Messages

3431

General Mach Discussion / Re: New to CNC, seeking sources

« on: July 26, 2011, 06:33:02 AM »

explains CNC programing

Purchase CNC Programming Handbook by Smid. The book is excellent, starts from the beginning, and will serve you well.
 You need to understand that there are a number of parts that make up CNC. There is the controlling program ( Mach),
the Gcode, the mechanical / electrical / electronic makeup of the system, computer end and then software. Just need to pick your way through it all
since it's all interrelated relative to your cnc system. There is no shortcut and one just must walk the path to the destination. It is not plug and play.
Have fun.....
RICH

3432

Share Your GCode / Re: Dragon GCode

« on: July 25, 2011, 07:16:47 PM »

Mikee,
I converted the Gcode to a dxf file. The dragon basically fits within a diameter of 1.
Unfortunately the dxf file is extrermely large like 10 megs as there are 64000 lines which make up the piece and can't post it.
Frankly for engraving it leaves something to be desired as the image is not that good. If it was done manualy i would guess the number of entities would be say 900 and the code would be just a fraction of what your using and the image would be satisfactory.
RICH

3433

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Cylinder Heads

« on: July 25, 2011, 04:58:49 PM »

Very nice work Steve and I hope your pleased with the results.
RICH

3434

LazyTurn / Re: LazyTurn cuts where I don't want it to cut

« on: July 25, 2011, 04:56:13 PM »

to develop Laziturn

Lazyturn is no longer being developed...it is the way it is unless Art decides to modify or change it.
RICH

3435

General Mach Discussion / Re: Well..... That Was Weird....

« on: July 23, 2011, 09:28:59 PM »

my Mill lives on the Dark Side

Mine also  as it is collecting some dust from sitting idle, but, Mach never faults when fired up even after a long time.
I am not going to the dark side since we all know that the force there is evil. 
If you don't believe that then ask Yoda!

May the force be with you.....
RICH

3436

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: LC never produces valid GCode

« on: July 23, 2011, 09:15:42 PM »

Every change in those parameters does not lead to different results.

When you change the max depth of pass for the tool make sure that your are UPDATING the tool...the window closes. Then go back and select the tool again
and apply to all layers. You should see the max depth change when you in the layer flyout, which you then use to set the total depth (it should be a negative depth).
RICH

3437

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: LC never produces valid GCode

« on: July 23, 2011, 09:07:59 PM »

Hoagie,

Perhaps it has to do with the rapid height which is 5 in my setup

Not really...makes no difference ...works here
See pic

As it can go 0,25mm per pass, it should need 40 passes.

I know i am working in imperial units  but it doesn't matter. Interesting in that LC only shows 20 passe when i modified the max tool depth pass, BUT, if you look at the generated code and Mach screen you will see that there are 40 passes generated in the code.
SO, seems LC may restrict what is shown in it's graphics, and that is a new one for me. Frankly don't think I ever had to make 40 passes on something out of LC, thus,
never picked up on this one.   Guess you win the grand prize and your name goes into the hall of fame.
See pic

LC when it got out of beta

LC is no longer being developed and willl remain a Beta product.

spare time is used up

Same here.....

RICH

3438

General Mach Discussion / Re: HELP, ALL OF THE SUDDEN NO MACH RESPONSE

« on: July 23, 2011, 06:26:54 AM »

AAASIGNCOM,

Good you got it

Well almost............turn the caps off please as it makes for easier reading and you won't wake the neighbors up when shouting.....
RICH

3439

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to calibrate my machine's axis in Mach3??

« on: July 23, 2011, 06:19:50 AM »

Shonn,
Can you describe the overall machine (maybe attach a pic of it and your xml file ). Seems you have other problems as well per the link below.

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,19067.msg131720.html#msg131720

RICH

3440

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to calibrate my machine's axis in Mach3??

« on: July 22, 2011, 06:28:10 PM »

 

calibrated by a sparky

What is a SPARKY? 
RICH