Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / Retrofit an Acroloc M12

« on: January 31, 2009, 02:59:52 AM »

Hey guys,
I'm kicking around having an Acroloc M12 mill retrofit to run on Mach 3. The machine is working, cut some parts this week, but the controller will have a fit now and then. It would be great to have a little more memory, and a lot less tape reading... Called about a BTR, now thinking a complete retrofit would be better, after hearing some prices from the tape place. Not a fan of the ancient controller with the bad attitude either(gets slapped around a lot to make it act right ). It's acted a little better since wiring to real three faze, but in not trustworthy by any measure.

Thought this would be the best place to ask if someone in the KC area has done this sort of thing. Don't think I will have the spare time needed to get a project like this done in a timely fashion(or the know-how).
If you could direct me to a person/company that have experience in this sort of thing, and can pull it off in a reasonable time frame, it would be great.

Thanks,
Sam Steeb
username @ hotmail.com

2

LazyCam (Beta) / LCam Foam 2D

« on: July 11, 2008, 11:54:18 AM »

I'm having trouble getting the foam section to work as needed. I'm likely doing something wrong, but I've been able to locate much reference material on this.
The project in question is to cut 39x27"6mm thick sheets of foam. The machine will be holding multiple sheets and keep them standing upright and separated.

What I was expecting to do with LCam is load a file containing different shapes and it create a path going from one to the next. I get that much, but it goes *thru* the other cut areas. Turning rapid on and off doesn't help, when posted to Mach it appears that the rapids are still there. I was really hoping to have a home in the center of the table that would allow the wire to park below the work or at least on one side.
Is it possible for LCam to create a path that goes from piece to piece without breaking other chains and enters and exits a part in the same place?

If this is not something LCam is able to do can someone recommend another program that will?

Thanks,
Sam

3

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / reset home with G code

« on: July 06, 2008, 08:16:09 PM »

Hello all,
I'm a newbie to Mach 3 but have been very impressed. I am a toolmaker, and have some experience with CNC mills and lathes. So far Mach 3 has been awsome, love being able to tailor everything.

I recently started working on building a 4x4x3' hot wire machine and also purchased a 2x1'x4" router. Programming is being done with Featurecam and/or Mastercam as these are what we use at work. So far there is one thing I would like to do that I cannot figure out...

How can I make the machines reset home position after every run? I would like this to be done with a G-code command that I can just put into the post.

Thanks,
Sam