Machsupport Forum

G-Code, CAD, and CAM => LazyCam (Beta) => Topic started by: Ben on January 02, 2008, 09:49:42 PM

Title: Tool save for Turn
Post by: Ben on January 02, 2008, 09:49:42 PM
I just bought Lazycam Pro. How do you save a tool type in the Turn side of Lazycam? I'm also having trouble getting it to give me a useable gcode file of a simple curve like the shape of a bullet. TIA, Ben
Title: Re: Tool save for Turn
Post by: Ben on January 03, 2008, 10:59:34 PM
I'm getting very frustrated. The free version worked just as well as the $75 one. I can't save a tool type, I can't get a dxf file to load twice, when I get one loaded sometimes it won't "clean and convert" and won't tell me if it did of didn't. Sometimes  it won't create a profile but wont tell me it didn't. When once in a while the above all works the gcode file wont produce anything recognizable or machinable.
Title: Re: Tool save for Turn
Post by: Ben on January 04, 2008, 10:00:22 PM
One thing I noticed you have to watch the Project tab to know if the things you are doing are working. Attached are my dxf file and a picture of lazycams competed turn profile and what Mach3Turn did with the lazycams generated gcode.
Title: Re: Tool save for Turn
Post by: Ben on January 05, 2008, 09:47:31 PM
I'm back. On the left is the dxf file. In lazycam I deleted the right angle lines and left only the curve then finished processing and sent the gcode to Mach3Turn. When I squint my eyes and stand far back the Mach3Turn looks almost like the DXF file. What am I doing wrong. TIA , Ben
Title: Re: Tool save for Turn
Post by: Chip on January 05, 2008, 11:10:29 PM
Hi, Ben

This isn't perfect, But it post's pretty close.

Thanks, Chip
Title: Re: Tool save for Turn
Post by: freddy on January 06, 2008, 08:41:13 AM
Hi ben, I notice in your earlier post that you are using diameter mode in mach3turn, you need to use radius mode for profiles from lazy cam, or the result will be half the required diameter. Also have a look at the attatched dxf, the vertical line refes to your stock radius & the centre of your profile needs to lie along X0.
Title: Re: Tool save for Turn
Post by: Ben on January 06, 2008, 11:23:40 AM
Thanks a lot Freddy and Chip for the help because I really needed it. I looks like my main problem is with the Lazycam settings, as you can see below, my results are differnt using Freddy's DXF file.
Title: Re: Tool save for Turn
Post by: freddy on January 06, 2008, 01:44:39 PM
you're welcome, glad i could help, I struggled a bit to start with. The reason you're not getting a full profile is cos your max penetration is too small in your tool selection.
Title: Re: Tool save for Turn
Post by: Ben on January 06, 2008, 02:26:41 PM
I set everything like yours and got this. So I have something else set wrong. Could you post your XML file? thanks, Ben
Title: Re: Tool save for Turn
Post by: freddy on January 06, 2008, 02:42:09 PM
In mach3turn under config - ports and pins - turn options, there's an option for reversed arc's in front post, uncheck it, that'll sort the tool path, also in lcam change your tool setting from diamond to grooving, you shoud then get what i do.
Title: Re: Tool save for Turn
Post by: Ben on January 06, 2008, 05:50:18 PM
Whew, my mouse finger is getting tired. I'm making very slow progress. When I load my dxf file I have to optmize it and thats the only difference I do but the last step turns out wrong. I'm using inches it looks like you are using MM. When I copiec your dxf image to my dxf your on was about 20 times bigger.
Title: Re: Tool save for Turn
Post by: freddy on January 06, 2008, 06:36:29 PM
Yes I do use mm, (i'm in uk) you need to alter your tool settings to reflect the units you're using. Try this..
Title: Re: Tool save for Turn
Post by: freddy on January 06, 2008, 06:42:37 PM
oops.. with this... it's in "". Bear in mind it's only a quick example.
Title: Re: Tool save for Turn
Post by: Ben on January 06, 2008, 08:10:06 PM
 ;D
Thanks Freddy, job well done. You stuck with me to the very end and it all works. Ben
Title: Re: Tool save for Turn
Post by: Ben on January 07, 2008, 08:30:26 AM
Also somewhere in all this I am now able to save a tool type. Go figure. Ben