Messages

21

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to increase circle resolution?

« on: June 25, 2008, 10:18:19 PM »

Well my test has been with an eight inch circle.  Usually I have arcs, and turns etc. in my drawings.

But here is what I have found.  It seems as if Corel Draw exports DXF files in a low res output.  Which really stinks.
I love Corel Draw and I am not in the mood to spend more money, nor do I want to try and learn a different Cad program.
Then I found a program called "DXF tool" for Corel draw, to export full res DXF files.  Price was a little much $50.
But after I downloaded the demo,  it said it would not support Corel Draw 12 on Vista.  $#$%^!!!   Wouldn't you know it, that is what I have. 
I find the solution and I can't use it.  Not too impressed.

There was another write up on the Corel Draw site, in which they were asked about the exporting of DXF files and the problems Cam programs were having with resolution.
Corel said that they knew of no problems and their tests said everything was fine.

So I need some sort of conversion program.........any one know of one?

22

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to increase circle resolution?

« on: June 24, 2008, 05:41:01 PM »

Thanks for the help guys.

No, I don't have any G2 or G3 commands when my code is loaded into Mach.
Basically I have G1 code that creates little straight lines to cut out a choppy circle.  There is also no I, J, or K commands.

When I view or print my drawing on Corel draw it is perfect.  After I load it into Lazy cam and zoom in I can no longer see my perfect circle, it has now transformed into small segments of straight lines.

So what's next?  How do I correct this problem?

Any help is appreciated

23

General Mach Discussion / How to increase circle resolution?

« on: June 23, 2008, 11:03:29 PM »

I am using Mach3, lazy Cam, and Corel Draw.
When I cut out a small circle on my CNC, the circle has a very high resolution and it looks realitivily smooth.
As my circles become larger they become more choppy.

Is there any way I can smooth out my larger circle cutting?

I have tried every format to export my drawings and there is no change.

Any help would be great.

Jon

24

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: offset problem solution?

« on: May 08, 2008, 09:34:35 AM »

Hey!

I am using the same set up as you. Corel Draw 12, Lazy Cam Pro and Mach3 and have experienced the same problems.  I don't use .DXF files, although they do work ok.  But have found better success with .PLT files.  Just make sure you save in inches rather then mm.  Also when on exporting the file be sure to click advanced tab and check "remove hidden lines" and "no width or velocity commands".  The "auto weld" should not be checked.

The other problem is with corel draw.  It may appear the all lines are joined as one, but you have to make sure all lines have "closed paths" or "welded together".

The biggest help or trick is to zoom in on the drawing in Lazy Cam before creating an offset.  I am really puzzled by that one, but it works so well I will not offset without zooming in.  I also think that there is a bit of a bug with Lazy Cam when it comes with offsetting.  It just seems too sporadic to always be the user fault.

JonnyElectronny

25

General Mach Discussion / Re: Complete circles from nowhere?

« on: May 06, 2008, 08:44:44 PM »

Yes, I have used the "moving the arrown to a new position" will sometimes get the offset to create.  Another trick is to rotate the drawing, do the offset, then rotate back.  Man, what a guy will try when desperate for an offset.

26

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Getting up and running in Vista

« on: May 06, 2008, 08:26:03 PM »

Day 2 using Mach3 with Vista, still no problems.  Seems like I am in the clear.

27

General Mach Discussion / Re: Complete circles from nowhere?

« on: May 06, 2008, 08:09:17 PM »

I had the same problem on a drawing I did with corel draw, when I performed offsets with Lazy cam.  No indication as to where the circles came from.  I just removed the unwanted code.  Strange that in lazy cam there was nothing on the drawing to indicate the unwanted circles.  It wasn't until I pulled it up on mach3 that I saw the problem.
 
Another trick I was told was to zoom in on the drawing before offsetting.  Not sure why, but it does help in improving the offsets.  I am finding offsetting to be a little frustrating at times.  I am sure there must be a glitch in the program.  Sometimes lazy cam wont offset at all, which is aggravating because you have no indication of why it wont.  So you sit and wonder if its the user or the program.   One day I just kept hitting the offset button over and over.  Then around the 20th or so time, it created an offset.........I did nothing more then just hit the button.

28

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Getting up and running in Vista

« on: May 06, 2008, 07:57:33 AM »

Yesterday I bought a new computer with Vista.  First thing I did was got rid of all the crap that comes loaded with the new computer. 
Then I loaded Mach 3  and set it up exactly as I did on XP.  Worked great!  No problems.  Just had to take the time and clean up the computer of all its crap.
Now I hope that it continues working.  All the motors ran smooth and the progam ran well.

Jonny

29

General Mach Discussion / Re: Vista support

« on: May 06, 2008, 07:55:19 AM »

Yesterday I bought a new computer with Vista.  First thing I did was got rid of all the crap that comes loaded with the new computer. 
Then I loaded Mach 3  and set it up exactly as I did on XP.  Worked great!  No problems.  Just had to take the time and clean up the computer of all its crap.
Now I hope that it continues working.  All the motors ran smooth and the progam ran well.

Jonny

30

General Mach Discussion / Re: Drilling holes using Lazy cam

« on: April 26, 2008, 06:57:17 PM »

Well, I suppose that those programs would work fine if all I had to do is drill holes. 
Usually I have a drawing that requires some shapes to be cut out with some bolt holes in specific locations to those shapes. 
I guess my real question is........What is "drill sel circles" & "drill rad circles" used for in Lazy Cam?  My holes are in my drawings, now I just need them drilled.  To me doesn't seem like a real problem, I think I must be missing something real simple.  I have done what Monte above suggested, and it does work.....sort of.  But Lazy cam see's my dot as a line, no matter how small I draw it.  Just seems that Lazy Cam should just see the hole and centre my bit and drill.