Machsupport Forum
G-Code, CAD, and CAM => LazyCam (Beta) => Topic started by: spnar on September 25, 2008, 02:31:49 PM
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While i greatly appreciate the very valid effort by Rich.I still find it very hard to make some sense
out of this program.My efforts are up to now primarily directed to turning and have tried to follow
LazyCam manual for turning rev0 by Rich.For those who have downloaded this manual in chapter
Turning Tools and parameters Rich gives us a simple DXF and very rightly urges us to play around
with parameters in Tool selection.
If you change the back angle to 1 deg and create profile you get a turning pattern which looks Ok
If you change the back angle to 30 deg and create profile you get the same pattern
There are various examples of back angle settings which give the same pattern.
Having paid for this program i think i will persevere a little longer
What i really cannot understand is why the originators of this program havent at least given us a CLEAR
definition of what the various parameters and settings mean.
What is Back angle
What is Width(Grroving tool only)
and many others
No excuse of a Beta version here.
Even Rich who well ahead than i am in DECIFERING this utility is assuming things as he goes along
Please help us in understanding this program and start using it.That way we can share our experiences and maybe
come up with ideas to IMPROVE IT. ???
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I think this is a great post but I will definitely bet unless someone tells someone over at the yahoo Mach forum, this will fall on deaf ears. For some reason they don't pay attention to much here so if I were you, I would post this question over there.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mach1mach2cnc/
I'll be interested to see the outcome as I'm going to be getting into turning as well. I'm also betting that they won't do much for LCam Turn as that's why they've started "Lazy Turn" (separate forum here)
Good luck-
Dave
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spnar,
Glad you took the time to look and try what was written. I continue to "explore" Lazycam for turning to put it into some perspective from "hacking" away at it. Even I have a tolerance level for having fun and it currently has come to an end.
It's BETA, but..........................will give you my honest appraisal of it. The following may sound wishy washy but here it goes.
HOW TO USE IT FOR TURNING:
1.Import DXF file drawn in a fashion which incorporates some things mentioned in the manual.
2.Clean and convert, use a few combinations of the tools and paramaters. I always create a point tool as that
gives me a basis for "possible" expected results.
3. Create profiles. If it creates a usable gcode, maybe not perfect, but usable with minor editing, consider life good,
edit as required and get on with cutting.
If it dosen't, don't waste your time. Do it a different way via wizards or what ever.
I have found it will do wonderfull magic on some more complex profiles and then just fall flat on it's face on something simple. When it works, it works, when it doesn't, FI!
WHATS WRONG WITH USING IT:
1.There is no definition of just how usable it is. Because we do not know how far the development went or where it
stopped relative to parameters, tool definition, and manipulation of profile, well, your at a complete loss and frankly I
would say you are waisting your time trying to figure it out.
2. NO BASIC "RULES" HAVE BEEN GIVEN. If a preliminary list was provided saying something like the following for example
only:
1. A base line must be provided which defines stock size ...........
2. You can't duplicate items one right after the other........
3. You must only have a single chain for a profile to work.........
Just some simple stuff so a purchaser doesn't spend hours trying to hack it.
3. No list of known bugs / no definition of what should or shouldn't work.
It is interesting to add that frankly i don't think there are that manny people actively using a CNC'd lathe.
If there were, attention to a product would be different and the post's would be numerous. In a different light i also think that there is great momentum on horizon for the lathe. To loose out while opertunity exist's may be a bad strategy. The turn portion has been out for 5 or 6 months now, it either goes forward or will wither and die. With that said, should LazyTurn becomes a reality, and you get it for supporting LazCam, then a bargin will be yours .
In the last two weeks i tried few different turning programs. Do you know that none of them could not just import
a simple file and genreate the code. They didn't come with instructions either and they were not beta. I have been fooling with Dolphin, yes it works, price to to match, but to get some "simple" stuff to work you had to invoke the tools and do it in a disciplined way. So simple may not be simple.
WISH YOU LOL,
RICH
l
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So Dolphin was the best, so far, Rich? Can you name some of the others you've tried? I'm GCode challenged so writing my own at this point is impossible....... :D
Thanks,
Dave
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budman68,
I really don't know what the best is. Only been fooling with the CNC lathe for about 5 months now off and on.
