Machsupport Forum
G-Code, CAD, and CAM => G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions => Topic started by: mikeyz3385 on September 16, 2010, 05:14:43 PM
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I own a small 7x14 metal lathe. A couple years ago i converted it to cnc and purchased Mach 3. ( very happy) Since then I've made some interesting parts. Recently a buddy of mine asked me to make him some hand grips for his motorcycle. He sent me a picture and i began to do some research. Since Mach 3 does have some wizards on metal removal, i tried to produce a program that can cut out the large radius in the center of the handgrip.( check out picture). Sad;y i couldn't get it to work. I reviewed some topics on this for and stumbled across the Lazy Turn Software. I did some reading about it and it says i need to start off with a .dxf file from a cad drawing. That is where i hit the brick wall. I know nothing about Cad or how to use it. I am very eager to learn and am determined to make these hand grips. My question to everyone is what kind of software can i download/buy/trial or even get for free that will make me sleep a little easier at night. It needs to be easy to use as I am a beginner. Any other suggestions with also be greatly appreciated.
Thanks all,
Mike
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Have a look at the links page and follow the cad/cam links, there are many free programs that will produce DXF files.
Graham
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thank you, i will have a look now.
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Mike,
To use the lathe module in LazyCam you will need a pro license and that would give you Gcode for the finished profile.
Lazy Turn, in current state, will not do a finish pass yet. You can however get the code for a rough / finish pass, and with some hand work have a smooth surface.
Can you provide a dimensioned sketch of the handle and post it?
Then maybe someone wil quickly draw it in CAD and generate the Gcode for you.
Just a heads up on the LT and LC software.
I know folks in here are using free / shareware CAD programs, I don't use them, so surely you will get a recomendation.
Have fun during the learning curve,
RICH
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BTW Mike,
Suggest you have somebody pre drill / bore / ream the handle before doing the outside contour.
RICH
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mike,
Just a little something to get you get going.
RICH
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Thank you very much for the responses. I was planning on doing the outer contour for the last step and i'm glad you reminded me . Right after i posted this thread i did some more searching on the forum and was thinking of maybe another route. Is there a wizard out there for large profile radius on an outer diameter? Should i make another topic in Mach Gen Discussion about someone having such a wizard or should i continue on my learning path to cad?
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Mike,
Take the time and learn a little CAD......
Learn the following:
How to draw a line, a circle, and an arc.... and be able to connect them together and save them as a dxf. Don't care what program you choose
That's basicaly all you need.
I don't know of any wizards that get you a profile since most wizards are meant for a specific machining task and need to be pieced together.
You will be hard pressed to find anything worth a hoot for free relative to the lathe and if you do let me know as i have yet to find it.
Hopefully LT will have a finish cut available by the time you come up to speed. There is a manual for LT in Members Docs covering the entire thread on LT.
FWIW,
RICH
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Rich, Here is where i stand. I searched yesterday on the links page for some cheap or free cad programs and the one that caught my eye was the VectorEngineer Cad Software. Its only $30. I will most likely buy that one unless you disagree. Now looking at your drawing that you have send me, do I draw everything in cad as if it was getting machined in its position. Meaning I start at Z0 X0 and work up and to the left. Sorry for the rookie question but now ya got me hooked on making something on cad haha
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VectorEngineer Cad Software
Just took a quick look at the site and seems like it will do what you need, if purchased, since the free one dosn't save files as a dxf.
Other than that i know nothing about it. I use Microstation or Autocadd and nothing else here.
machined in its position
Just draw the profile with the center line of the face at X & Z =0. There are a few rules which are all covered in the LT manual along with other tips, see Appendix "B".
RICH
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Rich i am pleased to say i bought the program. Installed it and designed the hand grip. I saved it as a .dxf file and opeded it in LT. To my suprise it loaded without any alarms. My main concern is the scale. When i made it in my program i had the unit scale set in inches. I made the part finish at 5.5 inches. When I loaded the file in LT it was huge. The lengh is at like -200. and the diameter is around 44. instead of being at 1.5. Anything obvious that i am doing wrong?
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Under Options in LT is it set to Diameter and Metric Mode is unchecked?
RICH
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Yes neither are checked. Actually i kinda figured out that in the cad program if i set the scale to "25" it seems to get me pretty close.
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Just messing around with lazy turn, i made a tool path for the hand grips. When i tried to post the code it doesn't seem to post. I took some screen shots maybe you can figure it out.
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Hmmmm....25 seems awful close to 25.4 which is what you would get if converting units. I would suspect something got transformed during translation somewhere. Keep in mind, some programs have options that need to be set when you export and/or import file types (dwg, dxf, iges, etc...) Be sure to check the export options in your cad program. Also check that your actually drawing in the correct units.
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You can set the units for new drawings and exporting in manny cad programs. Your help section should give you some info.
Are you using W7? ( I have not upgraded to it )
Below are my notes from page 139 of the LT thread
WINDOWS 7 - POSTING FILE FROM LAZYtURN
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- This isn't a permissions issue as it will create the file but the file is empty
( the problem is actually that notepad isnt allowed access to read the file?)
Make sure the folder your saving it to has appropriate priviledges. OR, rigth click and run in administrator mode.
I tend to save to desktop, so I dont get that problem, but it shoudlnt appear if the folder your trying to save to
has the write priveleges enabled.. ( Win7 is bad that way..)
- Change LazyTurn to run in compatibility mode for XP SP2. ( right click on the lazyturn shortcut, compatibility tab,
put a check in the box and choose Windows XP SP2 from the dropdown)
- Look for your file in the Mach3 folder ( they will be blank ) drag them to the desk top.
RICH
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your a genius. Worked perfectly:) Are all cads the same? I tried drawing something earlier today and wanted to make a line with specific dimensions. Somehow a screen popped up that i was able to type in the data but it only happened a couple times. If i click the screen alot of times it will pop up once in a while. Is there a certain key? Sorry for asking but this software didn't come with a tutorial or even a help menu.
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your a genius
Thank you ...but....my wife dosen't agree with you :D
Are all cads the same?
No, so can't be of much help. Check out the site as i would think there is some kind of info on the program.
RICH