Messages

91

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Some general questions

« on: August 23, 2008, 05:33:50 PM »

Thanks Dave,

That's what I wanted to know, if you have been following along here and the general forum, you know I just got the mill set up (well sort of) and am chewing a piece of 2x4 to bits just getting comfortable before I place an immoveable piece of metal in a cutter path and have something go sproing and shoot past my head. I figure it's best to make all my mistakes with a cheep Dremel burr and block of wood first then move on to bigger and better things.

Kristin

92

LazyCam (Beta) / Some general questions

« on: August 23, 2008, 04:48:27 PM »

Say I take a DXF and load it, optimise, autoclean... How do I set the depth of cut? Is it some fixed default or do I have to use the button on the right to set it or the Layers Tab? Sure would be nice if there was at least a short quickstart guide. Reason I ask is I have used it for a few test cuts and it seems to be pretty random as to how far the cutter plunges or it could just be me.

Kristin

93

General Mach Discussion / Re: Basic initial setup question

« on: August 22, 2008, 08:08:06 PM »

Acck! it is backlash seems something came loose and I can see the shaft moving in and out before it moves the table
Time to pull it apart and tighten the offending part!
Kristin

94

General Mach Discussion / Re: Basic initial setup question

« on: August 22, 2008, 07:56:16 PM »

Hood, good answer, I need to check but since it's all new leadscrews with adjustable nuts, and the oval is like 1.5:1 off I can't really see that as the problem. I cut a .25" radius and its .5 side to side but .375 top to bottom, that has to be way more than backlash. It looks like it's stopping Y movement and just running X across the top and bottom. Looks good on the tool path.

I would think it was loosing steps but I am taking a light cut, slow and the dang tool keeps returning to the same start position. Perplexing.

Kristin

95

General Mach Discussion / Re: Basic initial setup question

« on: August 22, 2008, 07:23:33 PM »

OK when I try to cut a circle with either lazycam generated or using g12 (g12 I .25 f3 for example) I end up with an oval, checked that all the motors are set to the same steps per, I entered this in the midi box and that's what I get?
attached is my current xml file. Oh the cutter returns to the same position so I don't think I am loosing steps, very odd> 

Kristin

96

General Mach Discussion / Re: Basic initial setup question

« on: August 22, 2008, 05:06:56 PM »

Sucess at last, worked perfect once I got out of the way and sorted out not pressing the wrong buttons when trying to set up!

Back to abuse my bit of 2x4 wood again!

Kristn

97

General Mach Discussion / Re: Basic initial setup question

« on: August 22, 2008, 05:00:56 PM »

Hood,

Thanks I am off the the other room with a printout of your answer so I can follow step by step, I let you know in a bit if I had any luck with this. As every computer user knows GIGO.

Kristin

98

General Mach Discussion / Re: Basic initial setup question

« on: August 22, 2008, 04:37:32 PM »

OK still a bit confused as to the axis, x+ should move the table left?
Y+ moves the table out?
Z+ moves up?
So I should bring the table full right and in and the z axis up to set machine coordinates, correct?
Then ref all home?
Then switch to work/program coordinates?
Then jog to where I want to start cutting.
Bring the z axis down to the workpiece.
zero the Z axis there.

Set soft limits on now or before?

Do I ref all home after I switch to program coordinates or not touch that again?

I think I have it in the right order but the machine either tries to ram the small cutting burr into the wood block I am abusing or stops with a soft limit. I know you have all answered this but it's spread over about three posts and for some reason my brain is skipping and I can't get this clear as a step by step process. Watching the video is not much better as he keeps saying Oops I forgot to set that and going back and forth.

Kristin

I know I am so close I am just missing one simple step here in the process.   

99

General Mach Discussion / Re: Basic initial setup question

« on: August 21, 2008, 08:59:26 PM »

OK,
I tried to run the roadrunner file, first it was cutting air then when I reset the z axis it said I was beyond the limits? Where do I start off with Z and in machine or program codinates do I either zero or ref to home. Slightly frustrating but I am sure it will all become clear soon.

Kristin

100

General Mach Discussion / Re: Basic initial setup question

« on: August 21, 2008, 05:53:28 PM »

  Another senior moment I suppose, I went back and put a (-) in front of the Z soft limit and it's somewhat working, just need to fine tune now, the steppers play a lovely little melody when slowing down at the limits.

Kristin