I did like Dolphin and have a demo on the pc at work. It turns into a punkin in a few more days! Big companay name sometimes gets you a little extra to play with from sales.There is a hobbiest version for the lathe $400 and the other one was around $1400 or so and up for the 3 d stuff. I only fooled with the lathe part, and during 5 lunch periods was able to create code for 6 parts for my model from dxf files I had. That from only viewing a 15 minute tutorial but it to bombed on profiling out a few simple parts and had to use individual steps to create the code.
Same old story which i have found over the past 4 years or so. There realy isn't that much out there. I have a license
for DeskCnc lathe but that program isn't a perfect magic wand either and dosen't support some of the turn gcode. A lot of the stuff out there are nothing more than code editors or verifiers.
Don't discount the wizards since you can do a lot with them if you want to piece meal them together for a part.
Should LazyTurn ever materialize, per Art's description of it, it realy will fill a real nice void.
RICH
BTW there is dxf to g code lathe program out there for $29.99 in beta form. You draw the profile, then put each of the cut lines in,
dxf out, it geneartes the g code. Bet you can do the coding manualy by hand quicker.....but then the price is realy great! ;D
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Hi Guys:
( Thx to Hood for letting me know this thread was running. :)
The Turn section of Lazycam is hard to use, LazyCam itself can be a bear, but its a project that was in progress
when I left. Its not something Brians continuing as yet, its on a back burner at best. While Im retired its my plan to update
both. LazyTurn is the first thing that has to be done , and at that point Turn will be removed totally from LazyCam, and LazyTurns
import mechanics will be put into LazyCam.
LazyTurn is a complete rewrite in most area's. Code has been tightened, imports made more fully compatible, and the process
of doing the toolpaths is still in progress. Turning is HARD, very HARD. When you search for a turn cam program and find most
of them lacking or very expensive..thats why.
LazyCam is long overdue, and it will be awhile yet before it gets touched, but LazyTurn continues. Slowly because of timing.
I dont code much in Summer, and Im the sole coder for it. Winter is my coding time as there isnt much else to do up here in the
winter of Canda if your not into ski'ing or snowmobiling. :) ( I hate cold).
Im close to a completing roughing profile, but had to do a rewite last couple months as I had neglected to take a few gouging items into account... like
the last pass through the stocks effect on the next pass.
LazyCam DOES have variables unexplained. The reason is that the licensed code I originally used for turning was undocumented, and very hard
to get to work. ( lesson learned, Im writing my own code for all those turning sections in LazyTurn, which is why its so slow going..only if
youve attempting writing such code can you fully experience the pain. Originally LCam was my attempt at getting enough cam product to
as many people as possible at as low a cost as possible. Hence all the licensed code in it. The DXF import was licensed and didnt do as Id hoped as well,
but recent fixes to it from the authors have made it much more usefull, though still not perfect imo.
In short, I learned many lessons from Lazycam, first, you cant do it by licensing modules from others and tying it all together, many code
problems existed and Ive learned allot about how to handle many things we originally couldnt deal with. So .. if I can finish up LTurn to
get it to the output stage this winter, then LCAm will start to see some changes to remove Turn, and convert the UI to somethign much more easily
handled,and LTurns import code will be ported over. Ill likely use my own pocketing routines as well, the ones I licensed for it seem way to sensitive
to tolerances and screw up in strange ways.
Really hard to explain to the user exactly why, as the licensed code is huge and undoced so even as the coder I cant explain some of its pecadillos..
It remains simply a cheap alternative to more expensive cam programs, and then only if you try it and can control it.
( Just thought Id kick in and let you know some of the why's here..)
Art
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I see an ART viewing the topic. Could you shed a little light for us lonely turners?
RICH
Thanks for the info ART. Wish you well.
Hmm.......Hood stills see's my typing.... nice guy ;D he is.......!
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Hi Rich:
You know, when I started LTurn, about a year ago, I did it because as I told many others I could see an
imminent explosion of Lathes coming online from China in CNC form. I still expect this to happen, and the
yahoo group and support activity on lathes inthe last 4 months seems to be showing it.
