Messages

7081

General Mach Discussion / Re: setting up new workpiece

« on: September 25, 2008, 11:50:21 PM »

shane2loco4u,
 Hi!
A quick overview. CAD is used to draw something. The drawing can be converted to different forms ( like PDF, DXF) so another computer program ( VCarve) can interprit the drawing. That other computer program (VCARVE ) prepares the information into a form ( Gcode) so another device ( the controller / MACH) can execute the information in a aparticular way as  instructed by the computer. The machine  just responds to the commands given it in a mechanical / electrical way.
Magic your piece is done.

Now each of the major steps described above is a book in understanding by itself. You really need to do some reading on your owne unless you get more specific on where you need help.

If you are using MACH as the controller program there are plenty of good folks in here to help you along?
RICH

7082

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Lazy Cam pain

« on: September 25, 2008, 10:41:07 PM »

Art,
I just was surfing the net today and yes the China lathe with code is out there.
When you put the roughing out just throw out a few paragraphs on some basic rules or intent.
That will be enough to keep folks from not trying it or getting frustrated and saying it dosn't work.
Thanks, RICH

How usefull without finishing passes?
I would think that a lot of people would be able to test out other functions of the program and find bugs
shortening the time span. Until you get that diversified bunch of people trying things in their owne unique way ..
you may never know.

 

7083

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Lazy Cam pain

« on: September 25, 2008, 10:19:53 PM »

I see an ART viewing the topic. Could you shed a little light for us lonely turners?
RICH

Thanks for the info ART. Wish you well.

Hmm.......Hood stills see's my typing.... nice guy he is.......!

7084

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Lazy Cam pain

« on: September 25, 2008, 09:58:53 PM »

budman68,
I really don't know what the best is. Only been fooling with the CNC lathe for about 5 months now off and on.
I did like Dolphin and have a demo on the pc at work. It turns into a punkin in a few more days! Big companay name sometimes gets you a little extra to play with from sales.There is a hobbiest version for the lathe $400 and the other one was around $1400 or so and up for the 3 d stuff. I only fooled with the lathe part, and during 5 lunch periods was able to create code for 6 parts for my model from dxf files I had. That from only viewing a 15 minute tutorial but it to bombed on profiling out a few simple parts and had to use individual steps to create the code.

Same old story which i have found over the past 4 years or so. There realy isn't that much out there. I have a license
for DeskCnc lathe but that program isn't a perfect magic wand either and dosen't  support some of the turn gcode. A lot of the stuff out there are nothing more than code editors or verifiers.
 
Don't discount the wizards since you can do a lot with them if you want to piece meal them together for a part.
Should LazyTurn ever materialize, per Art's description of it, it realy will fill a real nice void.

RICH

BTW there is dxf to g code lathe program out there for $29.99 in beta  form. You draw the profile, then put each of the cut lines in,
dxf out,  it geneartes the g code. Bet  you can do the coding manualy by hand quicker.....but then the price is realy great!

7085

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Lazy Cam pain

« on: September 25, 2008, 06:28:39 PM »

spnar,
Glad you took the time to look and try what was written. I continue to "explore" Lazycam for turning to put it into some perspective from "hacking" away at it.  Even I have a tolerance level for having fun and it currently has come to an end.
It's BETA, but..........................will give you my honest appraisal of it. The following may sound wishy washy but here it goes.

HOW TO USE IT FOR TURNING:
1.Import DXF file drawn in a fashion which incorporates some things mentioned in the manual.
2.Clean and convert, use a few combinations of the tools and paramaters. I always create a point tool as that
   gives me a basis for "possible"  expected results.
3. Create profiles. If it creates a usable gcode, maybe not perfect, but usable with minor editing, consider life good,
    edit as required and get on with cutting.
    If it dosen't, don't waste your time. Do it a different way via wizards or what ever.

 I have found it will do wonderfull magic on some more complex profiles and then just fall flat on it's face on something simple. When it works, it works, when it doesn't, FI!

WHATS WRONG WITH USING IT:
 1.There is no definition of just how usable it is. Because we do not know how far the development went or where it 
     stopped relative to parameters, tool definition, and manipulation of profile, well, your at a complete loss and frankly I
     would say you are waisting your time trying to figure it out.

