Messages

8181

Share Your GCode / Re: GCode Sharing

« on: February 20, 2010, 02:36:29 AM »

Come on Robert - Don't give up that easily.
Building your own machine was the hardest part - It's all plain sailing from now on.

You could try finding some DXF's that you like from this thread on the Zone http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19346 then using LazyCam create the GCode and start engraving stuff. Before you know it, your wife will be complaining that you have far too many place mats and coasters. 

Tweakie.

btw. You are certainly not the oldest guy who is just starting out on the world of CNC.

8182

Share Your GCode / Re: GCode Sharing

« on: February 19, 2010, 03:41:12 AM »

Hi Robert,

A bit of extra info. You can download the LazyCam manual from the members documents section here http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,12078.0.html

Tweakie

8183

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: 'No Moon' Series

« on: February 19, 2010, 02:53:19 AM »

Great work Barry - I hope the show is a resounding success.

Tweakie.

8184

Share Your GCode / Re: GCode Sharing

« on: February 19, 2010, 02:46:36 AM »

Hi Robert,

As you already have LazyCam as part of the Mach install this would be a good place to start. It is not perfect and still has a few little quirks but once you have learned to use it you should be able to achieve excellent results at converting DXF to GCode.
The Mach1filter (mentioned earlier in this thread) is also a good starting point for creating height / depth maps and would make a brilliant job of creating the G2T2 file (you have just cut) from a bitmap image.
The great advantage of these programs is the zero cost aspect and when your knowledge starts to exceed the programs capabilities you could then progress to more advanced (and more expensive) software. In other words, don't buy anything until you know exactly what you need.

Tweakie.

8185

Share Your GCode / Re: GCode Sharing

« on: February 18, 2010, 04:47:34 AM »

Here is another one for you. I haven't tried cutting this one yet as it was just an experiment to try 'BMP Bender'.

The .TIF was downloaded from the 'Majosoft' website and saved as a .BMP then converted to an .STL using the free program 'BMP Bender'. The GCode toolpath was created with the trial version of 'DeskProto'.

Looking at the Mach window display of the work shows the limitations of resolution associated with BMP Bender but as the steps are quite shallow these should be reduced in the cutting and may not even be noticeable in the finished work. As I said earlier, this is an experiment, perhaps someone would like to cut it and post their results.

Tweakie.

8186

General Mach Discussion / Re: Rotary axis zeroing problem

« on: February 17, 2010, 07:46:48 AM »

Looks like you have solved the mystery Russ. 

Tweakie.

8187

General Mach Discussion / Re: Rotary axis zeroing problem

« on: February 17, 2010, 05:15:36 AM »

Hi Al,

Just tried your code and same thing - works fine first run only. (It seems that it wants to rewind the A axis back to zero but very slowly on the second run).

Tweakie.

8188

Share Your GCode / Re: GCode Sharing

« on: February 17, 2010, 03:00:33 AM »

You could try this tiger which a few of us have cut now.
You need to adjust the scale DRO's for the size you require and Feedrates etc to suit your machine.

I used a 2.5mm ballnose cuter at a feedrate of 400mm / min. (although my acceleration settings only allowed this feedrate to be achieved on the straight runs). The first cut is deep so the start position should be just overlapping the work by 1mm or so or else cut at a very reduced feedrate.

I have also attached Gemme which is nice if cut in oak or teak. Again adjust the feedrates to suit your machine and reduced feed for the first cut.

Tweakie.

8189

General Mach Discussion / Re: Rotary axis zeroing problem

« on: February 15, 2010, 09:12:53 AM »

Surely 360.000 is exactly the same as 000.000 as far as Mach is concerned when the axis is set for continuous rotation ?.
My A axis often reads 360.000 when it has be zeroed but it has no effect (that I have yet discovered) on subsequent moves.

Tweakie.

8190

General Mach Discussion / Re: NEED HELP IN CNC MILLING AND SOFTWARE

« on: February 15, 2010, 08:12:31 AM »

Hi Soundman,

I think it is extremely doubtful, unless someone has already written the software (similar to that which is required for the Smooth Stepper).

However, If your axis driver cards accept 'step and direction signals' then there is always the possibility you could use a breakout board and parallel cable from your PC and tap into the driver cards at the appropriate points - Thus using Mach3 for the control.
Home and limit switches are another problem but not unsurmountable.

Tweakie.

ps. You shout all you like - no worries.