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G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / M98 to make multiple different parts on the same sheet.

« on: April 01, 2012, 12:30:36 PM »

Does anybody have an M98 guide? I found out the hard way, for example, that the (external file) subroutine doesn't belong in the same directory as the calling code, but in the MACH3/subroutines directory. Also, I figured out external subroutines don't work if there isn't an invisible carriage return after the M99 in the called routine. Now I can call up the SAME subroutine (cuts one part) and use M52 to duplicate it 10 times at different parts of the sheet. I can repeat this with a different part on a different sheet. As long as all the parts are the same, no problem. But if I call several routines for several different parts on the same sheet, the whole thing gets messed up. Parts beyond the first part show a tool path with those nasty large loops (not circles) for G2 arcs which suggest that the absolule coordinates have been wrongly set with G90.1. All the parts are using the same absolute coordinates and all the parts are similar. What could cause a subroutine to be somehow corrupted by running a prior subroutine?

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G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Mach3 missing DXF import.

« on: February 03, 2012, 12:03:04 AM »

I have the demo version and TurboCAD. I have a .DXF from TurboCAD. The MACH3 user guide in section 6.7 refers to a File>Import function in Mach3. There is no such function in the file menu when I click the file menu drop-down. The web site says MACH3 can import DXF via LazyCam. In LazyCam there is an open DXF file function, but I can't figure out how to translate it into GCODE. Which of the two tools should I use and how does it work? I have Mach3 Version R3.043.022 running under Windows 7, 64-bit. Just trying it out before buying all the hardware and software.