Messages

6031

LazyTurn / Re: LazyTurn

« on: July 27, 2009, 08:31:47 PM »

Hi Ed,
Until the finish comes around, this may help.

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,12156.msg78100.html#msg78100

RICH

6032

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Success! Mini Machining Center under Mach3 control - Video link

« on: July 27, 2009, 08:25:30 PM »

new dining room = new machine, matching chairs= cnc conversion, vase with flowers=drive
you sitting in dog house eating...........priceless   

RICH

6033

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mill x,y distortion problem Need Help

« on: July 27, 2009, 07:21:26 PM »

Have you tried using backlash compensation?
May just do until  you get the ball screws.

RICH

6034

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 Compatible G-Code Tutorial

« on: July 27, 2009, 07:14:27 PM »

I have an idea for you. Use CopyCat, there is a manual,and it rather easy to use. Just put a tootpick in the chuck instead of using a camera. Make a sketch of something and then trace it out with CopyCat. The Gcode will be generated on the fly, you can learn a lot.

I would recomend the books by Peter Smid. Lots of reading in there!

If you can do CAD, then Lazycam Mill can be used to generate code, and very quickly, a pocket or  profile, check out the manual for it.

Some of the wizards are very good, Andy's Circle Routines are very nice and easy to use.

BTW, for ARC's ( done primarily  for the lathe ) you may want to take a look at ARC Motion in the Members Docs.

Just some suggestions,
RICH

6035

General Mach Discussion / Re: dolphin partmaster

« on: July 27, 2009, 06:53:21 PM »

Simon,
I tried the lathe module out and it is nice. The hobby price is a bit steep $400 or so.
The problem with it is, ..........the same as any other program. You need to think in terms of how you are
going to do the machining, be able to apply the lathe tooling appropriately, have your machine somewhat automated.
If your not setup, say to use repeatable quick change tool holders or an automated tool changer.....then your back to a a semi- auto / manual operation of the machine and don't fully utilize the software.

That said, you can do all the same work using LazyTurn and Lazycam Turn. So if your a hobbiest, $75 sounds so much better.

I did find Dolphin lathe to be intuitive and easy to use. I also found it had problems with pathing on some of the stuff that i tested LazyTurn with. It's good but only as good as the user using the tool!

So i would suggest you try out Lazyturn and LazyCam  ( both have a manual ). If your in a buisness then skip those
since they are not meant to compete with high end stuff.
RICH

6036

General Mach Discussion / Re: shuttle mode, step/velocity and single step

« on: July 27, 2009, 06:25:23 PM »

JAJA,
I have used my MPG's to do some cutting on the lathe. The stuff i was doing was small, and additionaly i was
looking throught a microcsope when doing the work. I mainly use my MPG's for positioning, and they are "calibrated for movement"  based the feel of turning the MPG wheel. Turn them fast and the axis moves quickly , just barely turn them and i can move at a crawl in very fine increments.
RICH

6037

General Mach Discussion / Re: CHALLENGE - PRESENTED FOR DISCUSION

« on: July 27, 2009, 09:28:49 AM »

DAVE,
Here is an rough draft for the lathe.
RICH

6038

General Mach Discussion / Re: CHALLENGE - PRESENTED FOR DISCUSION

« on: July 27, 2009, 08:58:41 AM »

Appreciate the comments,

Dave,
Were where the manauls then?  First major problem for sure. I purchased LC fully knowing there was no manual and even complained that there was none, and the response was that there was no need for one because there was a video. HA! But that's history now. As i "quested" for a lathe program out there, found almost nothing, and LC provided for the lathe. There are still good things to be had out of LC for the lathe, even as compared, to LT or for that matter even some of the high end programs. I can only guess that you won't see a finish pass out of LT until the end of the year. In the mean time, well, your in the dumper!

I am currently working on a LC lathe section, and that section, bridges the gap into LT. The tutorial focuses on just how to get a single continous profile pass and uses the same drawing used for LT ,and maybe will be posted in a few days. The problem is simply this, CNC can get complex, real quick, and with thoughts of the newbie, well lets just say that you can only do so much in presentation.

The lathe programing is complex, it's a different machining operation, tool use really becomes very important, etc.
I am commited to the LT manual because i swore that it would have a manual, and that the manual would be not be like any of the other manuals out there.

Beta, don't you love that word! 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So what makes a good manual?   

Terry,
The documentation / manual is now available.
What are the known "Quirks" of LC?   

And thanks for the info you sent me. I am not going to put anything in the manual for raster files.
I haven't found one worth a hoot in 20 years! Even high end ones that do conversions and cost BIG BIG BIG BUCKS!
are crap in the big picture IMHO!   But you know what they say about opinions. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


RICH

 




 

6039

General Mach Discussion / Re: CHALLENGE - PRESENTED FOR DISCUSION

« on: July 25, 2009, 04:20:27 PM »

Big difference between $75 and $500.

Suppose someone is starting at the beginning?
Got to admit, with doumentation available today on LC and LT, and if you don't get too complex,
you have a lot of powerfull code generation available for use for both the lathe and the mill.
Yep, probably will graduate to specialized software for some particular interest, but for the price and
and exprienced gained, you can't go wrong, even it never gets  updated.


RICH


 

6040

General Mach Discussion / Re: New to Mach3 Turn, need help with tool table

« on: July 25, 2009, 03:31:13 PM »

LazyTurn installation:

Go top the "DOWNLOADS" very top of screen>Mach & Lazycam, Then download Lazycam v3.00.2 and also the
Update. Install v3.00.2 and then install the update. ( I happen to install them to a seperate directory called Lazyturn)

The latest lazyturn exe file is in this post ( sorry manual a little out of date ):  Download the file to say c:/AAAA
and extract it to the that directory.  Just copy the exe file to the LazyTurn fOLDER  and say yes to replace the other exe file.

Page 107 - reply #1067
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,5767.msg74320.html#msg74320

NOTE: LC v3.00.2 UPDATE just updates the installed LazyCam for additional or specific file for LazyTurn.
The other file is just the latest update for LazyTurn. Oh BTW....you may want create a  shortcut to it.

Hope I got it right,
RICH