Messages

6041

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

« on: July 25, 2009, 02:47:43 PM »

I would recommend the following:
Install mach3 along with  LazyCam into the default MACH 3 directory.

For LazyTurn:
The manual covers installation so it can be run as a stand alone program.
This way as, any program update files for LazyTurn , will not have any effect on LazyCam.

RICH

6042

General Mach Discussion / Re: CHALLENGE - PRESENTED FOR DISCUSION

« on: July 25, 2009, 02:30:04 PM »

Dolphin ( hobby version ) is a +$400 prorgam just for the lathe and include the mill and it's over $900.
I don't think most hobbiest can't even begin to rationalise out that kind of money
and they are not "bug" free either. 

Don't think there is anything out there for the lathe which has a manual, support, and allows you to go directly into into MACH. In fact, you can go in and out in a non automated way while doing machining. LC mill, well i also hated it,
until i started writing the manual for LC. Hopefully the anology in the manual  (section 5 - just added in rev "D" ) will
make LC easy to grasp and use.

Should be interesting to see reponses to this  thread.

Think Brain or Art will chime in?

RICH

6043

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

« on: July 25, 2009, 12:22:07 PM »

You need a program to generate code for the lathe. LazyTurn provides the gcode and Mach3 turn is the program that applies the gcode to do machining.
Understand where you are, we have all been there. Some of us are still there. 

RICH

6044

General Mach Discussion / Re: CHALLENGE - PRESENTED FOR DISCUSION

« on: July 25, 2009, 12:10:27 PM »

Don't Sheetcam and Cut2d  cost more and Sheetcam dosn't provide for the lathe and you need two programs.

6045

General Mach Discussion / CHALLENGE - PRESENTED FOR DISCUSION

« on: July 25, 2009, 11:36:37 AM »

A challenge was recently made in a post. Certainly could provide for some interesting discussion.

QOUTE
It is my personal opinion that you should purchase a license for LazyCam. Here is why:

"I have not found, as of this writing, a basic CAM program for the mill and LATHE which has a good manual, excellent knowledgeable support, and provides the level of CAM capability directly into MACH for the cost of the license."

Hmm........... let the discussion begin. 

RICH

6046

General Mach Discussion / Re: Backlash Settings

« on: July 25, 2009, 11:11:22 AM »

Rough cut / measure, rough /finish cut...measure, now finish cut ( maybe start the cut 180 or 90 from rough finish cut start point ) . Heck, can pocket and hand press a bearing into something with backlash on.
If you want to get picky about a particular circle. But generaly speaking, leave it on.

Unless your using a SS ( SmoothStepper ), which dosen't have backlash yet implemented.

RICH

6047

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

« on: July 25, 2009, 10:37:41 AM »

ED,
I will assume that you are using the Lathe Turn module and the screen sets provided.
The Mach3 Turn Manual talks about the tool table set-up, but you need to read the manual a number of times to get the whole picture.

Suggest that you grow into a level of automation. Include limit swithes as part of your conversion, since without them, automated use of a quick tool holder will be a PITA. There is tutorial in the members docs for homing a lathe without limit switches, but, there are draw backs to using a lathe that way.

You have steep learning curve ahead of you.
- The lathe screens can be very confusing if you don't understand the different DRO displays as they relate to machine / work/ program coordinates and how you want to apply the program to your work. What "button" cancels what and how that will affect the work offsets / homing / tool setup etc.
- Lathe software -  Gcode specific to the lathe, Wizards, LazyCam (LC), LazyTurn (LT).
  There are tutorials on all three for the lathe in the members docs. Try some of the simple wizards, look at the code, and then do the actual machine set-up moves.
Use LazyTurn first as the manual covers a lot of information about the lathe and is a superb program ( even at this stage of developement ). LazyCam Turn is really not a bad program if you read through the tutorials and know what your looking at in the program and use it as supplement to LT until LT is finished. Take a look at the Arc Motion manual and that will give a good grasp about circles / arc programing  and is rather specific to the lathe. Maybe in a week or so, the LazyCam manual will have a lathe section in it which will provide info on transition form LC Turn to LazyTurn.

For software programs i will qoute myself and challenge anyone out there to show otherwise:

" It is my personal opinion that you should purchase a license for LazyCam. Here is why:
I have not found, as of this writing, a basic CAM program for the mill and LATHE which has a good manual, excellent knowledgeable prompt support, and provides the level of CAM capability directly into MACH for the cost of the license."

That said,   enjoy your new lathe and the learning that goes with CNC,  

RICH

6048

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: LAZYCAM MANUAL

« on: July 24, 2009, 11:02:25 AM »

Anyone ever use or try non-vertor type of imports into LazyCam ( Mill ).
What was your experience? Can you do something worthwhile with it or is it
just experimental and that part of LC was never developed other than "experimental".

RICH
 

6049

General Mach Discussion / Re: Backlash Settings

« on: July 24, 2009, 10:50:42 AM »

BILLJ,
My 50-50-50 rule which you may want to consider.
50% - The max velocity is 50% of where your steppers will start to skip
50% - Set the shuttle Wheel setting in configuration to .0050  to .050 ( .5 too slow )
50% - Backlash speed
This is a good starting point and refine upward, but always leave say 30% headroom.

Wood is not metal, but if it's a read fine grained hard wood, it will machine to rather close tolerance.
( example; ebony, lictum vitae ( however you spell it ), babinga, etc ).
So it depends on what your trying to do.

BTW, try to always start your program with prep moves such that the backlash is taken out.
If you are using a SS, to bad, no backlash yet, been waiting for a over 1 1/2" years but surely it will get done
one year! 

RICH
 
 

6050

FAQs / Re: My z plane isn't perfectly level

« on: July 21, 2009, 01:07:31 PM »

Rick,
Fix the the bed and eliminate the problem or just mount a piece of your choice and machine / face the mounted piece.

RICH