Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / how to get back to the spot

« on: October 02, 2014, 07:57:05 AM »

ok, half way through cutting. the bit broke, so i move the spindle close to me to change out the bit, but how do i tell the spindle pick up where it's left off?
thanks

2

LazyCam (Beta) / help lazycam to G code

« on: September 16, 2014, 10:10:47 AM »

ok, here's what i got totally new to CNC world.
i having issue using lazycam to put out the right G code for mach 3.
my table is set
Max Min
X 399 0
Y 568 0
Z 0 -73
so when it home it will be left hand bottom corner and the spindle at the highest point of the Z axis

here's the what i did please let me know what i did wrong.

i use autocad to draw up a cut in MM
i loaded it up with lazycam
first thing i did were reset origin and optimise.
then i group all the holes togather so 2 groups. one group is the holes and one group is the rectangle. the holes are with in the rectangle.
i click layer to set my tool. the tool i have is 6.35mm dia. once i selected the tool i send to all layers.
for the cut rapid height i set it at 6.35 cut start 0 cut depth 6.35 then i send to all layers.
here's my first question, i want to set the holes are cut inside of the line and the rectangle is cut outside of the line. how do i set that?
second, i set the mach 3 to run with soft limits. i must did not do something right because when i start the cycle, it show me softlimit warning. if i do continue, the spindle was way up on the z axis instead of down where the material is.
i can see in the G code, z 1.000, how/where do i set up so the lazycam can code it correctly or do i have to debug the code everytime, that just dont seem right.

i attached the dxf and the g code.
sorry kinda long read, looking forward to my first cut.
any help will be greatly appreciated.
thanks

3

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / help with converting DXF to G Code

« on: September 14, 2014, 09:23:15 PM »

ok, i am using autocad to draw up the cut, and save it as DXF and using lazycam to convert it to G Code.
the issue i am running into is, when i got the g code out and load it up with Mach3, it show my cut is about 10X time smaller or bigger than the size i wanted.
i try set the unit in autocad as inch and MM.
if i set unit as inch in autocad, when i load into mach 3, it's 10X smaller.
if i set unit as mm in autocad, when i load into mach 3, it's 10X bigger.
i am using acad.dwt template, but when i use acadiso.dwt template. the DXF file save from that template, the lazycam won't load it for some reason.

where did i do wrong?

is there a better program than autocad? i am new to CNC so only doing 2D cutting for now.

4

Mach3 under Vista / newbie with mach 3 need some help setting up.

« on: September 14, 2014, 12:04:41 PM »

just got my first CNC last week.
got it all hook up with the computer run win 7 32 bits, newest mach 3.
i am trying to setup homing and limits for the new machine.
i am a bit confuse.
the unit i bought is 6040z
i should have workable space of
580×400×75mm
but when i put XYZ axis to the one end and use keyboard move it to other end the mach 3 show me only move 199. Y i got 285 and Z i got 35.
so when i set the homing/limits.
i set it as
X 199 0
Y 285 0
Z  0 -35
is that right or should i go with what the manual said?