Messages

121

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

122

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,

123

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

124

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

125

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

126

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

127

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

128

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Code preparation

« on: December 23, 2006, 11:59:27 AM »

On seconf thoughts,isn't the LazyCam cleanup option supposed to remove stray pints?

tmsmith

129

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Code preparation

« on: December 22, 2006, 04:45:50 PM »

Thanks for that Ger21.
I will have to look at an alternative CAD package and work from there.

TMSmith

130

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Code preparation

« on: December 21, 2006, 11:45:25 AM »

Some study of my problems shows that only the bare outline of the part should be put into LC since removal of for example a dimension can cause problems.
Further problems were caused by failure to join lines giving overlaps or small gaps as covered in one of your tutorials.
Other problems not have obvious reasons to me.
My Cad package is RiscCad which will generate a DXF file which I then need to resave from Autocad 2000  which I do has a release 12 or 14 DXF file.
Are there prefered ways of constructing drawings in a Cad package to ensure success, I gather splines are a no-no.
Anyway I am attaching a simple DXF file that gave me problems as per your suggestion.

thanks for your interest

Malcolm Smith