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Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: bassdude on June 21, 2011, 07:50:39 AM

Title: Mach 3 Not Cutting The Size I Specifie
Post by: bassdude on June 21, 2011, 07:50:39 AM
hi all. im almost ready to start cutting my first real project but my first tests have failed me the size that the machine mills is not the size ive input ito the lazycam software everything is a little bigger than what it should be so i figure this comes down to calibration of the stepper motors. heres the question what info do i need to know about the machine to calibrate it to cut everything to the right size?

thanks in advance
Title: Re: Mach 3 Not Cutting The Size I Specifie
Post by: Hood on June 21, 2011, 08:01:21 AM
Micro stepping of drive
Gearing if any between motor and screw
Pitch of screws
Imperial or metric setup.

Hood
Title: Re: Mach 3 Not Cutting The Size I Specifie
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on June 21, 2011, 12:09:31 PM
If it's any help, Al's excellent little calculator is here http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,16315.0.html

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Mach 3 Not Cutting The Size I Specifie
Post by: bassdude on June 22, 2011, 01:56:04 AM
ok here is some details from the manufacturer

screw pitch is 5mm, the micro step is 1/2 and 1/8


so what should i set my motors to?

all my work i do i use metric if that is needed to know
Title: Re: Mach 3 Not Cutting The Size I Specifie
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on June 22, 2011, 02:26:58 AM
1/8 micro-step would be best.

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Mach 3 Not Cutting The Size I Specifie
Post by: bassdude on June 22, 2011, 02:34:17 AM
1/8 micro-step would be best.

Tweakie.

and what box in motor tuning doese that number go? step pulse or dir pulse and what would go in the other box?
Title: Re: Mach 3 Not Cutting The Size I Specifie
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on June 22, 2011, 02:54:45 AM
You need to set your stepper motor control to 1/8 step (link or DIP switch).
Enter figures in calculator then this gives your steps per unit (arrow shows where 8 micro-steps goes).

Tweakie.

 
Title: Re: Mach 3 Not Cutting The Size I Specifie
Post by: bassdude on June 22, 2011, 05:45:41 AM
i use adobe illustrator and i export all my products to WMF files is that ok/Normal?
Title: Re: Mach 3 Not Cutting The Size I Specifie
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on June 22, 2011, 06:04:26 AM
Quote
i use adobe illustrator and i export all my products to WMF files is that ok/Normal?

  ??? Sorry buddy but you have lost me here, I am not certain what you are referring to.  ???

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Mach 3 Not Cutting The Size I Specifie
Post by: RICH on June 22, 2011, 06:10:00 AM
Quote
i use adobe illustrator and i export all my products to WMF files is that ok/Normal?
Lazycam is dxf file inporter so you will need to convert the dwf to a dxf.  The dxf file contains all the vector info of the entities which  LC uses on inport to define the profile.
Yes there is a image module but there is no support on it's use and the LC manual only covers the mill module with some guidence on the lathe module ( which is replaced by LazyTurn). The magic wands , as i call them, which do raster to vector conversion, rarely provide satisfactory results.

RICH
Title: Re: Mach 3 Not Cutting The Size I Specifie
Post by: bassdude on June 22, 2011, 06:11:25 AM
Quote
i use adobe illustrator and i export all my products to WMF files is that ok/Normal?

  ??? Sorry buddy but you have lost me here, I am not certain what you are referring to.  ???

Tweakie.

oh sorry this is a new qeustion. everyone seem to talk about dxf files when they export to lazycam i was just wondering if the file type im using WMF is ok or is it putting me rong somehow.
Title: Re: Mach 3 Not Cutting The Size I Specifie
Post by: bassdude on June 22, 2011, 06:14:08 AM
Quote
i use adobe illustrator and i export all my products to WMF files is that ok/Normal?
Lazycam is dxf file inporter so you will need to convert the dwf to a dxf.  The dxf file contains all the vector info of the entities which  LC uses on inport to define the profile.
Yes there is a image module but there is no support on it's use and the LC manual only covers the mill module with some guidence on the lathe module ( which is replaced by LazyTurn). The magic wands , as i call them, which do raster to vector conversion, rarely provide satisfactory results.

RICH

its just that the dxf files never come out looking the way i designd them and the WMF files in lazy cam are bang on for me
Title: Re: Mach 3 Not Cutting The Size I Specifie
Post by: RICH on June 22, 2011, 06:31:22 AM
Quote
dxf files never come out looking the way i designd them

If done in CAD or CAM they will.
WYSIWYG (WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET)  :D

RICH