I know more than most how bad it is to get Turning CAM out there. I did much the same research as you.
I saw and ran the 29.00 program .. man thats rough to do all thos lines and such.. when I think about it
though thats LTurn in a nutshell, only it does all that line work internally, as well as calculing solid object to do collision
test with to set the toolpath proper without gouging. You wouldnt believ how difficult all that is. Im kinda shocked
at how hard its turning out to be. On the face of it it looks like simple trig functions, but can they ever bite you.
So far Ive figured out how to do roughing quite well and soon Ill have it complete to the stage of doign a very nice
rough toolpath with any described tool, and more automatic than Id have believed possible, BUT then , even though Ive
been carefull to design it so Im left with a database of left over material, I have to figure out as easy a way for a finish
toolpath to be done using that database. Its important a lathe doesnt spend all day cutting in air, so the end design
has to be such that it has built in efficiency. So while roughing is almost ready for prime time testing, finishing will be awhile
after that. My plan rigth now is to finish the last two funstions I need to do the rough path, then add GCode output
to that and release it as a test. Dont know how usefull it is without finish passes, but it does seem to do a hell of a nice roughing
strategy. so far ..
Anyway, as I say, Winter is my coding time, summer is too shortup here so I know Ive been slow but on the other hand its a retirement
project, so the end result will likely be better for it..
just FYI , thx for all the help and comments I see you adding to the forum.
Art
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Art,
I just was surfing the net today and yes the China lathe with code is out there.
When you put the roughing out just throw out a few paragraphs on some basic rules or intent.
That will be enough to keep folks from not trying it or getting frustrated and saying it dosn't work.
Thanks, RICH
How usefull without finishing passes?
I would think that a lot of people would be able to test out other functions of the program and find bugs
shortening the time span. Until you get that diversified bunch of people trying things in their owne unique way ..
you may never know.
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Ok so it seems that we are on our own with Lazy Cam.
Art
We have a similar problem weather wise you hate the cold and i hate the heat.
You should come over here July and August and you will get your batteries charged
up for a couple of years. ;D
Back to LcAM all i am asking for is a definition of the parameters. I am new here so
maybe i am wrong but if you are the man who wrote the code then i am sure you know
exactly what you want us to input in those dialog boxes.
Could you please shed some light.
Or should we just drop it and wait for Lturn
Rich
Yes it dose work with some dxf imports but very strangely enough it wont work with
very similar drawings.
I check my profiles with a drawing which shows the tool i will be using and move the tool
around so that i am sure i have the right clearances and radii .Still most profiles will not reach
a stage where i get code.
My only way out is as you said using wizards and connecting code.
To ALL
I still believe that $75 is dirt cheap for this program if only we could get it to work ;)
SPNAR
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SPNAR,
Try this. Create a very simple profile. Make sure it works for say a "point tool".
Now try it it based on the tool settings you have input. Change the simple / single profile to see where or if it will cut.
Results should vary, but you never know.
A different approach would be to fool with the margin parameter to get a flavor of how the tool relates to the profile.
When you meet you level of having fun, and if it dosen't work, go do it a different way.
RICH
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Hi Rich
Will do and will keep you posted. At the moment we have the Air show and
these are the only two days of the year the workshop is CLOSED.
Should be back in the den by Monday or maybe Sunday evening.
Take care
Spnar ;)
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Hi All,
Here is a little tutorial which may shed some light on the back angle tool setting.
RICH
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Ok, Rich, what version are you using, please?
Thanks,
Dave
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Using 3.00.2 and here the link on the conversion gcode back to a DXF file.
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,7547.msg48027.html#msg48027
RICH
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Rich:
Very nice..
We owe you one. ( or two..)
Art
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Rich,
Using the same version but for the life of me, I can't save any tools. They just keep going back to un-named. Also, when I generate the toolpath using your numbers, how did you "delete" the Iand J words/lines? When I delete them, my toolpath looks nothing like yours in Mach 3.
I think I'm truly biting off more than I can chew and I'm going to have to bite the bullet and buy a decent Lathe CAM software if I want to be able to make a decent part without yanking my hair out.
