Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: belin on October 06, 2012, 08:00:45 PM
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for new beginners like me im finding it increasingly difficult to get my head around the LAZY CAM and MACH3 software operations
someone attempted to direct me to video tutorials but they just dont work as videos...they are simply SCREEN SHOTS on the artsoft website..NO VIDEOS at all
surely there is a HUGE market out there for someone to actually create operational videos for the DUMMIES (like me)..
what i keep running into is that every instruction or tutorial that i can find ASSUMES that i am some sort of expert on their level...
i guess my question is
IS THERE ANYWHERE that has a tutorial that has been DUMBED DOWN for absolute BEGINNERS...that covers things like TERMINOLGY explainations etc etc
im at the point when im just going to give up and sell my new machine and stick with engraving from my Garavograph Pantograph machines...
the Lazy Cam manual i have is 123 pages long and it seems to not run in sequence but jump all over the place...CRAZY
while i do appreciate that the majority of guys here on this forum have a more than basic knowledge of CNC operations....but surely somewhere...somehow,,,,someone has come up with a STEP by STEP guide for DUMMIES...if not...then i can safely say there is a HUGE market out there for someone to create these tutorials and in EASILY EXPLAINED ENGLISH...Not Computer Jargon
sorry for the rant....but this is all becoming too much for me
all i want to do is simply ENGRAVE flat material such as Trophy Plates (in multiples) and Plaques as such...im not interested in MILLING...
the cnc chinese 3040 machine i just purchased appears to be great...it responds to jog commands from mach 3,,,,so the machine is fine and so is the software
i just cant co-ordinate it in my head
HELP before i go insane
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i must add that im not a very patient person...LOL
but reading 123 pages of terminolgoy that is set for guys who have at least a 50% knowledge of programme terminolgy is not what i call a real tutorial...
im the type of person who finds it increasingly hard to follow the written word with instructions
im the type who needs to be SHOWN
guess there is no hope for me and cnc engraving...LOL
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on the videos page, http://www.machsupport.com/videos/ , did you scroll to the bottom of the screen and did you see a control to play the videos?
John
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oh god...thank you...
told you im lost....if not stupid...LOL
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amother stupid question you guys will be shaking your head at
being in australia we work on the metric system
how do i change the UNITS in lazycam to MMs only
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Here is a link to a thread that may help with Lazycam belin.
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,12078.0.html
Brett
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Belin don't feel bad, I'm kind of in the same boat as you, a newb trying to figure out these programs. I had to watch the first two or three videos in the support area several times and still don't understand half the stuff that was said, but seeing it done and what happens made it a little easier.
So far I've been able to do the basic setup (to me anyway) and atleast run one of the sample gcodes several times with success.
Your going to have to take it in small steps and once you figure one part out move onto the next, you also need to pay attention to what you need right now and not try to learn everything right away, that's what I was trying to do it just got more confusing the more I read.
I thought I'd be doing some simple machining with mine already but I'm still trying to figure it out.
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thanks COILS...i am feeling a bit frustrated
however...thanks to a couple of replies here ive been about to find the PLAY button for the support videos....LOL
Im doing much better now....i have my machine running and acting like a good little machine...
as you said ...i just need small steps and a helluva good memory...........so much to take in...
i will admit the SUPPORT VIDEOS are perfect for me
i couldnt get my head around a 123 page manual...that was just not going to happen....
ive sort of got the machine finding JOG ans reset 0000000 positions
the one thing that shook me was the need to use SCALE in the lazycam software...otherwise the created project was just way to big for the machine
thats why i need to know if its possible in lazycam to set the measurement units to MILLIMETERS...not inches or units
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First thing I would ask, is your machine set to mm as native units? If not and you are going to be working in metric then you will have a headache working things out.
To see what the native units are set to go to Config menu then native units. If it is set to Inch then you will need to change to mm. Doing that however is only half the story as now you will have to reset your motor tuning to reflect the the fact the step pulses being sent out are no longer for 1 unit equalling 1 inch but rather 1 unit is now 1mm.
Sounds a bit confusing but if all is working now then all you need to do is divide the Steps Per unit value by 25.4 and multiply the Velocity and Accel by 25.4. Remember to save the axis settings before you move on to changing the next axis.
Hood
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thank you HOOD...that is the type of information myself and im guessing many others need
just simple explaination talk on how to go about things
much appreciated
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HOOD
yes ive set my machine and each axis to MMs
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belin, have you checked to see if your machine is moving the proper distance? If you give it a move in gcode or jog a given distance does it travel that distance? You can set a ruler on the table to get a good idea.
Brett
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hi brett...thanks for talking with my husband the other night
yes...i can move all axis with the JOG....but as my husband said....there are no limit switches on this machine so it can JOG all the way to the end of each axis....
what i have done though....is in HOMING/LIMITS...i have set the table size less a few CMs so the machine recognises the dimensions of the working are....that way ive found that when i load a G CODE (project) into mach 3 the project is loaded within the table working area and by jogging and resetting the tool path and axis's....the machine works within the bounderies
hey...im getting good at this....RIGHT....lol
its still a nightmare....but not so scary now....
