with version 3 the software has evolved and reached its true potential.
Thanks again for your efforts.
Bob @ BobsShop. Only cutting between now and Thanksgiving will be to the turkey!
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I will test it and see what I can find :)
Why Sleep there is work that needs to be done :o
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Have been playing with Mach3 for a few days in an attempt to find controller for Plasma machine I'm building. Downloaded latest releases of Mach3 (R2.0.012) and LCam (Rls3.00 1.0.0.1) and have noticed some discrepancies. With all your "free time" I know you probably need something to do. These issues are pertaining to LCam.
When Autocleaning dxf with inside an outside objects, the cut direction for inside should be CCW (G3) to take advantage of the "straight" side of the kerf, and CW (G2) for outside cuts. This seems to be reversed.
Lead-ins and outs...When using a THC and making inside cuts, as the center fall out the torch will dive, possibly causing the tip to hit workpiece and move it. The lead-out needs to be a selectable item for plasma.
Appears that the Pierce Height and Initial Height in Plasma Options are reversed.
When closing a dxf and importing another, it appears that all of the properties for the old one are not all cleared, causing the new one to be named incorrectly when G-Code is generated and posted to Mach3.
With all the "reversals" noted above, I tested my computer for dyslexia and results were negative. Am planning to purchase license shortly if I can get system "settled down" a bit.
Thank you for the team's time and efforts with this whole project. Seems you have a winner on your hands....Herb Edmonds
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Brian,
You are probably getting tired of my posts and nits, but I encountered something in LCAM version 3 that needs your attention (if you haven't already noticed it). It appears that inputing any value into "Cut Depth," before inputing values into the other blocks will result in LCAM locking up. The only way I could find to get out of it was to close down LCAM. Since "Cut Depth," is the first line item, this will probably cause problems for others.
Although I had been successful in developing parts with the previous versions of LCAM, I feel with version 3 the software has evolved and reached its true potential.
Thanks again for your efforts.
Bob @ BobsShop. Only cutting between now and Thanksgiving will be to the turkey!
Fixed in the new rev and should be one the web :)
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Have been playing with Mach3 for a few days in an attempt to find controller for Plasma machine I'm building. Downloaded latest releases of Mach3 (R2.0.012) and LCam (Rls3.00 1.0.0.1) and have noticed some discrepancies. With all your "free time" I know you probably need something to do. These issues are pertaining to LCam.
When Autocleaning dxf with inside an outside objects, the cut direction for inside should be CCW (G3) to take advantage of the "straight" side of the kerf, and CW (G2) for outside cuts. This seems to be reversed.
Lead-ins and outs...When using a THC and making inside cuts, as the center fall out the torch will dive, possibly causing the tip to hit workpiece and move it. The lead-out needs to be a selectable item for plasma.
Appears that the Pierce Height and Initial Height in Plasma Options are reversed.
When closing a dxf and importing another, it appears that all of the properties for the old one are not all cleared, causing the new one to be named incorrectly when G-Code is generated and posted to Mach3.
With all the "reversals" noted above, I tested my computer for dyslexia and results were negative. Am planning to purchase license shortly if I can get system "settled down" a bit.
Thank you for the team's time and efforts with this whole project. Seems you have a winner on your hands....Herb Edmonds
Herb,
First I will start with what is fixed...
The file name thing is all good now :)
Now for the stuff that is not fixed:
1. Direction of the chain on load... hmmm I think that can be added but it is going to be Climb or Conv.
2. Pierce Height and Initial Height in Plasma Options should be changed onthe next rev
Thank you fot he help and hope to have you part of the team 8)
Brian
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The latest ver I have run is 3.12. Thanks for adding the ability to show/hide properties dialogs and adding the ability to make a layer(s) disabled. However, it's not really clear what is disabled and what is enabled. IMHO when a layer is disabled it should NOT be visible, otherwise it is just confusing. Also in the old style .dxf conversion included with the good ol 1.84 ver layer colors created by the .dxf program (in my case ACAD 2002) were preserved so it was easy to associate your layers with your CAD file layers. It would be nice to see that in LCAM also. Perhaps this isn't possible because LCAM should arcs and lines as diff colors and this would probably conflict with layer colors but what do I know? Just my $.02 Thanks for all the great improvements!
