Messages

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LazyCam (Beta) / Re: LazyCam only ouputs 49 lines of g-code?

« on: October 03, 2008, 08:40:27 AM »

Thanks for the response Rich.

What would be awesome is if LazyCam or some other system would be able to duplicate the sloping profiles of each spoke from shallow on the outside of the wheel to slightly deeper near the hub.

I do have the simpler profiles loaded in LazyCam now, and it puts out g-code that Mach3 will use, although I have to edit it by hand because it doesn't do Tool Changes correctly, leaving off the "0" if I call for Tool 0.  I suppose I should stop being a computer nerd and start numbering my tools at "1".

I'm also trying out Cut2D and that looks pretty good.  I especially like how easy it is to modify the elements in the program and preview the toolpaths.  Now I just need to find $150 somewhere...

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LazyCam (Beta) / Re: LazyCam only ouputs 49 lines of g-code?

« on: October 02, 2008, 08:33:33 PM »

Got it - had to do a reboot!  Not sure why, but something must just have been cobbed up.  It cranked out a LOT of g-code after that!  Over 50,000 lines!

Does the fact that it's a 3D file matter?  I don't see any indication that it's 3D in the original DXF, in fact there's no ISO view capability or Z value assigned to any of the objects...  Most of them I deleted just to get an outline of the gearset...

I found out the "no offset" limitation in LazyCam, apparently I can't tell the package to offset each tool or operation   That's a big problem!

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LazyCam (Beta) / Re: LazyCam only ouputs 49 lines of g-code?

« on: October 02, 2008, 01:03:01 PM »

Nope, that didn't help either! 

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LazyCam (Beta) / Re: LazyCam only ouputs 49 lines of g-code?

« on: October 02, 2008, 12:46:22 PM »

I'm baffled but heartened.  I tried Cut2D just now and it crashes when I try to load the DXF file, so I guess I'll uninstall and re-install LazyCam!?

5

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: LazyCam only ouputs 49 lines of g-code?

« on: October 02, 2008, 11:29:02 AM »

I looked all over the site and couldn't find that anywhere.  Bummer!  Thank you for the response!

So this begs the question - is it worth the $75 to purchase the Pro, or should I look to another product?  It's hard to evaluate the thing if it only outputs 50 lines of code!  I do have a current license for Mach3 already.

6

LazyCam (Beta) / LazyCam only ouputs 49 lines of g-code? SOLVED

« on: October 02, 2008, 08:38:16 AM »

Can anyone help me figure out why LazyCam will only output 49 lines of G-Code for this DXF file of a gear?  GCode-2000 handles the DXF-to-G-Code conversion just fine, but LazyCam seems to be choking on something...

I have attached the original DXF file, my LCam file, and the resultant TAP file.

Any help would be greatly, greatly appreciated.

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to flatten table?

« on: October 17, 2007, 07:21:39 PM »

It's certainly one piece (of MDF), so I can't shim it, unless I did so under the sacrificial sheet, but I have plenty of room to screw it down outside the machining area so I am going to do that and machine it flat.

The table is bowed (high in the middle) and stiff enough that deflection is more likely to be caused by the unsupported rails than by any flexure in the table itself.  I will put the Z axis down into the center of the table when I get a chance and see, but I'm certain it will just deflect the rods.  In fact, I am going to add some supports under the bearing holders just to minimize deflection of the rods because that *can't be good*!

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General Mach Discussion / Re: How to flatten table?

« on: October 16, 2007, 10:05:56 PM »

Thank you for your reply!

The table is a single piece, there is unfortunately no place to shim, although I might be able to shim beneath the sacrificial top it wouldn't buy me much, I can just screw it down and machine it just as easily.

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to flatten table?

« on: October 15, 2007, 10:27:45 AM »

You guys are great - most other forums I wait days for a response (that probably never comes.)

I built a Rockcliff machine with unsupported rails for my first attempt, so the table has bronze bushings underneath that ride on two 5/8" rails.  I am going to be making some major modifications to it probably in the near future, but I want to make some chips first to see this thing in action!

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to flatten table?

« on: October 14, 2007, 07:01:37 PM »

Thanks for replying!

I used a drill bit to sink 1/4" holes through the sacrificial table into the moving table, then I took the sacrificial surface off and rebored the holes in the moving table up to 3/8".

Then I pressed in four bronze bushings with 1/4" ID, and now I can press the sacrificial surface back down on 1/4" removable pins.

My last question is what do people use to hold the sacrificial surface down to the moving table?  I don't have the setup for vacuum clamping yet!  Should I just countersink screws deeply into it and be careful not to hit them?