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ah wait....i see what you mean...
in relation to MMS vs UNIIT size...
yes thats a great idea....i know its moving in increments of 1.000 so im guessing thats 1 UNIT at a time....
god bless me im going to have a victory over this mach 3 programme if it kills me...
did i mention i hate computer programmers....lol
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;D
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BRETT....dont throw SMILES at me just yet...lol
i will admit to breaking out in a tiny grin at times...but i think im far from smiles...
you guys so far have been a great help to me...
like i said....there would be probably 100s og newbie guys on here that really need your information DUMBED DOWN to a level that is understandable to a novice...
hell....i even had to look up VECTOR....lol
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Hi Belin,
LazyCam is OK for what it does but it has it’s limitations and quirks (perhaps like all software) and is really not that suitable to use for engraving work.
Most of my CNC work is with laminate engraving and I use Vectric VCarvePro http://www.vectric.com/WebSite/Vectric/vcp/vcp_index.htm which is extremely quick and easy to learn and use although it is perhaps not cheap to purchase. For general engraving work and for the price this software takes a lot of beating.
There are some free alternatives such as F-Engrave http://home.comcast.net/~sskroch/Fengrave/fengrave.html which I have found to be excellent. This software is pretty versatile and has enabled me, from one extreme to the other, to engrave text down to 0.5mm height http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,21525.msg150158.html#msg150158
as well as V-Carving 12mm deep into Teak (using different spindles for each task, of course).
There is perhaps no easy route to the learning process but my recommendation is start with a simple, basic project, get plenty of ‘hands-on’ experience and spend some time browsing the forum. Once you have mastered the basics you will be surprised at just how easy it all is.
Tweakie.
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TWEAKIE...my god....if you where here i would kiss you...lol
you know exactly what im after....a simple ENGRAVING programme to engrave on flat surfaces...
yes Lamited Surfaces such as GRAVOPLY which is my most common material i use..
you really are your avatar...a SUPER KITTY...lol
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wait TWEAKIE....before i get into to far
im assuming these programmes you suggested just replace lazycam and can produce simple G CODE...CORRECT...which i just SAVE and load up into mach 3 at my pleaseure
am i reading you correctly
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TWEAKIE
i went here
http://home.comcast.net/~sskroch/Fengrave/fengrave.html
and it says i cant open a PY file
anychance of dumbing it down even more for me please...how can i easily get the F-ENGRAVE software to try out
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Hi Belin,
This is the Windows executable file...
http://home.comcast.net/~sskroch/Fengrave/F-Engrave-0.8_win.zip
Tweakie.
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thanks tweakie
i got it up and working
yes it is a very very simple programme but only allows for very limited FONTS/TEXTS....
while it is very DUMBED DOWN (perfect for me...LOL) i would really like something in between this software and the big expensive one you mentioned VECTRIC...i looked at that and your right...
would need to break out the gold credit card for that one
is there anything in between you could recommend where the purpose is for flat surface engraving ...not only with FONTS but where i can add a picture and so forth
man..your a life saver showing me new G Code creating software
thanks in advance
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Hi Belin,
You need to read the F-Engrave documentation (sorry ;) ) you can install any Windows font as well as the CamBam single line fonts and of course there is a large range of the Australian Flying Corps fonts also available.
What type of pictures do you want to create ??
Tweakie.
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i also noticed in F ENGRAVE there is a image area....but it only accepts DXF file images...how do i create a image that is a DXF file
example...i have many JPEG images...
how can i turn them into a DXF file so i can upload them into F ENGRAVE
and by the way
where is the READ information...LOL
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ok i figured out how to add fonts....now i got over 800 fonts LOL
just stabdard engravable images...anything that i can create
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where is the READ information...LOL
Hi Belin,
Its not my fault that his website is messy but its all there somewhere ;D ;D
I have not had too much success using F-Engrave for DXF work.
The list of image engraving software is probably endless but these I have used with success…
PicEngrave (nicely priced) http://picengrave.com/ (demo version available)
DotG (free) http://dotg.weebly.com/download.html (English version and manuals)
Halftoner and Reactor (free) http://jasondorie.com/page_cnc.html
As for JPEG to DXF software there are many to choose from, some better than others. An Internet search for ‘Raster to Vector’ software should turn up a few.
The one I commonly use is Vextractor http://www.vextrasoft.com/?source=vextractor but it comes at a price.
Tweakie.
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great help my friend
i will look at it in the morning..
i do hope your around again to hold my hand...LOL
thanks again
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You might want to look at DeskEngrave. It's free.
http://deskam.com/deskengrave.html
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anyone got any programmes where i can use clipart for engraving pictures....outlines of pictures..i mean...
and any more flat engraving software would be much appreciated
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Inkscape is pretty good at creating the .dxf files but there is a lot to learn if you are to use it well.
Although not always brilliant LazyCam (included with Mach3) will create the GCode from a .dxf.
This link may also be of interest to you http://www.rotordesign.com/servolite/body_dxf_to_gcode.html
Tweakie.
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thanks TWEAKIE...i have just downloaded it and will check it out
basically you guys have sent me great FONT(text) engraving software....im just looking to add picture diagrams (outline only..not color fill)
example LOGOs...MOTIFS...etc etc...that sort of thing