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Messages - Mpones

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1
General Mach Discussion / Re: Z-axis/tool driving me CRAZY
« on: June 02, 2011, 12:15:52 PM »
Well, cut depth not being negative sure explains a lot.

Tutorial 7 helped a lot as well, thanks again for the great support, Rich.

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General Mach Discussion / Z-axis/tool driving me CRAZY
« on: June 01, 2011, 07:46:02 PM »
I'm not sure where I'm supposed to configure my tool settings, in my cam software or mach3, but my z-axis goes up when it should be going down (into the wood to make a cut), and I'm not sure what some of my settings should be.

Let me run you through my process:
1- I open lazycam, and open the .dxf file. 

2- I then clean it up using the following AutoClean options: "Optimise Drawing" and "Relayer" (because I have some inside cuts).

3- I apply tool #1 (as I have set) to the inside layer, and the outside later.
My Router tool has the following settings: (These were the settings I was given by the person I purchased the CNC from, I am NOT sure if they are correct, except for the RPMs on my router)
Spindle speed:35,000rpm
Per pass: .25units
Plunge Feed: 50 units/minute
FeedRate: 80 units/minute

I do have inches set as the definition of units in mach3 and lazycam.

4- I applied the above to all layers of the .lcam project, then exported the gcode.

5- I open Mach3, and load the gcode... if I set the tool info in lazycam, do I need to configure anything else for the z-axis to work fine?

Under the "layers" tab on lazycam, What are the following supposed to signify?
Rapid Height: what does this value mean?
Cut start: What should this value be?
Cut Depth: (I'm pretty sure this one is obvious, how deep I'm cutting)

Hypothetically, if I have everything under the layers tab (Tool and Cut) configured properly, I can post the g-code to mach3, and not have to configure anything more in mach3, correct?  Cutting should be ready to go as long as mach3 has the correct 0,0 coordinates?

Upon running the machine, it seems like the tool is going UPWARD instead of downward into the wood, and then it randomly does make it into the wood, but when it DOES, it doesn't go as deep as it should be, which makes me think I don't know jack about getting the tool and z-axis set properly.

I've included the current .dxf file, .LCam file, and .tap gcode file that I'm working with, if anyone can point out where my problem is...

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Lazycam posts wrong g-code? SO LOST!!
« on: May 21, 2011, 01:32:25 PM »
The originals for this project were hand drawn, scanned into a high quality BMP file, then converted to a DXF... as I understand it, he should create his work in a CAD software, then save it as autoCAD r12 format, then import to Lazycam, then post up the G-code.  He has purchased mach3, so it is licensed.  Seems pretty straight forward, but we're probably getting these issues because he hand-wrote the files, right?

This is actually a project for a client of mine, I am an independent IT contractor, and I'm helping him learn the entire process from CAD to CNC.

My client has a Wacom Bamboo Pen n' Touch tablet, might he be able to theoretically redraw his work with it using, say perhaps, autoDESK sketchbook design, and then save it using the same software, or autoCAD, into the aforementioned process and be successful?  I originally thought that the use of pencil would render strenuous and tedious chains and entities, and apparently it is insanely affecting the G-code to the point where it posts next to nothing.

I'm just trying to figure out the easiest way for my client to get his CNC up and running, we appreciate all of the great help.

4
General Mach Discussion / Re: Lazycam posts wrong g-code? SO LOST!!
« on: May 20, 2011, 11:34:19 PM »
Can you post the DXF file and the LCAM file?

Probable reason for so manny entities in the chains is that the there are numerous lines which make up the arcs. Need to look at the
dxf.

See page 16 in the manual for info on the Connection line tolerance.

Quote
small ball of lines that looks nothing like it should... what am I doing wrong
Try changing  your IJ setting and mode in MACH.

RICH

Yah!  Here are the DXF and LCAM files, hope anyone can help in anyway...

Also, I think I mentioned it up top, but we already played with the tolerance, and it seems to have the cut in order just fine now, when the tolerance is at 11, and has minimal chains, but maybe I'm way off...

5
General Mach Discussion / Re: Lazycam posts wrong g-code? SO LOST!!
« on: May 19, 2011, 01:06:54 AM »
could the machine be in metric and the drawing in inches?
No... even if that were true, that wouldn't give crazy different shapes in mach3's g-code... it would all still be somewhat proportional...

EDIT: Ignore that third pic, for some reason I selected the wrong image.

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General Mach Discussion / Lazycam posts wrong g-code? SO LOST!!
« on: May 19, 2011, 12:41:11 AM »
I'm fairly new to this, but a lot of this seems like it should be pretty intuitive (that is to say, if the software is as automated as they make it seem).  I have a CNC Blacktoe machine, ready to run a mach3 milling profile which is all configured.  I just need to get the g-code to post properly so I can cut away...

First, I have a .BMP file that I convert to a .dxf using A9tech.  When I open the .dxf in lazycam, the image looks exactly like it should, but with an insane amount of chains.  So, I go into Setup -> Loading Options... Autoclean Settings -> "Connection like Tol. used in Optomise" and I change the value all the way to 11.  That seems to clean up the chains to the point in the screenshot I post.  (If changing the tolerance that high is the problem, how do I can those chains without changing the tolerance so much?).

Next, I click the "post G-code" button in LazyCam, I save the imported .dxf file to a ##.tap.  When I try to open it in Mach3, I get this weird small ball of lines that looks nothing like it should... what am I doing wrong?  I have the drawing files, I just want to get them into mach3 to be cut on my CNC machine! 

Yes, the original .BMP file is drawn to scale, and the proper size.  Yes, my mach3 is registered, and not a demo version, and yes, all software is up to date.  I am running Windows XP.

I'm uploading the .BMP file (converted to .JPG so it wouldn't be so big), the .dxf file, and the .tap file.  I'm also uploading a few screenshots of how the software looks when I'm using them.

/HALP

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