Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: BobCAM generating unusable g code...

« on: August 24, 2008, 11:47:36 PM »

Chip

Again... thanks for the help, but I need to figure out how to make this work for myself. I can't very well come to this or any other board with a jpeg of what I want and expect someone to write gcode for me. I need to understand what is going wrong.

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: BobCAM generating unusable g code...

« on: August 24, 2008, 09:44:05 PM »

Thank you for the code, but that's not the point. I'm using this simple project in an attempt to understand the procedure from concept to cut, ya know? So far, unless I can read and type raw gcode, Mach 3 doesn't work.

CAM programs seem to be unreliable as well, and I'm running out of options. Sure, for cutting simple shapes such as a circle, or a designing a caster mounting plate, I could likely type raw gcode as it doesn't look THAT complicated... but what about more complex shapes? 3D shapes that require specific points and chamfers? The ideal solution is a CAM program... but I can't seem to make any of them work, and I'm unwilling to continue purchasing one application after another trying to find ONE that works with Mach 3.

I'm rapidly approaching offering what I've built for sale in an attempt to recover SOME of the money I wasted with this silly project.

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: BobCAM generating unusable g code...

« on: August 24, 2008, 06:49:44 PM »

Thank you for your efforts... but both those are wrong. See what I mean?

I just need a circle, cut out of 1/2 inch plywood, that is 22.5 inches in diameter, with a 1/4 inch hole in the center.

This SEEMS like a simple thing. Yet, NO cam software can do it.

I suppose what is really bothering me about all this is that it seems that EVERYONE has gotten this stuff to work BUT me. I'm doing everything people tell me, and it doesn't work. Maybe I should just give this up.

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: BobCAM generating unusable g code...

« on: August 24, 2008, 05:20:01 PM »

What?? 

Ok.. I found a MachMill post processor for BobCAD V.22.  I set it in the preferences, and reposted the gcode. It did the EXACT same thing.

I'm about at the end of my rope here. NOTHING does what it SAYS it will do! WHY?? I created the entire file in BobCAD, so there IS NO DXF.  Besides, LazyCAM is a useless program at present. IF it gets developed further, it may become something, but in it's present state, you can't even generate a tool path offset.

I was under the impression that BobCAM would actually DO what it says it can. I guess I was wrong.

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: BobCAM generating unusable g code...

« on: August 24, 2008, 04:20:42 PM »

This is the WHOLE code generated...

(BEGIN PREDATOR NC HEADER)

(MACH_FILE=3AXVMILL.MCH)

(MTOOL T1 S1 D.25 H5. DIAM_OFFSET 1 = .125)

(MTOOL T2 S1 D.25 H5. DIAM_OFFSET 2 = .125)

(MTOOL T3 S1 D.201 H5. DIAM_OFFSET 3 = .1005)

(MTOOL T4 S1 D.35 H5. DIAM_OFFSET 4 = .175)

(MTOOL T5 S1 D.25 H5. DIAM_OFFSET 5 = .125)

(SBOX X-.375 Y-.375 Z-1. L23.25 W23.25 H1.)

(END PREDATOR NC HEADER)



%

O100

(PROGRAM NUMBER)

(PROGRAM NAME - TIMSDISC.NC)

(POST -  FANUC 0M)

(DATE - SUN. 08/24/2008)

(TIME - 10:34AM)



N01 G90 G80 G40 G20 G17



N02 G00 G91 G28 Z0.

N03 G91 G28 X0. Y0.



(JOB 1  CONTOUR)

(TOOL #1  0.2500  ENDMILL ROUGH)



N04 T01 M06

N05 S748 M03

N06 G90 G54 X22.625 Y11.25

N07 G43 H01 Z.1 M08

N08 G01 Z-.5 F1.7968

N09 G03 X22.625 Y11.25 I-11.375 J0. F2.9947

N10 G00 Z.1

N11 M09

N12 M05

N13 G91 G28 Z0.

N14 M01



(JOB 2  TAP  RANDOM POINT PATTERN)

(TOOL #2  0.2500  CENTER DRILL)



N15 T02 M06

N16 S504 M03

N17 G90 G54 X11.25 Y11.25

N18 G43 H02 Z.1 M08

N19 G81 G98 X11.25 Y11.25 Z-.08 R.1 F1.0084

N20 G80

N21 G00 Z.1

N22 M09

N23 M05

N24 G00 G91 G28 Z0.

N25 M01



(JOB 2  TAP  RANDOM POINT PATTERN)

(TOOL #3  0.2010  DRILL)



N26 T03 M06

N27 S874 M03

N28 G90 G54 X11.25 Y11.25

N29 G43 H03 Z.1 M08

N30 G81 G98 X11.25 Y11.25 Z-.6604 R.1 F2.6225

N31 G80

N32 G00 Z.1

N33 M09

N34 M05

N35 G00 G91 G28 Z0.