Thanks as always Rich- ;)
Dave
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I'm with you Dave. :P
I cannot duplicate what RICH is getting either.
I think RICH and ART are in this together.... ::) (they have secret editions with Little Orphan Annie decoder rings or something ;))
They're probably sitting back and laughing their a**es off at us. :D
Just kidding of course.......but it's not that much FUN anymore. :-\
Thanks,
RC 8)
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dave,
I will redo the manual so that there are pages one of these days. Its figure 3 of lazycam lathe- turning tools and parameters.
use the pulldown for tool number and select one, put your values in, give it a name ie; #1- dave, click save, and if your going to use it click select.
editing,
You need to post code to mach, you edit the code in MACH, not lazycam, or with an editor like notepad outside of mach.
Run it in mach first, make note of which lines are causing the circles ( try reverse toolpaths in config ) also for the diagonals just put the z or x rapid on a separte line. i usauly start off by naming the file 1dave, 2 dave etc. so i can always
go back.
RICH
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The problem guys is that when i get something that dosn't work, i hack at it so fast that don't remember what the heck
was done. You will find that it is the " real simple profiles" that are a challenge ie; clean, optimize, go into project, play around till you get get one chain, curse it. I think i have worn out the Oops button! If you put say a groove in the profile you'll have a hard time trying to get it to work ( and that is also the case when playing around with Dolphin).
But that program isn't beta and you have options to deal with it @$1400. Now if you use the grooving tool it will create toolpaths but sometiimes internal instead of external. The tools were not finished, you would have to have some more tool definition. Now you can break up the profile and do it piece meal ( haven't tried much of that).
As far as laughing, HMM....... The Spider is Hungry Again! ;D I like to think of using lazcam as the old PC game Frogger. Unfortunately keep getting run over by the truck! ;)
Just think what Art went thru piecing it together with undocumented code.
He must be crazier than I am. ::)
RICH
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Thanks Rich, but your manual is very clear, my friend. I'm doing exactly what you're telling me to do as far as the tool saving but it just doesn't work for some odd reason. I just sat here for a half hour trying different things to get it to save and nothing works. I had a similar problem at one point where if I opened and old LazyCam program project, no tools were saved into the program. Every time I chose an entity or chain, there were no tools or values saved at all. I reinstalled LCam and viola, it worked.
I'm wondering if somehow I'm corrupting the Lcam program or info for the program. I honestly believe it's deeper than just that I'm not following your direction. I'm an idiot but not that much of an idiot as your instructions are pretty straight forward. :D
I'll keep biting at it but my little cnc lathe is running now and I suck badly at trying to stitch code together from the wizards. I want to be able to just draw something up in Cad, save it as a dxf, import into a CAM (which friggin one, I haven't a clue!!) and then post to Mach with my custom post processor.
Thanks again,
Dave
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You're a real trooper RICH. ;)
I've been tinkering with Vector CAD/CAM. It's pretty deep but it seems to do what you ask it to.
They are to be at the show too. Might get a deal.
RC
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Don't know what to say there Dave. I also have just existed out and came back in and magic happened!
As far as which CAM program to use, don't know what to spend my slush fund on yet.
CAM can be real neat and someday that's were all this will lbe. I don't know how many programs I want to spend learning / trying.
RC, Isn't vector a DESKCNC program?
Dave
Try something easy out of the Wizards like a ball end and just change the code at the end of it so the tool goes to say X0/Z0. Then do another wizard and change or make sure the code starts at x0,z0. before you know it you'll be abale to go in and do more advanced stuff. No matter how you cut it, no matter how good a program is, you will be forced to into learning to what ever level you want to go. i am no code guy in any way or form and can get by with what i have to do.
rICH
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Not sure RICH....Here is a link.
http://www.vectorcam.com/vectorindex.html
RC
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Yep that's the one. Ron Smith of IMS service is always at Cabin Fever Expo. That program isn't exactly inexpensive $800 and remember following the threads on the IMS forum as it was developing. Now for $60 a year you may be able to go up to his site and get a few answers should you run into a problem.
RC,
Are you using it or tryinig it out?
RICH
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Thanks for the wizard tips, Rich, much appreciated-
Dave
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RICH, do you mean FRED Smith ?