Sid
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It was very hard to come up with a way to have the layers simple to use by most all users.. the old way was not working for most of the users and that is why the change... You can still have the the layers the same way you had them from your cad system if you like... We just wanted to make it a more graphical experience :) If you have a chain that needs to have different cutting parameters you can just put it on a new layer.. as for hiding a layer... I think that the best we can do is to show the layer as a ghost chain at this time.
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Hey Brian,
Not really sure why the old layer system wasn't working for most users. Did ppl complain about it? I can't imagine why, it was VERY similar to the layer control system used in AUTOCAD. I liked the old system and had no problem at all with it.
Unfortuneately, for me this new layer system is a big step backwards for my purposes and creates some new challenges for me to think about. Here's what I'm experiencing...
I am making signs using a company name, a logo and a person's name. On each sign I have to change the name of the individual but the Company Name and Logo stay the same. Essentially we are talking about 3 layers...
1. Company Name- Tool, Cut, Depth, Etc #1
2. Company Logo- Tool, Cut, Depth, Etc #2
3. Person's Name- Tool, Cut, Depth, Etc #3
Layer 1 & 2 stay the same for every sign, yet layer 3 changes. I create a new layer in Autocad with the new person's name and use that new name/ layer in place of the old.
After a while I have a LOT of layers (names) cluttering up that area of the file and the only way to make sense of things is to hide what is not being cut. Ghost images just won't do it.
As always there are workarounds. I could create a gazillion Autocad files each with a different persons name (Although HD space is cheap these days, I find this method kind of ineffecient). Or Delete Chains as they are brought into LCAM and Save my Code files independentally. This is different then the way I use to do it and I suppose I just need to adapt. It was easy before to just have 1 .dxf file with everything in it and I could manipulate in LCAM to get the cut I wanted. Now, it looks like I have to take extra steps and I was hoping that the new release would make my life easier, not more complicated.
Thanks again for all of your efforts.
Regards,
Sid
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I'm with Graham, I'm sure there are a lot of lathe machinists out there using Mach and would like the benfit of Lcam.
I still code all by hand and use of the lathe wizards is very helpful but I still find that the finished billet never looks as it should in the tool path window even though the code is correct which makes it difficult to make small changes to the code and see it visually before committing to a test cut.
One thing could make a big difference, being able to fix the billet diameter for the display.
Here's hoping that Lcam for the lathe will eventually become a reality. ;D
Regards to all.
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Downloaded 2.17 update today and although the version of LCAM still says 3.12 I can see that it has been updated as well. THANK YOU VERY VERY VERY VERY much for the change on the viewing (or lack thereof) on disabled layers. Can I consider it an early X-mas present? You guys are the best!
Regards,
Sid
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Sid that is all I am getting you this year ;D
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Hi Brian,
Noticed a couple of things...
With a simple part having four layers: four hole drill pattern, single hole drill, inside pocket and outside contour. The second layer drill hole behaves as though it is still tied to layer one when selected in the part view. When selected in the LayerTree Properties, it is not selected in the part view.
Also, when entering values in Layer/Object Properties, such as 5/16" (0.3125), it will only accept three place decimal values (0.312 with keystroke beep when trying to key the 5) even though it shows four place decimal values.
And for Benny... just found out the Attach function does not allow the new file type "*.LCam".
Paul, Central OR
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The decimal point code is fixed and we are looking into the drill point problem.
thanks
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Hi, Brian
Any idea when new LC ver. will be out fixing the AutoClean and Optimise features with multi layer DXF ?
Have you had time to look at my DXF file below, post it and see the errors that I was talking about ?
Thanks, Chip
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Hi Brian,
Thanks for the continuing work...
Art mentioned a Shft-Ctrl left click for us two button mouse people for part rotation. I don't have it with LC in ver .017. Is it slated for the next greatest release?
Thanks again, Paul, Central OR
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Hi, Brian
Just an up-date, New LC 2.00.0.20, Didn't fix any of the issues I sent you, o-well.
Thanks, Chip
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Hi Brian,
I just tried the .020 ver and the drill point/layer thing works for me now.
I still can't enter "-0.3125"... key beep on fourth decimal place.
Also, still no way to rotate part (3D view) with two button mouse?
And, I apparently lost the control for showing chain direction arrows (triangles).
Paul, Central OR