Messages

1

Bargain Basement / Re: NEW Rotary 4th Axis, ZERO Backlash, Duplex Worm Drive

« on: July 09, 2018, 07:26:54 PM »

Will this unit be available with a 3 or 4 jaw chuck? I would think that would be a more desirable option. I would be more likely to buy one. What about a tailstock option?

john

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: new guys needs guidance

« on: May 17, 2011, 11:18:13 PM »

Sorry, no help, but maybe a little encouragement;

I was sitting with a new (to me) CNC mill 3 weeks ago without a clue. I could make the axis move and that was about it. I am good with my CAD program in both 2D and 3D (Turbo Cad), very proficient with a computer and have a few years (hobby) experience manual machining.

Groundhog

So how do you like Turbo Cad? I'm looking for a CAD/CAM package as I'm using Google Sketch-Up to do a project I'm working on. I see TurboCad is on sale for $99 and you get a bunch of training videos with it.

John

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: new guys needs guidance

« on: May 17, 2011, 03:53:51 PM »

I have tried a couple wizards in Mach 3 one worked great the other, CUT CIRCLE by Kiran, did not. I entered the X, Y center locations, circle diameter, depth, tool diameter and adjusted the feed settings and Z heights. When I clicked on Post G Code, the toolpath display just displayed a large arc on the screen around the center of my X,Y home settings. I was assuming it would show the circle at the X,Y location.

Here is an example of my settings: X & Y set to 4.0, 1.0 for the circle diameter, 0.50 for the depth and 0.125 for the tool diameter.

I have gotten all the Axis' moving in the right directions and the correct distances. I have hit the regen toolpath button before running the program but nothing changes. Any ideas??
Thanks
John

4

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

« on: May 17, 2011, 01:35:37 PM »

Hello All
I'm John (aka johntech), new to cnc. I have an electronic background with 30 years in the workforce and still going.  I have an inexpensive Zen Toolworks 12x12 machine for a starter system, running a TB6560 controller on an old 1.2 ghz processor via the parallel port. I'm working on building a rotary coal dumper for my future "S" gauge train layout. I have been trying to draw up the end pieces to look like the real ones using Google Sketch-up. Not sure how to get my drawing from there to my machine for cutting. I know I need some sort of CAM program to convert it. Still learing about that. I have finally gotten everything setup on my machine so all the axis' are moving in the right directions. I have setup and programmed the Auto Tool Zero button as found in some of the posts here.

I have tried a couple wizards in Mach 3 one worked great the other, CUT CIRCLE by Kiran, did not. Instead of moving to a location and milling a hole, it just started cutting a huge arc. I assumed you enter the X, Y location of the hole, the diameter and depth of the hole, size of the bit and hit START.

I have had several classes in VB 6 programming but none in VB Script. I have been scanning through the forum looking for information to learn more about running the machine I have.

Thanks for any information you can pass along

John