I see him frequently on the forum as SUPPORT.
I have the 30 day trial.
They offer a deal for hobby and non production users. I think I saw it in the site somewhere.
Thanks,
RC
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RC, I figured out why I can't save tools. Follow this instruction and it should work for you:
-with LCam-Turn open, select roughing tool button.
-choose any tool at all from the drop down menu (lets use "#4 -- UnNamed " tool) but do not try to rename the highlighted text in the drop down menu.
-now fill in your parameters for whatever you want but you do not have to do this to save a tool.
-now in the lower white box where it says "UnNamed", clear it out and put in what name you'd like to give it.
-click the save button and then select and then it will always be in your drop down menu from now on!
My Problem:
I kept trying to change the text in the drop down menu and that's why it kept reverting back to "UnNamed". What kept throwing me was the fact that "#4 -- UnNamed" would be highlighted when selected so I automatically thought it wanted to be renamed.
I was sitting here watching a movie with my wife and a light bulb went on in my head and sure enough that was it.
Yes it's true, I am an idiot- ;) :D
Dave
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Hey Dave, I got that to work as well. Just like you say...and RICH said earlier. Thanks..good on tools now.
What gets me is when I use the very DXF that RICH sent for the 3 ball handle, and duplicate the settings that he used EXACTLY, I get the unrecoverable errors.....or no tool paths....or solid blue and white lines...or dotted white and solid blue...sometimes will clean and convert...won't clean and convert. Like ART said..if you have used CAM programs before and have a good understanding of the processes, you stand a better chance with LCam....but Turn is especially difficult.
I have a feeling that ART will winter well with LTurn. That will be the BEES KNEES when it is done....I'm sure.
Till then, I will just use the wizards for turning.
Anxious to talk to Fred..or Ron at the expo too.
Thanks Dave.
See Ya,
RC
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Dave,
Just like in Figure 3, Here's how, easy as 1,2,3,4 ;D. Ok, ........next time I'll put numbers on the figures.
Your not alone as i never paid much attenton to that box. It's the simple things that drive you bonkers! ;)
Having fun yet? :)
RC,
yes,I meant Fred. Is Vector intuitive such that you don't have to read 300 pages?
Try a simple one like the one shown in Figure 4. i'll modify this post and attach as I need to get out of here to draw it.
Now you can use a grooving tool, but try and see if it will generate profile cuts not using a grooving tool. I must of tried this one
30 times in Lazycam and gave up,then, magic, it did it!
RICH
modified:FIGURE4.dxf attached
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The 3d stuff is out of bounds for me but the lathe and 2d mill seemed pretty straight forward. There are tutorials and an excellent help file with good explanations. The nomenclature is a bit different but I don't know what to compare it to....other than LCam and SheetCam.
Not quite 300.....maybe 30 pages. But like I said...no 3d stuff for me.....yet anyway.
Cant find Fig.4...will wait for your post.
RC
This it ?
The second is an option to use 2 tools. The second one gets what the first one misses.
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This is with 2 tools selected.
And with a straight sided grooving type tool.
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Well that looks good. Seems some programs can't figure out what to do with it.
Maybe i'll try it out. i remember when it was first put out and there was no documentation for it
and really buggy. so just discounted it totaly.
Oh by the way, sometimes a file dosn't look correctly in Mach turn, not to often, even though the code is correct. Noticed this with the three balls one. Just go out and come back in mach turn and all is fine. BUT, if you just brought a file in and didn't realize it was ok, that 's another story. I can't seem to consistantly duplicate it.
RICH
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Well couch time. Have a bad cold and i'm quarentined.
RICH
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Hi Guys
I am using ver 3.00.2 but have never seen a screen like that with the tool and the red arrow lines.
Am i living on the wrong planet or what? ???
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spnar- RC was just showing the toolpaths of vectorCam, a different program he's trying out-
Don't worry, you're not loosing it - ....yet ;)
Dave
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This reply makes me feel a lot better ;D
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Mother of all stupid questions
Here goes;
How do you attach a file say DXF to your post ?
Spnar
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When you hit the reply button to type in a reply, take notice to the link down to the left that says "Additional Options".
