Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Really new guy with a few questions

« on: August 24, 2009, 07:36:20 PM »

Hood

You were right I didn't have the configuration setup to stop on a tool change, made the change and ran the code and low and behold it stopped on the tool change and requested a Cycle Start after tool change completed and started running OK.  The code is too long to really see the rest of the process as it stops after 500 lines.  Thanks for your suggestion.

Ed

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Really new guy with a few questions

« on: August 24, 2009, 07:20:32 PM »

Hood

That has been my issue, when running the gcode in Mach3 I don't see it stop but this may be because I do not have a licensed copy yet.  The code continues to go by line by line with no input required from me.  I'll admit that this is the first time I have tried this, previous sessions have just been to prove that I was doing my part and it was running under Mach3.  I then got to thinking about the tool change and the time required for me to do this, or if I was occupied with something else at the moment I would want the lathe to stop and for Mach3 to stop processing the code until I completed the tool change and then told Mach3 to continue.  Did you look at the file I posted with the question?  What I was hoping for was that someone would take the file and run it in Mach 3 and give me some advice or just tell me that it wasn't stopping and give some example of how to make it stop.  I will have to look at the tool table again and see if I can see where you were talking about in your first reply and see if I can set it up if it is not setup.  Thanks for your reply.

Ed

3

General Mach Discussion / Really new guy with a few questions

« on: August 24, 2009, 05:11:32 PM »

OK up until a few weeks ago I knew nothing about g-code, I've been working on learning a CAM package to convert CAD drawing to g-code.  I've created a part profile produced g-code but since at this time I'm only using a demo copy of Mach3 Turn I don't know if it is working correctly or not.  My first question is;  in my code I send the QCTP to the home position stop the spindle (M00) make a manual tool change and then send a restart spindle command, is this the correct way to do this?  Will the code continue to run from the point where the tool change was made?  I'm in the process of converting my 7X14 Mini Lathe to CNC and due to short term memory problems I am making sure I can master the software side of the process before going any further.  I've downloaded Dolphin CAD/CAM and Mach3 and have created CAD drawings and generated code with the Lathe module in the CAM software.  I have Mach3 configured to the point that it will operated as a simulator on my computer (but is not licensed yet).

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: August 18, 2009, 04:03:44 PM »

Bart

If you send me your private email address I'll email you all 3 of the Mach3 manuals that will print on normal sized paper.  My personal email is yakfisherman(at)cox.net ( the (at) is to stop spam).

Ed

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to install Dolphin CAD/CAM post processor file

« on: August 14, 2009, 10:17:21 AM »

Thanks Rich, I'll go to Dolphin site and look for their post processor file and see if info can be found on installing it there. 

Ed

6

General Mach Discussion / How to install Dolphin CAD/CAM post processor file

« on: August 13, 2009, 11:45:38 PM »

Tried to find in forum but no luck.  Can anyone tell me how to install the Dolphin CAD/CAM post processor file I downloaded from the Artsoft web site so that it works with Mach 3 and Dolphin CAD/CAM?

Thanks

Ed

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: CHALLENGE - PRESENTED FOR DISCUSION

« on: July 28, 2009, 11:15:47 AM »

Rich

Great to hear that you are going to polish and update the file, and I do not consider it a waste of paper to print out a manual that I need.  Thanks 

Ed     

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: CHALLENGE - PRESENTED FOR DISCUSION

« on: July 27, 2009, 09:07:08 PM »

Rich

This would really be a big help especially if I could print it out??  Did you create this document? 

Ed

9

LazyTurn / Re: LazyTurn

« on: July 27, 2009, 08:06:43 PM »

Chip

After our conversation the other day concerning the location of drawing in the upper left quadrant of the drawing field, I moved all of my drawing to that area but, Solid Edge 2D doesn't have the coordinate 0:0 set anywhere near that location it is actually at the bottom left corner of the drawing field.  Once I moved the drawing to that location it all works fine.  All of the chess set pieces load , create toolpaths and generate g-code with no problem.  I was able to load each of the g-code files into Mach3Turn and run the code simulating the cutting process with no errors.  Now just have to wait until a version of LazyTurn is provide that will do finish cuts.  You didn't know it but you pointed me in the right direction and made me think about the problem from a different perspective which lead me to the answer.  Thanks again.

Ed

10

LazyTurn / Re: LazyTurn

« on: July 26, 2009, 11:59:59 PM »

Chip

OK, you confirmed my hunch.  I'll have to see if I can figure out how to use X,Y coordinates in my CAD program.  This may be a big problem since there is no user manual available for Solid Edge 2D software.  I'll try searching in the help file to see if I can find anything there.

Can you tell me how you moved the drawing to the correct location, step by step instructions would really help me.  My short term memory problem makes it very difficult for me to learn without having written directions.  Thanks a lot, again Chip!

Ed