Messages

1

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Joining chains/entities in LazyCam

« on: June 16, 2009, 06:33:19 AM »

Greetings Rich,

That's all there is to it... just delete the command to move the router back up and the cutter will stay down. You could just change the z height in the rapid command, but if you are not moving the cutter, I'd just get rid of that command all together. I'd recommend practicing on a very simple program first. Soon you'll be able to read the g-code and right away recognize what the commands mean.

Thanks much,
Shane Sidebottom

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LazyCam (Beta) / Re: LazCam problem

« on: July 09, 2008, 09:40:42 AM »

The release numbers are all messed up and have been for a long time. I think the latest release is Jan 2008. Don't go by the rev. numbers.

3

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Lazycam3 tutorial video

« on: March 24, 2008, 07:51:52 AM »

If it is reseting up 0.10 then I am wondering if you've got a positive number instead of a negative number in the "Cut Start" box.. If you've set the Z at zero at the height of the material being cut... then all cuts into the material will be negative numbers (like -0.10 for example). If you've already got it working like you like, but it is returning to the rapid height before plunging to make another pass, there are some ways to get rid of that too. I tend to minimize this time by setting the rapid height just 0.125" above the cutting surfaced. As another option, you could edit the G-code and remove the commands that make the cutter go up. I'd only do that if you have a program that works great and you want to productionize it because you are making many of the same piece or part.

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LazyCam (Beta) / Re: offset problem solution?

« on: March 18, 2008, 12:36:25 PM »

It could be the specific type of *.dxf flie that Corel is saving. Even among users of AutoDesk AutoCAD, there big differences in *.dxf files because of the versions of AutoCAD out there. Your CADSTD program may be taking the *.dxf and saving it as a R12 version of *.dxf and this might be why it is solving the problem.  If you can, always save the file as a Release 12 version of AutoCAD... you'll see it as AutoCAD R12 in most CAD programs. If you do that, your problems may be solved.

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LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Profile question, why does it become part of the cut?

« on: March 16, 2008, 09:35:03 AM »

Agreed. The truth is that LazyCAM isn't really full blown CAM software. It is a means to go quickly from a CAD file to a g-code file, and back. There are a lot of things it lacks, but it is pretty easy to learn and quick to use too.

I'd think the logic with LazyCAM is that it gives you, in tool path, a what you see is what you get approach. It doesn't show cutter diameter or table size like other CAM packages do... but you can still do some pretty amazing things with it.

6

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: LazyCam...Baffled

« on: March 16, 2008, 09:26:38 AM »

I'd suggest that may be you have an old version of LazyCAM; that would explain the different screen layout. Why it would load on one computer and not the others... I don't know. I'd recommend downloading the latest version of both Mach 3 and LazyCAM from this website. Also, the Mach3 manual talks about the tests you can do on your computer to make sure everything will work O.K.

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LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Why is it making travel paths into cut paths????

« on: March 13, 2008, 05:27:16 PM »

This sort of thing has happened to me before too. I suspect all heights are at zero. In LazyCam you need to tell it what the Rapid Height is (traveling to and from cut lines), the cut start is (how deep it should plunge), and the final cut depth. This information is inputted in the Layers tab at the bottom of the screen. Hope this helps.

8

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: lazycam pro

« on: March 08, 2008, 10:34:44 AM »

Greetings Bill,

I don't have that problem. Does it stop after it opens the DOS window? Maybe you have downloaded an older version of FreeMill. I am using the 2003 release that I downloaded from www.mecsoft.com. It comes up just fine, and my operating system is Windows Vista which usually has problems with earlier programs. Hope this helps

Ergoman

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LazyCam (Beta) / Re: lazycam pro

« on: March 07, 2008, 05:48:41 AM »

Bill,

LazyCAM will not do any 3D work. No way to even try it, it is just too lazy for that. But it works great for 2 1/2D stuff.

I've been using FreeMill when I needed to make something 3-D. Provided you have an *.stl file, you can use this program to cut it. It is from the same people that make Visualmill and Rhino3D. And it is free which means it is in my price range. You won't have all the features of Rhino3D, but it is possible to make it work.

10

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Cross made using LazyCAM and Mach3

« on: February 27, 2008, 06:14:20 AM »

Thanks everyone! I've tried some Corian. It looks nice. The only problem I have is cutting it out. I cut these out using a scrollsaw and Corian will tend to fuse back together if the blade is too hot. I "discovered" filling the grooves with walnut wood dust mixed with polyurethane. This made one friend jealous and angry... "When did YOU get a laser machine? Why didn't you tell me about it? and Maybe I can use it?"