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Messages - MarkR

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1
LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Cutting order
« on: October 26, 2006, 12:18:21 AM »
Thanks Brian! At least I know it isn't me, which was keenly suspect in this episode  :)

Regardless, I think this version is LOADS better and is a great help in making the process simpler for us that are G-Code amateurs...


Mark

2
LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Cutting order
« on: October 25, 2006, 12:21:28 PM »
WOW! This was the one question I thought I would have to ask... Newbie to the whole process, as I just completed my 3 axis mill from scratch, and I am now trying to learn the process of creating stuff with the software. I have a control horn I am trying to design and LC seems to drill the holes in various orders when it would be more efficient to drill the holes in a straight line.

Also, just a heads up Brian: I might be doing something wrong, but the holes I am drilling in the part are .0625. I have one hole that is 0.1575. When I set the 'Max circle to make into a point' to .0625, ALL of the holes on the horn become points. Is this a bug or am I doing something wrong. Then when I try to change or undo the size change, it pops an 'invalid argument' dialoge box.

BTW, I played around with v1.0 and the current version ROCKS. Thanks!! This one program is a big reason why I am buying Mach 3...

3
General Mach Discussion / Re: Bug in Mach 3 or Bug in Me?
« on: June 01, 2006, 12:23:00 AM »
OK. Thanks!

I'll try that and see what happens. Didn't know the parameter was there. I thought the tool size setting in Mach 3 was what told the program how to compensate...

Mark

4
General Mach Discussion / Re: Bug in Mach 3 or Bug in Me?
« on: May 31, 2006, 09:21:13 PM »
OK... I identified the area of the problem: If I just run the G2 line by itself  as a stand alone code file (N15 G2 X0.4715 Y0.1589 I-0.0787 J0.0000  F40.00) it makes a circle in the Mach 3 display after I load the code.

IF I add the z axis code on line 14 (N14 G1 Z-0.1000) before the circle, it turns into a spiral shaped curve.

Is there some code I am missing? I am trying to lower the tool tip through the material so I can cut a hole...

 :-[

thanks

Mark

5
General Mach Discussion / Re: Bug in Mach 3 or Bug in Me?
« on: May 31, 2006, 08:48:50 PM »
Here is a copy of the code... I just ran it in Mach 3 to see if a re-boot would fix the problem, and finally stopped the program at 1 hour and 31 minutes on the clock. It stayed in the same place on the code line the whole time, but the clock kept ticking.

Here's the code as generated by LC for the first part of the cut. It seems to get to line 15 and stops:

N1 (File New Servo horn )
N2 (Tuesday, May 30, 2006)
N3 G90G80G40G91.1
N4
N5 G0Z0.1000
N6 X0.0979 Y0.1594
N7
N8 G1 Z-0.1000 F60.00
N9 
N10
N11 G0Z0.1000


N12 X0.4715 Y0.1589
N13 G42
N14 G1 Z-0.1000
N15 G2 X0.4715 Y0.1589 I-0.0787 J0.0000  F40.00

N16 G40


See anything on line 14 or 15 that would cause Mach 3 to hang?  ???

Thanks!

Mark

P.S. The line numbers that are blank were lines of z code that were redundant and some M and S codes that I am not using...

6
General Mach Discussion / Bug in Mach 3 or Bug in Me?
« on: May 31, 2006, 01:28:33 AM »
Well, Just when I thought I was 'getting it' regarding G Code, I tried running the file attached. I had the majority of the file created in LazyCam, and tweaked it by adding a G91 G81 code for a series of drilled holes in this servo actuator arm.

It loaded and looked good in the Mach 3 window, so I fired up the 3 axis mill, and ran the program. Worked fine until line N15 which calls out a hole to be cut. I used G42 to compensate for the cutter (hoping it cuts to the inside of the radius of the hole). When I run the file, the tip of the cutter plunges to the proper depth, and then all action freezes, except the timer on the program continues to run as if it is still cutting. However, the cutting tool is stationary. If I underestand correctly, it should be cutting a hole, not stopping as if to ask for directions :) So, I don't know if something in Mach 3 is hanging up, or if it is something I have done.