Click on the browse button and you can upload the dxf from your computer and then hit the post button-
Dave
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Thanks Budman68
When someone tells you how you really feel stupid.
Spnar
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Rich
I am attaching some DXF files with the following comments
A 1 , 2 , 3 and 6 cleaned and got code. I had to play around with the code but ok.
A 4 , 7 and 8 cleaned and converted but will not create profile no matter how much i play
around with tools or parameters. I am allowed only 4 attachments will post the others in the next post
Any suggestions
Spnar
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Rich
Next lot of drawings
Spnar
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Hey RICH, hope you rested well.
Here are some pics. First, I added the extension on the right to your DXF.
Then created the tool path....that looks real good until you display the RAPIDS.
Any clues as to how to correct this ? That would be quite a bit of code tweaking.
Thanks,
RC
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Ok, back to the beginning, so to speak.
When I'm drawing a profile for a dxf for LcamTurn, where do I take my origin from? In other words, how do I control how LcamTurn knows which side to cut, top to bottom, left to right?
I've drawn up 2 dxfs and the profiles were the same exact thing, but mirrorred of each other and when I click "create profile", it always puts the toolpath on the opposite side that I want to cut? WTF?
Yup, you guessed it, not having fun......damn spiders.... :D
Dave
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Hi All,
There are no stupid questions.
Also appreciate you guys trying the program out and following thru the manual. Please by all means
make what ever comments you like on the verbage or the figures. Don't care if you say it sucks!
Will clean it up some, maybe add an example for piecing two wizards together.
Here's my thoughts on the manual:
Since it will be some time before LazyTurn becomes a workable program, LazyCam can be used within
some kind of limits. If the manual gets somebody up to some "point" quickly then the intent has been achieved.
I don't know what that "point" is yet.
In the mean time experience is gained. When you go and try another program you'll know what your looking for.
RICH
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Spnar, double chech your dwg's and your connection tolerance in LCam.
This is your #7
RC
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Hi Bud
I had the connection line tollerance high enough to compensate for that missed connection.
Just in case i redrew making certain the snap function was on in autocad.
Had the same result The clean and convert works but no code is created.
One common factor in the drawings that did not work is that they have a reverse curve.
If it's a curve (part of circle) followed by straight line it seems to be ok.
Spnar >:(
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Be back in an hour or so.
RC,
Try playing with adding a line ( maybe one or two), typicaly it dosn't recognize that it's cutting thru that block.
i played around with putting in a clamp, you know that you can create additional profiles /
append to some part of it. That gets complicated to explain and then your going into the
PROJECT and fooling with the chains and entities to create another profile.
I quess you can do a bulk replacement on the beginning z moves for that string of code. Haven't fooled with that
in a text editor or Word enough. but tha defeats being lazy.
got to go
RICH
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I am attaching Dwg A5 where i inserted a piece of straight line between curves.
Still no joy.
It leans and converts ok but no code.
Hope you are feeling better to-day Rich take care
Spnar
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ok, i'm back
dave,
Look at what RC just posted, the yellow line in Lazycam represents the z axis, i put the start of the profile at z=0 and
the x=0. Notice the line on the right defines the stock diameter and where the stocks sits relative to the profile.
This will create facing toolpaths on the stock. So draw accordingly in CAD for now.
spnar
i will take a look, just downloaded them
RICH
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spnar,
in drawinga4, extend the stock definition line up .010" above the profile, it will generate cuts,
then modify and try the following.
on your horizontal line to the last curve make / include( trim in autocad) a small radius joining them, i use .002" to .004" even for point tool with a radius in settings of .001"
if the radiuis is smaller than the tool radius you can't cut it and you may not get a profile finish cut
(sorry for the small text but when this laptop heats up some of the keys get a tempermental )
rich
now i 'll look at a7
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spnar,
just like RC said, the two curves are not connected, also extend the stcok definition line,notice that when you try to clean and convert you get two dashed lines with a gap which may be indicative of something not connected and of course it dosn't clean and convert.
yes, you can use the tolerance setting, but I CHECK EACH START AND END POINT ( PROPERTIES IN ACAD) TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE CONNECTED that just eliminates a problem
comment: i havn't the foggiest idea what some other cad or paint programs may produce in terms of accuracy; ie we are dealing in 4 or 6 decimal places and some program may be in pixels....... or whatever
rich
on to A8
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spnar,
same stuff as the others, i trimmed each line so they were joined, also moved the profile to x&y=0
if you draw the profile anywhere and then go to move some point to the origin xyz=0 i always use
specify the point.
it cleaned and converted
rich
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Rich
I am working in metric . Guess the same principles apply
just tought i should let you know.
