Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: No1Daemon on February 10, 2011, 11:03:33 PM

Title: Newbie. What am I doing wrong?
Post by: No1Daemon on February 10, 2011, 11:03:33 PM

Hi all

Can someone give me a run down on creating a gcode please?

I am using cut2d which I have used to create a dxf file and I then use lazycam to open it and post gcode to mach3.
When I open it in mach3 it looks totally different to what I created.

Do I need to set up the tool details and material details in lazycam as well as specifying them already in cut2d?

Thanks
Steve

Title: Re: Newbie. What am I doing wrong?
Post by: Overloaded on February 10, 2011, 11:12:53 PM

Hey there Steve, welcome to the group !
Using Cut2D, there is no need to go through LazyCam. You would be best to just create the code right there with Vectric.
Cut 2D does it all, I think it will even post directly into Mach if it's running ... not sure tho, I do know SheetCam does.
There are some Vectric users her that are sure to help ya more,
Russ

Title: Re: Newbie. What am I doing wrong?
Post by: No1Daemon on February 11, 2011, 02:04:11 AM

Hi Overloaded

Thanks for the welcome.
I guess I need to rtfm again.
I never realized cut2d could output to other than dxf files.
i have now tried .gc and .tap as well however it is still opening oddly in mach3.

Should I be able to see the same shape as the file I created in mach3?

I made a sign with my daughters names on it and when I input it into mac3 it looks like a weird corkscrew shape.

Title: Re: Newbie. What am I doing wrong?
Post by: Hood on February 11, 2011, 02:11:20 AM

Could be you need to change the IJ mode, its on General Config page.
Hood

Title: Re: Newbie. What am I doing wrong?
Post by: No1Daemon on February 11, 2011, 02:29:05 AM

It is set to inc at the moment.

Title: Re: Newbie. What am I doing wrong?
Post by: Hood on February 11, 2011, 03:03:47 AM

Try it in Abs and see if the toolpath looks better.
Hood

Title: Re: Newbie. What am I doing wrong?
Post by: Overloaded on February 11, 2011, 07:12:39 AM

STeve, have you selected the proper Post Processor in Cut2D ?
Use this one. (or mm)

Title: Re: Newbie. What am I doing wrong?
Post by: No1Daemon on February 11, 2011, 06:13:04 PM

I tried exporting as .txt for mach3. It is nearly right.
Changing from inc to abs in general config didn't work.

I can now see like a quarter of the item and it is miles away, I need to zoom in a lot to pick it out. I thought nothing was there to start with.

I also tried as an exercise to export it to .ngc and open it with linux's emc2 and it opens and displays perfectly.

I am positive the cut2d part is done correctly because I followed their tutorial to create it.

It must be a setting I haven't quite mastered in mach3.

Title: Re: Newbie. What am I doing wrong?
Post by: Overloaded on February 11, 2011, 06:38:11 PM

Post the file if you dont mind.
Inch or MM ?
Where do you have the 0,0 origin placed ?

Title: Re: Newbie. What am I doing wrong?
Post by: mlk1950 on February 11, 2011, 08:45:06 PM

I use Cut2d and I always save mine as GCode Inch /Tap , and it always works fine.

Title: Re: Newbie. What am I doing wrong?
Post by: No1Daemon on February 11, 2011, 09:40:21 PM

Okay

It was too long for code tags so I have uploaded the file itself.

Be gentle with me, I dont know a great deal about gcode yet.

Title: Re: Newbie. What am I doing wrong?
Post by: Hood on February 12, 2011, 04:19:31 AM

Looks fine to me, heres a screenshot, is this what you expect?
If it is then can you attach your xml please.
Hood

Title: Re: Newbie. What am I doing wrong?
Post by: No1Daemon on February 12, 2011, 04:46:17 AM

This is the one renamed.
And yes, that is what I expected to see but not what I get when I open it.

Thanks

Title: Re: Newbie. What am I doing wrong?
Post by: Hood on February 12, 2011, 05:56:30 AM

Ok first thing you are using Demo mode so you are restricted to 500 lines of code so you will only see a very small part of the file. You are also in table view so that is likely why its way off in the distance, click diplay button then regenerate and your should see it closer, however as said you will just see 500 lines worth as below.
Hood

Title: Re: Newbie. What am I doing wrong?
Post by: Mattw on February 12, 2011, 10:39:21 AM

Nametags for the kiddies was my first CNC project too.  I figured that made up for the year of utter neglect while I got the machine running.  ;D

Title: Re: Newbie. What am I doing wrong?
Post by: No1Daemon on February 12, 2011, 01:15:09 PM

Thanks Hood.

Appreciate your help