Messages

1

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Inlay Question

« on: December 02, 2008, 09:15:24 PM »

Dave,

Wow, that is amazing!

I used Illustrator to create the DXF but then used a third party to convert it to a release #12 so it could be imported into Lazy Cam...

Guess I will try to use a program like Turbo cam to create a DXF that can be imported..

Pete

2

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Inlay Question

« on: November 30, 2008, 08:01:17 PM »

Dave, Chip,


I was able to convert the file to a DXF that can be opened...

Think I am on the right track, but still could use some help.

Could one of you try to open the file again and offer any advise you can....

One of the files is what looks like a center tool path, (named "Center") and the other (named "Outline") is what you would expect and what I think I need to pocket the letters with lazy cam...


Thanks in advance.

Pete

3

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Inlay Question

« on: November 30, 2008, 09:52:14 AM »

Thanks for the quick reply Chip,

Unfortunately, I really don't have a good answer as to how I ended up with the logo file I have...  Was trying a lot of options.

I attached a couple of DXF/DWG files that I created initially,  but I was not able to open them.  I think I ended up using the attached JPG file since DXF was giving me grief out of Illustrator.

If so, then I think I know why I have just an outline now...  probably used the "trace" option during import....  Is there another option?

On another note, regarding the box around the text....  I can do that, but I wanted to explain further in case I was vague before...  the pocket needs to be the actual letter shape, ( between the lines) not the surrounding area of the letter....

Thanks again...

Pete

4

LazyCam (Beta) / Inlay Question

« on: November 29, 2008, 08:05:21 PM »

Hi Everyone,

Just received my Lazy Cam pro license and could use some help.

I am trying to Inlay a logo into wood.

It is a stylized text pattern that I will need to pocket the letters and also have the typical islands for various portions of the letters.

I have attached the file in the event someone can see what I am doing wrong... Lazy Cam seems to be able to cut the lines of the inside and out side of the letters just fine, but I cannot seem to get the pocketing feature to work....

Eventually, the idea was  to create offsets as well so the two inlay pieces fit together....  Funny... Thought that the offsets would be the thing that would give me problems...

Thanks in advance..

Pete

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: What to do after a loss of Power?

« on: November 11, 2008, 11:28:44 AM »

Thanks for the feedback...

Really great suggestions, and a best practice I will incorporate going forward.

Pete

6

General Mach Discussion / What to do after a loss of Power?

« on: November 11, 2008, 10:38:05 AM »

Folks,

First of all... thanks to the help of Ray, Hood and countless others I have managed to get everything up and running...  Thank You!

I'll post some pictures shortly....


Everything was working great until I lost power last night half way through the machining process...  barley noticed as it wasn't enough to slow the router down, but the PC had to reboot.

Of course, afterwards I had to re-load Mach and the G-Code....

Here's my question ( I think I know the answer already) Is there a way to continue the machining process where it left off?  I have not moved the router however when I loaded the G-code back it zeroed everything at the point that the router stopped. Keep in mind that I do not know what line of G-code the machining stopped at, and of course, I am starting at line 1 again.


If not, and I have to start over, is there a good way to insure correct registration ?  or do I scrap the piece?

Thanks in advance,

Pete

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: Setting up Steps per inch - Need Clarification

« on: October 11, 2008, 03:28:58 PM »

Thanks Hood!

Took a look at the XML file and it doesn't seem to be read only in the properties tab. I'll be sure to select save settings ( near the bottom) from the configuration drop down menu, when I set this up again.

Pete

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Setting up Steps per inch - Need Clarification

« on: October 11, 2008, 03:03:27 PM »

Thanks for the help everyone...  that seems to do the trick.

10,000 is 1 inch on the nose.

Is there a reason why after the steps per inch are saved ( in this case 10,000) Mach would default back to 2000 when the application is started again?

Have done it several times and am confident that I am saving each axis.

Pete

9

General Mach Discussion / Setting up Steps per inch - Need Clarification

« on: October 06, 2008, 11:24:44 AM »

Hi Folks,

I have two different types of steppers on my machine.

Two are identical ( Motion Technologies N20 3451) and the literature says they have 200 Steps per revolution.  The third Motor I bought off of EBAY ( it is a RHT34 - 1200 - Rex Technologies) and am not aware of the steps per revolution, but have sent the manufacturer an email requesting it.

I am using 2 start 1/2" - 10 lead screws, (5 turns per inch) with Dumpster CNC anti backlash nuts, and 201 Geckos ( which I bought new so I assume they were factory set at 10 Micro step) .

If I use the utility in Mach to determine steps for an inch, it says I need to set the steps to 9753.147828 for the two MT motors. If I measure the distance on the table, It does seem close, but It's not exact.

The numbers seem huge but If I read other posts right, I should be able to calculate it on my own like this: 200( steps per rev) X 10(Drive Microsteps)  = 2000 X 5 ( to get to the inch)  = 10,000...  right?


The other motor seems to be around 1024... If anyone has any data on that motor it would be appreciated!

Thanks in Advance,

Pete

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: First Post - need some set-up guidance

« on: September 21, 2008, 02:16:26 PM »

Yes,  I am referring to the lights under the port 1 pin listing on the diagnostics page.  I have one that is lit all the time, it is the fourth pin from the left top row. ( I assumed it represented pin number 4) which is my directional pin for the Y axis.

Normally nothing lit there...

On another note, I am using a Toshiba Laptop, and the driver test is 99% good however, every now and then I get a spike. Think it is resulting in the motors stalling everynow and then... Going through optimization steps today. Not sure this would trigger the e-stop.

I attached the XML file... Thanks in advance for taking a look.