Machsupport Forum
G-Code, CAD, and CAM => LazyCam (Beta) => Topic started by: holmes_ca on May 18, 2009, 04:27:37 PM
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I have Autocad 2000, Lazycam ver 2.61, Mach3 ver R2.63, my problem is I cant seem to load a DXF into Lcam,
I do a drawing in cad 2000 and polyline, I then save it as a DXF in 14, open Mach3, open Lazycam, click on new, click on open DXF, click the DXF in autocad, click mill in import session and nothing appears on the turquoise screen, I have a licence for Mach3, and I think I have one for Lazycam, is there a way I can confirm it?,
This is my first post here, I hope I've done it right
...........Edmund...........
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Hi, Edmund
Post the DXF file, Use the REPLY button to attach it.
Have you tried acad 12 output.
Chip
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Hello Chip, thanks for the prompt reply, I hope the attachment arrives, I have tried 2000, 14, 12 dxf, I also downloaded a attachment from a member of this forum, its in the shape of a sprocket,
...........Edmund.......
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Hi, Edmund
Your using a fairly old ver of LazyCam, Download the latest ver. 3.00.2 above under DownLoads and give it a try, You can install it in it's own folder to test.
Hears what I'm getting with your files.
Chip
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Hello Chip, cant explain what I did but I am now able to get the drawing complete into the turquoise screen, how I get it is:- I openMach3, click on file lazycam, click on new,click on OK (new blank project),get border on screen,then click open dxf, then click on the dxf dwg, click on import session type, and the drawing appears with the black border surrounding the shape, the left screen shows I have zero to 5 entities,
Now my problem is the next move I click Mach3 load and the entities disappear along with the dwg, and the bottom window indicates a process of information which seems to indicate that all has been sent to Mach3, when I minimize lazycam there is no gcode or display in Mach3, so I click on load gcode in mach3 and click on the dxf dwg, and get words like section, header,extmax, and bad character on line zero, also no display just cross hairs,
.......Edmund.........
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Hi, Edmund
The Mach3 Load is to retrieve a file from Mach3, You need to use the "Post Code" button to create a G Code file.
Chip
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Hi Edmund,
You may want to take a look at Appendix B & C in the link below. Although written for LazyTurn, which is for a lathe, a lot of the drafting points made is applicable.
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,10091.msg62111.html#msg62111
You'll need a license to post code out of LazyCam.
As far as trying it out and program specifics, your in good hands with Chip.
RICH
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Hello Chip,
Yes I finally got it, one of the problems I had was that I couldn't see the post code button on the right side of screen, it was partially hidden, any idea how I can bring it into view?,
Can you advise me how to include a step down in depth say .050 increments until it reaches a depth of .625, how is it entered into the existing code?,
Hope I'm not asking too much of you,
........Edmund.........
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Hi, Edmund
Pic 1 shows the settings you need to put in Layers Tab, Then click the Tool button and create the tool as in the picture.
Now go back to Layers Tab and click Set Layer & Set All Layers and Send to all Layers buttons.
Put the mouse in the view, Hold down Mouse Center Wheel and move the Mouse will rotate the Pic 2.
Pic 3 shows the view in Mach3, and a G code file to look at, If you not licensed in LazyCam your G code May be cut off short as Rich stated.
Chip
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Hi, Edmund
You also need to use Clean & Optomize, If you haven't offset for Tool Dia. in your Cad, Then you need to do that in LazyCam also.
Chip
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Hello Chip,
I did a off set around the drawn part in cad, I have4 been doing dummy runs on my home computer, and with some tweaking have managed to get a reasonable program, I'm now in the shop fiddling with my cnc computer, I will keep you posted,
.........Edmund...........
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Hi, Edmund
Sound's like your getting it sorted out.
Chip
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Hello Chip,
Can I ask you a question about another problem, it relates in a round about way, I wanted to download onto a CD the gcode I had developed and run in Mach3 on the home computer but it seems I am unable too, so I printed it off and typed it onto notepad on the shop cnc computer exactly and loaded it into Mach3 but it did not appear correctly, I have checked mach3 on the home computer and the working code against the print out and that is OK, yet the shop Mach screen is wrong,
Ant ideas?,
.................Edmund..........Alberta
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Hi, Edmund
It needs to be saved as a ANSI format file, Sent you a PM message, Top of this screen your messages.
Chip
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heres vthe dxf