Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Trying to run a router table.

« on: November 01, 2011, 01:30:32 PM »

Thanks guys,
Most helpful, I don't use this program enough and I need to start using it more.
The support is much appreciated and useful.
Lindsay

2

General Mach Discussion / Trying to run a router table.

« on: October 13, 2011, 03:16:44 PM »

I'm trying to run an XYZ router table. I'm having trouble setting the Z axis and keeping it where I want it. I want to run a dry run of the part I'm cutting to see if the thing will cut. I'd hoped to set the the Z axis an inch over my substrate and run a test cut by fooling the machine into thinking it was in the 0.5 inch position to start. The machine keeps fooling my by going to the wrong depth.
Is there a way to do this?
Thanks,
Lindsay

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't always zero the X, Y and Z axis in Mach.

« on: June 17, 2009, 11:36:44 AM »

I guess that's the crux of my problem, I can't see how Mach could keep track of the machine coordinates. We have no encoders, only steppers. It's a router table, and all we are doing is sending a string of pulses to the steppers. Mach of course knows how many pulses we've sent and from there could derive a position. I am trying to run a test cut in the air above the substrate. I send the router head to a position 3" above the piece to be cut. Then I type in a value of 0.5" for the Z axis thinking this will redifine the Z axis as being 0.5" above the substrate. I then start the cycle but Mach ignores my redefinition and goes down too far to do my test cut in the air. Is there a way to do this?
Thanks,
Lindsay

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't always zero the X, Y and Z axis in Mach.

« on: June 16, 2009, 03:09:21 PM »

That may have been it. I'm a little confused about the difference, machine coordinates as opposed to what? I did finally muddle through and get it to work, not sure exactly what I did.
Thanks,
Lindsay

5

General Mach Discussion / Can't always zero the X, Y and Z axis in Mach.

« on: June 16, 2009, 12:25:35 PM »

When I load a gcode from sheetcam to cut out a part sometimes I can get Mach to zero and sometimes I can't. I've cut a male part and had it work but when I loaded a part to do a relief cut it didn't let me zero the x, y and z axis. I'd press the zero button next to the axis and nothing would happen. I can't understand why. There must be some button I haven't activated.
Thanks,
Lindsay

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: Sign done in relief (background routed out leaving the letters).

« on: June 16, 2009, 05:56:54 AM »

And thanks for your help as well Bloy, good suggestions too. I'll play around with it today and post a pix if I can make it work. As I say, I'm new to Mach and SheetCAM so it's a learning curve. I've got a friend coming down and he wants me to route some signs for the Girls Scout camp that his wive works at so it's for a good cause.
Take care,
Lindsay

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: Sign done in relief (background routed out leaving the letters).

« on: June 15, 2009, 08:48:02 PM »

I use CorelDraw to create the drawings. Sheetcam and of course Mach. Thanks for your suggestions, they were very good. I'll play around with that. I'm just learning Mach and Sheetcam so the help is much appreciated. I've used Corel for years in the sign business so I'm quite good with it.
Thanks for the help,
Lindsay

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Sign done in relief (background routed out leaving the letters).

« on: June 15, 2009, 12:59:53 PM »

Thanks, I have a CAD program already, Turbo CAD which unfortunately I don't know how to use. It's a learning curve. I do all my work in CoreDraw which I'm expert in, I used it for years while in the sign business. I can generate the DXF files I need in Corel just fine. What about generating multiple files, one file for each depth of cut, would that work? The only problem I see with that is registration, each file must exactly be aligned with the others or else there would be problems.
Thanks,
Lindsay

9

General Mach Discussion / Sign done in relief (background routed out leaving the letters).

« on: June 15, 2009, 09:39:26 AM »

Hi,
I'm trying to route out a sign in relief. My question: is it possible to set different depths of cut for different parts of the sign. If so how.
Thanks,
Lindsay

10

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: June 15, 2009, 08:21:39 AM »

I'm new, from Chattanooga, TN USA. I have a 4' X 8' CNC router table that I purchased used and a larger table that I intend to use for plasma, it's under construction. Also, I'm having trouble figuring out how to start a new thread, I have some questions I want to ask. If someone would help me it would be much appreciated.
Lindsay