Can anyone tell me if my code looks funny? Also, if there is any tweaking to the file that would make it better? I am learning G Code quickly, but I don't have anyone locally that I know that can help me calibrate my learning curve :)

Thanks a lot!

Mark

7
G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / G Code Editor
« on: May 29, 2006, 03:10:04 AM »
Hi All:

I went searching the web to find a code editor (free of course...) that would allow me to change the poor habits of my drafting program (read that 'the draftor' :)).

I would like to be able to select a line of code and see that line highlighted graphically on a split screen. Specifically what I am looking for is the ablility to scroll through the g code and see what the machine will do per line. This is done in Mach 3 on the program run tab. You can scroll through the g code, but you can't edit the code (at least I have not seen how yet) as you scroll through the simulated cut. I see a change I want to make, and have to load the file into notepad, find the line of code, make the change, save it, and reload the file in Mach 3.

I have re-drawn a part that I want to cut on my 3 axis mill. It is actually a set of parts, drawn by someone else, and I imported them into my drafting program (designcad 14). I want to make sets of these parts at one time, so I copied and pasted them into one drawing, and attempted to arrange them so it would make  a nice cut on the mill. Then I saved the file as a dxf file, imported it into LazyCam, and saved it as G Code. When I import the file into Mach 3 and scroll line by line through the cut, it jumps all around the drawing. I remember reading somewhere that this is due to my cad program and the order the drawing was made.

So, I need to cut and paste the code in a more organized fashion, and re-assemble the g code in a better way. That involves locating the cuts that are out of order, and re-pasting them in the code file better.

If I could simply scroll through the code (as I do in the main program run screen in Mach 3), 'see' the path (as you do in the main Mach 3 screen), and have the ability to cut and paste that code in a different place in the file, it would make it easier to 'see' what I have done.

Is there a program out there that will do this? I am just a hobbiest and some of the editors I have seen are too advanced for this simple kind of work....

Thanks for the advice! Attached is the .tap file so you can see what I am attempting to do.

8
LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Understanding LC settings
« on: May 29, 2006, 01:02:58 AM »
For what it is worth, I did find those stray points and lousy drawing elements you referenced. I will have to watch for this in the future. Thanks! Didn't know to look before :)

9
LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Understanding LC settings
« on: May 28, 2006, 11:45:57 AM »
Hi Brian!

Yes! You may certainly use my files for your video.

As to the gaps, I made them on purpose!  I was making them to hold the part after it was cut. So that there is a little bit of material left holding the part to the rest of the sheet I was cutting it from.

How do you make these type of 'part holders' ?  Is there a setting in one of the programs, or do you leave the gaps as in the DXF files.

As to overlapping segments, now that IS sloppy and I didn't know I did it. I copied these from an imported set of drawings I got from the designer of the part, and that drawing was from a non-CAD program (it was exported as a DXF), so no telling what shape it was in. However, I thought I had cleaned it up.

Maybe this was the cause of the importing problems I had with LC.  Regardless, THANKS for the advice and help!

Mark

10
LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Understanding LC settings
« on: May 28, 2006, 02:09:55 AM »
And for some reason, this file for a servo control horn won't import at all into LC... I know it's gotta be me, but here's the file in case it is not...

The first time I tried, it said it would not import splines. So, I converted all into lines, and tried again...


Am I doing something wrong? LC starts to import the file 'All Control Horns.dxf'  and then gives an error message "Can't import Splines"

The others simply shut LC down and returns me to Mach 3.

BTW, I am using DesignCAD v. 14 and exporting these files as DXF v 13. Is there one DXF file format I should choose? I can export up to DXF version 2000. I picked v. 13 because I thought I remember reading somewhere it was the most compatible, but that does not make sence to me... Is one version more compatiblethan another? (I guess it depends on the program that is importing the file :))

What is the best for LC?

Thanks again.

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