Spnar
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Thanks Rich,
I truly appreciate your help but I'm obviously going to need to be hand held through this crap if I'm ever going to get it and that's just not feasable.
I think I'm giving up here and I think I'll play more with the wizards for now-
As always, thank you, sir- :)
Dave
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Dave,
maybe you need a trip down the road to delaware
RICH
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Ok Rich i am getting somewhere
Drawing A4 too your advice with radius and extended stock def line and it still did not work.
Then i had a look at Loading options and found Optimise drawing ticked off and switched this on
and also Automatically add inside and outside lead ins ticked off and switched this on.(I do not Know what this refers to)
Presto it worked
I will try the others and let you know.
I am sure we will not meet in the after life because you are going to heaven ;)
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Spnar,
One common factor in the drawings that did not work is that they have a reverse curve.
If it's a curve (part of circle) followed by straight line it seems to be ok.
Just for kicks here is a file which you can play with and has reverse curves in it.
Yes, it sure does make a difference if we are working in different systems.
Just wasn't paying attention. ???
RICH
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Spnar,
Good catch, as there is nothing about the setup in the manual. I also keep the "As Drawn" checked
but even though i have the "remove duplicate lines " checked it didn't remove them.
So make sure you scan the drawing for duplicates. This is very easy to do and not see should you do a trim and then another larger one and it leaves this little arc there. Same goes for say a small line. Lazycam may pick it up for you as I think it drew a circle but wouldn't clean and convert.
I don't know about the heaven bit, tried to enter and they said i needed additional repentance, then sent me back to
Earth to learn Lazycam! ;D
RICH
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Dave,
maybe you need a trip down the road to delaware
RICH
Thank you Rich, but as a wise man has once said, a man's got to know his limitations.... ;)
Dave
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Ok this ones for another day.
Using the vertical line on the left side of the profile you can progressively provide toolpaths for different sections
of the profile since the line defines the end of cutting. There may be other ways to do this. Remember that
Lazycam was just meant to provide a DXF conversion of the PROFILE and generate the code not necessarily
replacing a CAM program.
RICH
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Hi Rich
Will look into these and get back.
Spnar.
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Hi Rich
This is what i am getting with 4rev curves A8.
Spnar
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ok it takes me a long time to get there.
I had the max penetration for tool too short.
Now it looks like this.
With my mistakes and your advice and solutions i think we will end up with
a decent manual. :P
Spnar
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Spnar,
So if you wanted to completely cut the profile you would need to change the penetration.
By changing that setting you have some control over extent of toothpaths. You can now post code to file at this point,
and if .....not sure of this, ... if you go back and do additional rough and finish cuts creating profiles i think it adds to to the original
toolpaths. Just don't remember what i did to get the additional postings of toolpaths. I need to play with it.
At work got to go, 9:am here
RICH
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Hi Rich
Just knoked off from work here but have a mountain of work to do at home.
Its a to do list by the missus and that can only be postponed to a certain extent.
Then i start getting penalty points.
From your last post;
"if you go back and do additional rough and finish cuts creating profiles i think it adds to to the original
toolpaths." when you get some time would you elaborate on this.
Thanks
Spnar
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Spnar
Forget about the additonal cuts. Senior moment. :)
Just going to keep it simple and hack at that part no more. Your more than welcome to hack away. ;D
DXF in, clean convert, roughing and a finish pass based on parameters and tool settinigs, post code.
Life is Good
:)Rich
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I think i have enough material to try out some parts.
Be sure you will hear from me later on
Thanks for the help
Spnar ;)
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Hallo boys, well I don´t now how many we are how have cnc lathe. But I was buying my Mach3 only to make one thing. Drive my lathe.
maybe 90% have a mill but we other 10% how is lathe drivers even we hade pay to play.
