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Hi Robert,
Welcome to the forum.
The demo Gcodes are all about learning how to use Mach3 and understanding Gcode so you are starting out on a great adventure my friend.
As an example, load Alien.tap. You will notice that the Gcode contains a G20 which tells us that the code has been written in Imperial (Inch) units. Click on Toolpath (Alt-4) and you will see the ‘Program Limits’ which tells us that the image size will be X Range + / - 2.4605” and Y Range + / - 3.4136” with a cut depth of 1/8”. These dimensions can be easily altered by returning to the Program Run screen and altering the Scale DRO’s – a value of 1.0000 is full size, a value of 0.5000 is half size, a value of 2.0000 is double size and so on. After changing a Scale DRO press ‘Enter’ (CR) then ‘Regen. Toolpath’. Returning to the ‘ToolPath’ screen will show the revised ‘Program Limits’. It should also be noted that Alien.tap has it’s Datum (X0,Y0) at the centre of the work (many Gcodes have the Datum at the lower left hand corner of the work).
Cut depth can be altered by changing the Z axis Scale DRO but it may be better to alter the Gcode program itself. Using Notepad select Edit / Replace, copy the first negative Z value found (in this case Z-0.050) into the ‘Find what’ box then type in your selected depth into the ‘Replace with’ box, then click ‘Replace All’ – then save the changes.
The dimension and cut depth for all the Demo Gcode programs can be found and altered in this way.
To run Alien.tap ‘as-is’, select a suitable material => 5” x 7” x ¼” set the cutter to dead centre of the work and zero the X and Y axis DRO’s, set the cutter (I suggest a ‘V’ bit for this one) just touching the surface of the work and zero the Z axis DRO, raise the Z axis so the cutter is clear of the work. Click on ‘Cycle Start’ and away you go. If necessary adjust Feed-Rate with the FRO slider.
The more you do the easier it all becomes but be prepared for some mega fails along the way.
Hope this helps.
Tweakie.
Guest