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General Mach Discussion / Newbie questions... Lazy Cam/Mach 3
« on: January 18, 2008, 08:40:58 PM »
Ok folks, here we go 
Just started this CNC thing. I've always wanted one and finally decided to go for it.
I have started producing my own version of the Rockwell "D", (router to start, plasma after) however a lot of mine will be made from aluminum. I have not purcased the steppers or control yet, I would like to get most of the table built first. I have the demo version (2.58) of lazy cam, as well as Mach 3 - I am totally new to both of these programs, and I am having difficulty with them.
I have watched the demo video of Lazy cam, but it is from a much different version than the one I have - and it seems to be much more user friendly. I have imported a DXF, but the tool paths are a mess, and there are lots of things that just seem to happen randomly. I find it very hard to change cutter direction, and it seems that quite often when I make a change, I go back to look at it after and it has not changed (double click on the chain). The simulate works so fast that I can hardly see where the tool path is actually going, and if I zoom in, the directional arrows don't get any bigger (i.e. easier to click on!)
How much different is the registered version? From what I have seen of the version I have, I would not purchase the "pro version" as this one seems to have so many issues. It would be nice if there was at least a "help file" or some sort of instructions that are current for the version I have, or somewhere (which I have been un-able to find) to download the version that the online help video is made with...
When I try to use the code in Mach3, I only get about the top right 1/4 of my part, the tool paths are all changed as well as the origin... It seems that there are MANY happy users of Mach3 out there, so I'm not as concerned with that - but I really don't know what I am doing in Mach3! (information overload!!)
If anyone has a link to "Mach 3 for dummies" and "Lazycam 2.58 for dummies" that would be great! (or suggestions of some other software I should be using in it's place)
Thanks!
Bruce
Just started this CNC thing. I've always wanted one and finally decided to go for it.
I have started producing my own version of the Rockwell "D", (router to start, plasma after) however a lot of mine will be made from aluminum. I have not purcased the steppers or control yet, I would like to get most of the table built first. I have the demo version (2.58) of lazy cam, as well as Mach 3 - I am totally new to both of these programs, and I am having difficulty with them.
I have watched the demo video of Lazy cam, but it is from a much different version than the one I have - and it seems to be much more user friendly. I have imported a DXF, but the tool paths are a mess, and there are lots of things that just seem to happen randomly. I find it very hard to change cutter direction, and it seems that quite often when I make a change, I go back to look at it after and it has not changed (double click on the chain). The simulate works so fast that I can hardly see where the tool path is actually going, and if I zoom in, the directional arrows don't get any bigger (i.e. easier to click on!)
How much different is the registered version? From what I have seen of the version I have, I would not purchase the "pro version" as this one seems to have so many issues. It would be nice if there was at least a "help file" or some sort of instructions that are current for the version I have, or somewhere (which I have been un-able to find) to download the version that the online help video is made with...
When I try to use the code in Mach3, I only get about the top right 1/4 of my part, the tool paths are all changed as well as the origin... It seems that there are MANY happy users of Mach3 out there, so I'm not as concerned with that - but I really don't know what I am doing in Mach3! (information overload!!)
If anyone has a link to "Mach 3 for dummies" and "Lazycam 2.58 for dummies" that would be great! (or suggestions of some other software I should be using in it's place)
Thanks!
Bruce