2. NO BASIC "RULES" HAVE BEEN GIVEN. If a preliminary list was provided saying something like the following for example
    only:
    1. A base line must be provided which defines stock size ...........
    2. You can't duplicate items one right after the other........
    3. You must only have a single chain for a profile to work.........

Just some simple stuff so a purchaser doesn't spend hours trying to hack it.

3. No list of known bugs / no definition of what should or shouldn't work.

It is interesting to add that frankly i don't think there are that manny people actively using a CNC'd lathe.
If there were, attention to a product would be different and the post's would be numerous. In a different light i also think that there is great momentum on horizon for the lathe. To loose out while opertunity exist's may be a bad strategy. The turn portion has been out for 5 or 6 months now, it either goes forward or will wither and die. With that said, should LazyTurn becomes  a reality, and you get it for supporting LazCam, then a bargin will be yours .

In the last two weeks i tried few different turning programs. Do you know that none of them could not just import
a simple file and genreate the code. They didn't come with instructions either and they were not beta. I have been fooling with  Dolphin, yes it works, price to to match, but to get some "simple" stuff to work you had to invoke the tools and do it in a disciplined way. So simple may not be simple.

WISH  YOU LOL,
RICH






l

7086

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Ops window won't go back

« on: September 24, 2008, 08:20:02 PM »

Also if you right click the mouse with the pointer on the border you'll get a pop-up asking  if you want to move it.
Don't rermember if that was in the video.
Are you having fun yet?  RICH

7087

General Mach Discussion / Re: Stepper motors loosing postion.

« on: September 24, 2008, 08:03:59 PM »

I would think if it's tens years old and used a lot the screws / ball or nut could be worn some. But first give it a good carefull mechanical inspection and maybe do some adjustments if available. I don't know how it was made so can't recomend anything specific. First rule out any mechanical problems.
RICH

7088

General Mach Discussion / Re: Heat Sink for Gecko 340 Drives

« on: September 24, 2008, 07:42:05 PM »

FLASH GORDON,
Adding some heat transfer material before you mount the drives to a plate will help take away heat. Can buy from any electronics source or even a small tube from Radio shack will do if there is one around you neck of the woods.
RICH

7089

General Mach Discussion / Re: cnc bed not level

« on: September 24, 2008, 07:30:26 PM »

Brian,
I take it that you don't mean "level" in terms of true horizontal plane relative to a plumb line, but rather, the table is a
horizontal plane 90 degrees to your Z travel. Big difference.
The later being the case, you need somethting that dosn't change much relative to Z axis once the machining plane
is set. Anthing that moves due to humidy or  temperature will never be stable. So eliminate the problem  and don't compensate for it ie; have a throw away piece but the base must be stable.
I guess this is just saying the same as Jerry said.
RICH

7090

General Mach Discussion / Re: What CAD system to use with MACH3 & LazyCam

« on: September 22, 2008, 09:20:27 PM »

DAVE,
"Preferably cheap" can be subjective. Lets put it into relative terms.

Consider what you paid for the machine, tooling, some attachments,CNC controller ( drives/ power supply, cables),
PC. Lets say you that was $2000........ hmm.......lets be honest now 

Now comes the software end: Mach $150 +CAD+some type of CAM maybe= how much more do you want to spend.

The software is just as impotant as all the rest, so lets say it's worth 25% of the total package = $500
I will definitely recommend MACH, so that leaves $350.

So check out all the CAD or CAM that's available on the market and see what you can get for that money.
There must be a 100 CAD programas out there from free to big dollars. Start trying some free ones just to get a flavor of CAD.
I use AutoCadd and MicroStation, realisticaly, I probabaly only have to use 5% of these to get done what needs to be done to DXF out a file.
So high end dosn't mean money well spent.
Once you have a flavor of CAD, and have played with the wizards then progress into CAM. Not all software is equal by any means.
You can spend a life time evaluating software. CAM or the combinatioin CAD/CAM is another story, depends on what you want to do.
You won't get a loaded full sized car for a strippped sub-compact price. You can either hate or love or learn to hate some of them.

So work your way into the CAD or CAM. Honestly, I don't think $350 will not cut it when it's all
done and over with. And trust me   I'll never tell the boss .
RICH

.................................................HE WHO DIES WITH THE MOST TOYS WINS..............................................................