N36 M01



(JOB 2  TAP  RANDOM POINT PATTERN)

(TOOL #4  0.3500  CHAMFER TOOL)



N37 T04 M06

N38 S425 M03

N39 G90 G54 X11.25 Y11.25

N40 G43 H04 Z.1 M08

N41 G81 G98 X11.25 Y11.25 Z-.058 R.1 F1.2769

N42 G80

N43 G00 Z.1

N44 M09

N45 M05

N46 G00 G91 G28 Z0.

N47 M01



(JOB 2  TAP  RANDOM POINT PATTERN)

(TOOL #5  UNC  1/4-20   SPIRAL TAP)



N48 T05 M06

N49 S595 M03

N50 G90 G54 X11.25 Y11.25

N51 G43 H05 Z.1 M08

N52 G84 G98 X11.25 Y11.25 Z-.7 R.1 P0. F.05

N53 G80

N54 G00 Z.1

N55 M09

N56 M05

N57 G00 G91 G28 Z0.

N58 G91 G28 X0. Y0.

N59 T01 M06



(END OF PROGRAM)



N60 M30

%

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: BobCAM generating unusable g code...

« on: August 24, 2008, 03:35:05 PM »

What do you mean "Don't use BobCAD"? A LOT of people in this forum recommended it for generating gcode! I just PAID FOR IT!

I'm getting a little tired of bad advice. This whole CNC adventure has been VERY frustrating. Why have so many people been able to just make it all work with ease, and I'm not able to cut out a      circle!

7

General Mach Discussion / BobCAM generating unusable g code...

« on: August 24, 2008, 02:19:29 PM »

I looked through a lot of posts but could not find an answer on this one. I'm just trying to cut a simple circle, and have drawn it up in BobCAD, then creating the gcode with BobCAM.  It all looks fine, and even simulates perfect... IN BOBCAM.

As soon as I load the gcode into Mach 3, it won't run. It gives an error saying "Cannot use two g codes that both use axis valuesLine 17"

Seriously, do I have to just learn to type g code just to run this machine?? I've had TONS of trouble with cam software. LazyCam is just a joke, and BobCAM generates bad g code.  The line it stops on reads:

N02 G00 G91 G28 Z0

I'm REALLY confused here.

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Motors are jerky and whine a lot...

« on: August 07, 2008, 06:40:07 PM »

Now that's just funny! 

Thanks for the advice. Reading through this forum and the Xylotex forums, it seems my computer is the most likely problem. SO.. to that avail, I've found a refurbished desktop on eBay. It has all the system requirements for Mach 3.

The only thing is still the parallel port, but if this machine doesn't have one, I'm gonna invest in the SmoothStepper. Reading through the posts about that thing, it seems like the SmoothStepper is the future of home CNC as parallel ports are becoming a bit rare these days.

I'll keep you all posted!

9

General Mach Discussion / Motors are jerky and whine a lot...

« on: August 06, 2008, 03:26:07 AM »

Ok.. Yet another saga in the trouble of setting up a CNC machine. I have a Xylotex board and three steppers, 4 wires, bipolar, 425 oz in.  It's the 'kit' they sell on their web site, XS 3525/8s-3.  I'm running Mach three on a Compaq laptop using windoze XP (I know, laptops aren't recommended, but they don't tell you that until AFTER you get Mach 3!)  Anyway.. my comp is actually pretty stable. I've done all the tweaks in that setup doc on the Artsoft website.

Now the problem. I can get the motors to move, but they only move at VERY low speeds. If I increase the jog rate, they just whine and get really jerky or just stop altogether. I have 5/16 lead screws, and have done the math for my steps per making it 25,600. (8 microsteps*200 steps per revolution*16-screw pitch).

I've played with the Veloc and Accel sliders to try and get 'em smoother, but to no avail. ANY advice?

... as a side note, is there a way to reverse a motor's direction in Mach, or should I just switch the wires around?

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: General newbie set ups....

« on: August 03, 2008, 10:16:40 PM »

Ok.. well as far as CAM software, I've found several links to many different CAM/Gcode generating software all for over $200! No offense, but I kinda want to see if this program is even gonna work before I keep throwing money at it.

As for the LED's I was refering to, they are the ones in the "Tab" flyout jog thingie. The "Jog Mode" LED's don't work. I can still jog the motors around, but I don't get cont., step, or MPG.

And still.. I'm VERY confused about setting up tool offsets. I have a simple piece.. a circle with smaller circles cut into it. OBVIOUSLY the tool must travel the OUTSIDE of the bigger circle, but INSIDE the smaller circles... this simple task seems all but impossible. DO I have to create my CAD drawings compensating for the tools myself? If I want a one inch circle, do I have draw a 3/4 circle to compensate for the tool? That doesn't seem right!

Has ANYONE got this figured out with TurboCAD, and the basic NON PRO version of LazyCam?