Right or wrong?
Vicke
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Hi Vicke,
We have much in common as I also came to Mach for use as a controlling program for running a Lathe at a hobby level. Mach Turn dose a nice job of doing it. I tried the latest developement version of Mach along with the SS plug tonight and all I need is to have the backlash compensation done and a "winning" combination is in place. I think that will be in the near future.
I wish more people like yourself would jump in as there got to be more than just a handfull out there.
You underestimate the trend on CNC lathe users as you will not be a minority in the near future. The CNC lathe with software is here. But the software available for the hobbiest is few and far between in both price and functionality.
Will you pay? Sure, just like the milling, but at least you already have a controller along with functional wizards which provides almost instant capability. They didn't even exist just a short time ago. Now if you want to progress,
namely turning profiles, then Lazycam will do it within limits. You want to get fancier, just pay! But then if Lazyturn
becomes a reality, you just may have something that you won't find anywhere else for the price.
So you realy didn't have to pay to play on the lathe. Just needed a fork and knife to be able to eat.
You can always learn to program the lathe code, but for me, that would be like eating with my fingers!
RIGHT OR WRONG?
;)RICH
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Hi RICH,
yes you are right about addons and mach3 and Lazycam it is really fine program and of course a big job behinde. Im´m sorry if you take the critique personally.
I se you are working hard to make Lazycam to work. If the power from the begining been have start say as 50/50% on mill/turn software in mach mybe we
have hade another situation today. But of caurse if we only are a few members how have a turn even I can understand the situation.
About pay I have no shoise becourse I can´t make any programming. I´m not critiquel ..okey I was but I think I was missunderstanding when I wrote my reply ;)
Yesterday is over, perhaps even I can make some small thing to make Lazycam more confortable in future.
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Hi guys
The only way forward is to use this program and make mistakes.
If you follow this thread there is a mine of information.There is much more if you browse the forum.
At least there is a manual for mach turn and that makes the process of obtaining a part on the lathe less painfull.
After using my home built mill for some time using Kcam i needed to complement it with a small lathe. As RICH said
there is not much out there and all the effort put in to make Layzycam work will pay dividends.
If layzyturn matures then maybe we could move on to that.
Both machines Lathe and Mill are complementary and you will need both to make your projects
a reality. 8)
Spnar
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Vickle,
Never took it as a critique or personally. We are still friends of the hobby. Written words have a tone to them and with short sentnces / to the point sometimes comes across as harsh or hard to the reader. If you try something based on what's posted and it dosn't seem to work for you or the instructions are not clear, just post and may be able to help.
Spnar,
Do any machiniing yet?
RICH
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Hi Rich
Am struggling with the to-do list as presented by wife.
As stated in previous posts i have postponed this way too long.
HOWEVER ;D
I have machined some trials using wizards just to check the accuracy of my setup.
It needs a little more work for good engineering jobs but it's ok for decorative machining
works.
My first project will be a decorative piece which is an ideal project to learn Lazycam
Lots of different shapes and in the process you can refine the machine for more accurate works.
I have a profile which is proving to be a bit of a hard nut to crack and may need your help soon.
If i crack it i will post it anyway.
Spnar ;)
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Hi ALL
Am posting profile in LCam and DXF.
It cleaned and posted code reasonably well.
As always some cleaning up was required .
Will try to machine this profile and see how it goes.
By the way Rich i called this 3 balls plus
Spnar
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Spnar,
Looks like your making good progress. I also have my honey do's to do.
I have not had much luck in manipulating the entities, maybe way off course in what i was trying to do.
What program are you using to generate the DXF file or create the profile? I ask because it's 3D
and had to do a couple of conversions to get it to 2d and imperial units.
Rich
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Hi Rich
Am using AUTOCAD LT2000.
Should have some time to do some machining next week i will post results.
I have been checking the code generated for the last profile i posted and it needs some
cleaning up.
Spnar
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spnar,
Added another another section to the manual for lazycam tabs. Can be found in the Members Docs thread. May want to brouse thru it.
RICH