Messages

121

General Mach Discussion / Re: Write Wizard

« on: April 25, 2007, 04:46:26 PM »

Thanks Graham.

I shall have to have a look at that.
I am thinking of Lazycam and its pocketing routine.


tmsmith

122

General Mach Discussion / Re: Write Wizard

« on: April 25, 2007, 04:26:32 PM »

For interest; it would seem I mistaken the use of the 'Write' wizard.

Thanks Graham.

I had assumed it would cut around the letters with a G42 code so enabling me to get lettering raised above a machined background.
The wizard does not like the G42 code!!
It seems it's purpose is to take a pointed engraving tool and cut olong the outline of the letters giving a recessed letter on a surface.

Is there a wizard that would do what I want?

tmsmith

123

General Mach Discussion / Re: Write Wizard

« on: April 23, 2007, 05:49:37 PM »

Hi  Graham.
I have sent the code privately.

Malcolm Smith

124

General Mach Discussion / Re: Write Wizard

« on: April 22, 2007, 02:25:42 PM »

I have done some checking on the problem.
Though I cannot generate the Gcode for for the two capitals I am trying to engrave on my mill computer I can copy the code from my desktop computer.
It displays OK on the mill computer and with tool 0 chosen the cut is simulated on screen.
However if I use a small cutter of 40thou diam and a G$" code the simulation goes bananas with curves and loops all over the place.
I have tried IJ abs. and inc. and it makes no difference.

Any help anyone

125

General Mach Discussion / Write Wizard

« on: April 20, 2007, 05:26:38 PM »

Hi,
On my Windows xp indoor computer I can enter some text in 'Write' and send it to Mach3 rel064 where I can machine the lettering on screen.
When I do the same thing on my W2000 computer connected to the mill I get code where all the co-ordinates are zero, despite the moves being the same in both cases.
Needless to say the code will not run.

Can anyone give me the reason?.

A second query - in my XML backup folder in Mach3 there are lots of what I presume are xml backup files. What is the system for generating these files?
Can I deletes any of them? - some appear to be empty.

Malcolm Smith,

126

General Mach Discussion / Re: Beginner Just gotetting up

« on: April 15, 2007, 02:33:24 PM »

Thanks for the replies.
I found the info in the maual!!!    and carried out the checks with a dial indicator which suggested the axis were pretty close, within a couple of thou and reproducible.
Will carry out more checks on other things mentioned. But I am becoming suspicious that the plate could have crept under the cutter forces.

More trials needed

Thanks

TMSmith

127

General Mach Discussion / Beginner Just gotetting up

« on: April 14, 2007, 03:42:01 PM »

Just got my little Boxford mill set-up to work  with Mach3, and excited to be cutting metal at last
Tried cutting a 20mm square in a piece of brass with a shallow cut and 0.080 cutter.
It cut the square ok so I increased the depth of cut and re-ran the program using the same zeroes.
This time it was slightly off from the original   cut. A third run showed similar errors.
I think it could be a backlash problem or dropping steps.

Anybody got a straight forward procedure for checking out these possibilities?

Thanks
TMSmith

128

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Mach3ver2.0.030 G52 code Cutview Problems

« on: January 26, 2007, 07:09:21 PM »

I would like some pointers on the G52 coding.
Despite Grahams help I still do   not understand what is happening, though its probably me.
On screen I can get two of 4 items to cut then things go pearshaped!
But I cannot get the items to form a rectangular layout.

I will be interested in what is said.
I am using a late version of Mach3

tm smith

129

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help on work offsett

« on: January 25, 2007, 02:22:58 PM »

Thanks for the help Graham.
I havn't fitted a homimg switch yet, but this seems to figure in setting up offsets tutorial etc.
But then again perhaps I shouldn't be thinkiing of this as an offset problem.
I will try your suggested method; I had not considered the G52 code I will now look it up.

I was trying to code using G54, G55, G56 etc.

Malcolm

130

General Mach Discussion / Help on work offsett

« on: January 24, 2007, 05:49:34 PM »

I am just trying to get to grips with work offsets and srtuggling. 

I have a small part which I am able to cut out as a single item.
I wish to cut out 4 in a 2x2 array.
I have failed to set up work offsets too achieve this.
I have read the manual, put offsets into the offset table and become completely confused.
Can someone show me the coding/technique to to make the cutter move to the required 4 start positions  and cut each item in turn.

tmsmith