Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: BIMP on June 06, 2011, 01:57:50 PM

Title: Autocad and Mach 3 issues
Post by: BIMP on June 06, 2011, 01:57:50 PM
I just bought a plasma table and am having problems with the torch cutting lines that aren't in the dxf file.  The manufacturer of the table say's its a setting in Autocad but cant help me anymore than that.  We use Autocad to generate dxf's for numerous other cnc machines and haven't run into this before. Is anybody else using Autocad with Mach?
Title: Re: Autocad and Mach 3 issues
Post by: ger21 on June 06, 2011, 05:00:01 PM
What are you using to create your g-code?

Can you post a .dxf that's causing problems, and a pic of where it's cutting that it shouldn't be?
Title: Re: Autocad and Mach 3 issues
Post by: RICH on June 06, 2011, 05:09:19 PM
Yep all the time. Respond to Jerry's requests.
RICH
Title: Re: Autocad and Mach 3 issues
Post by: BR549 on June 06, 2011, 05:17:41 PM
Yep as well (;-) Follow Gerrys request for info.

(;-) TP
Title: Re: Autocad and Mach 3 issues
Post by: BIMP on June 06, 2011, 05:20:41 PM
Lazycam is the program that i import the dxf into for the gcodes.  As you can see the one vertical line is the problem.
Title: Re: Autocad and Mach 3 issues
Post by: ger21 on June 06, 2011, 05:54:02 PM
I can tell you that it's not an AutoCAD issue. I don't use LazyCAM, but it most likely has to do with something you're doing in LazyCAM.
Title: Re: Autocad and Mach 3 issues
Post by: BR549 on June 06, 2011, 06:06:28 PM
Do you self a BIG favor and buy a copy of SheetCam for your plasma needs.

(;-) TP
Title: Re: Autocad and Mach 3 issues
Post by: BIMP on June 06, 2011, 06:13:50 PM
thanks for the advice. I'll try and dig a little deeper in Lazycam.
Title: Re: Autocad and Mach 3 issues
Post by: djc on June 07, 2011, 02:33:43 AM
What does the machine do when it cuts? Say it starts top left of the outside contour and goes clockwise. I suspect it might go right, clockwise round the right hand semi-circle, then left along the straight bit at the bottom, then straight up (which is wrong) then anti-clockwise around the left curve.

What does the contour look like in your CAM program? Does it show as a closed polyline? Can you display 'span directions' for each segment?

One thing you could try is to explode the polyline that forms the outside of the shape and then do PEDIT, JOIN picking the entities strictly in the order you want them machined.

It is, as others have said, a CAM problem not a CAD problem.

EDIT: the small oval seems to cut OK. Copy, rotate and scale it then delete the big one.
Title: Re: Autocad and Mach 3 issues
Post by: RICH on June 07, 2011, 06:25:25 AM
File worked fine in both the Plasma and Mill of Lazycam. Since I have no plasma experience can't be much help on any of the plasma settings in LC, but as shown, it generated the
pathing.

RICH
Title: Re: Autocad and Mach 3 issues
Post by: BIMP on June 07, 2011, 10:15:47 AM
Thanks a lot for all the help.  Im glad its agreed that its most likely not a Cad problem.  I'll probably take all this back to PCS and see if they can figure it out from here.  If not i may be begging for more help!

thanks again
Title: Re: Autocad and Mach 3 issues
Post by: BR549 on June 07, 2011, 11:12:42 AM
Here is a toopath for the bracket