Topics

1

LazyCam (Beta) / Turbocad PLT file does not load correctly in LazyCam

« on: January 13, 2010, 03:59:03 PM »

I am having trouble loading plt files created by TurboCad 15 into Lazycam. Plt files from other programs like Corel Draw work correctly. If I open the plt file after saving it, it looks ok in TurboCad. When I look at the file in notepad, it seems the coordinates for the PA command are not correct or are using a format that is not recognized. I tried to attach both the tcw and the plt file but this forum seemingly does not accept those file types. An exported DXF from TC seems to be ok.
Thanks

2

LazyCam (Beta) / Default values for version 2.58

« on: November 28, 2007, 02:04:20 PM »

Can someone please tell me where LCam gets the z value for initial height ( I get 60) and the initial velocity for the F parameter ? I get F60 when I save the gcode.

Thanks

3

General Mach Discussion / THC Control Family

« on: November 25, 2007, 01:08:33 PM »

I have downloaded the latest Mach 3 and use LazyCam that came with it. When I save the gcode from lazycam, the initial z axis setting is 60. I cannot for the life of me find out where that comes from. Also, it does not automatically add lead-ins. Is there something I need to setup for both of these problems ?

In the Mach3Mill beta 7.57 documentation, there is a discussion on page 6-12 about THC control family. Where in Mach3 is this section talking about ? I have a plasma CNC and I want to use the torch on control.

I have another problem I think I created.  For testing purposes, I created a gcode file to cut 5 lines 2 inches long spaced 1/4 in apart. I must have checked something wrong because when the code tells the torch to move to a location, the x and y motors do not move at the same time such that the movement is a diagonal. It moves the x first and when it gets to the end of travel, it then moves the y dimension. In Mach3 the toolpath movement that is displayed does move in a diagonal. Last week it did move correctly.  Help please !!!

Thanks for any assistance

4

General Mach Discussion / Corel Draw Trace and Plasma cutting

« on: May 14, 2007, 04:40:31 PM »

I have some paper templates that I have used over time to create curved wall sconce's  for outdoor lighting. I want to input them into Corel Draw in order to make a plt file and then gcode files for my plasma cutting setup. This is a question on how to make Corel Draw give me what I need for the plasma cutting. I traced the template with a sharpie pen and then scanned the image into the computer. The pattern is a floral design which contains a number of petals. A petal would be cut with the torch leaving a part of it attached to the base metal so it can be bent out a little. In terms of shapes, it is a open curved object, ie is not closed. When I use the trace feature, it does create the trace however when I export it to a plt file, the cutting path is going to go around the inside and the outside of the lines making up the petal. I do not want it to double cut, just make it do one cut path for each shape. Can anyone help me ? I have done other images by using Corel and one of the irregular tools to lay a new object over the scanned image but it takes forever to do. It seems the trace tool should be able to give me a single trace for a line. BTW, I used line art as a selection on the trace setup. Also tried others to no avail.

Thanks for any assistance.

5

General Mach Discussion / Plasma turns on --- Computer stops

« on: January 29, 2007, 03:03:37 PM »

I finally got my stepper motors working, x y and z. Attached my hand held torch and cut a few shapes. Sometimes, when the torch comes on, the G code stops, the computer is locked up. Even alt, ctl, Del does not work. Seems there is electromagnetic interference. I wrapped copper window screen aroung the printer cable and grounded the screen to the computer and it seemed to work sometimes. I have an Lteck plasma cutter with a high frequence start (that does not seem to work anymore since I hooked it up to the breakout relay for the switch. Any help or recommendations for the plasma machine type for use with Mach3 cam setup would be appreciated.

Alex

6

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / CorelDraw DXF export file does not load in Lazycam

« on: January 10, 2007, 12:17:21 PM »

I am new to this forum and trying to get my plasma cutter working. I have CorelDraw 7 and a trial version of CorelDraw X3. When I export to a DXF file, it cannot load in Lazy cam. Here are the two messages I get. I tried a simple script which says "William" and did the file-export on both types of Corel.

One says MachManip with a red circle with a X inside. This file was exported using the new X3 version and when opening it with Notepad, it does not have any like breaks. In Wordpad it looks ok.

The other says MachManip with a yellow triangle with a ! inside - "No entities found in import." This file was created in Coreldraw 7 and it does have line breaks in Notepad but doesn't load in Lazycam.

I must be doing something wrong in CorelDraw. Can anyone help me ?