Messages

921

Tangent Corner / Re: TIRED OF LOOKING FOR TOOLING

« on: May 11, 2016, 04:34:26 PM »

A long pair of forceps are close by and there is enough room around the larger size end mills to lift them out.
Still need to be careful since the edge of those end mills are very sharp.

Now I need to post what one does with all the broken / worn end mills to sharpen them.

RICH

922

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Scaling issues when converting DXF to G Code with Lazycam.

« on: May 11, 2016, 10:16:44 AM »

There is a manual for Lazycam in Member's Doc's. READ IT don't hack the program and do use the latest version, and if doing offsets you need the pro version.

The  drawing should be actual  size in the units that Mach is configured for and exported as a version 12 DXF for import into LC.
LC posts based on Mach configuration, so scale for axes should be 1.

Now I don't know what you mean by moving to far. Is that the first move only?
Note that under Setup in LazyCam there is an option for where the origin will be.

Post the DXF file.

RICH

923

Tangent Corner / TIRED OF LOOKING FOR TOOLING

« on: May 11, 2016, 09:48:05 AM »

Got tired of looking for the right size and type end mill. Too many end mills of various sizes and condition.
So, gathered "some" of them, sorted to size and stuck them in homemade drawers.
The shell holders from handgun ammo, 9mm are just right, with 9 glued together provide for storing 450
3/8" end mills in a drawer in a small space.

Now continuing on ...... you may find that the shielding screens from computers or whatever can provide for organization
of the small 1/8"  & 3/6" shanked diameter end mills. Beats drilling 100's of holes! Old ammo cases can provide for storage also.

Adding an insert to drawer with say 3/4 or 1" holes provides a lot of storage for larger shanked end mills.

Then one day I got tired of looking for the tools to countersink machine screws.
Would spend more time getting the right few tools than doing the work.
Sorted and put in holders.
A set of bottoming drills are nice to have for the mill and lathe and were easy to make.

Of course you always have the odd balls that just wants it owne space. IE; 4" diameter  60 degree cutter and some others just want
can't seem to find a home.

What can one say......build a bigger drawers!

Some pic's in attached file.

RICH

924

General Mach Discussion / Re: Trouble w tool paths and g00 & g01 code.

« on: May 10, 2016, 09:37:10 AM »

G00 command is defined in the Mach manual, it 's meant to get from point A to B as fast as the max velocity is for the axis or the slowest setting in motor tuning for all the axes.
G01 commands axis movement at a federate YOU define.

Have a look at the Mach Manual definitions and do some study on applying the commands for intended machining.

RICH

925

General Mach Discussion / Re: Turret macro is giving me issues

« on: May 10, 2016, 09:25:16 AM »

how are you preventing the stepper motor from loosing steps from doing that

That's the next step that needs to be addressed after assuring the mechanical aspects of the index are confirmed / understood.
There are options and the macro should be modified to address how that is done.
Right on Gary,

BTW,
There is a lot of "stuff" floating around, but, just copying something and thinking all is fine, is a good example of how this and many other threads are created.

RICH

926

General Mach Discussion / Re: Physical buttons for plasma

« on: May 09, 2016, 06:07:57 AM »

Hood,

Here is what my friend did for ventilation using a small axial fan. The plasma is in his basement and the smoke alarms would go off.
His machine is smaller in size bed around 3 x 4'. Above the  of the machine is a plenum, just thin sheet metal with the outlet located in the center and 6"
duct to axial fan which exhausts to the outside. A clear plastic curtain on each side which can be drawn up and down ( same as one would use in the house )
can be drawn down to enclose the table perimeter. Works great.

I know that you don't desire wireless but the X box is used and works great as the table is away from the pc and pc is also away from the plasma machine.
Say 8 to 10' feet or so. By the way he has a water bed below the grate.

Got to go. Back in a few hours,

RICH
 

927

General Mach Discussion / Re: Turret macro is giving me issues

« on: May 08, 2016, 06:43:24 AM »

Quick look at the macro shows that the movements are correct.

I will assume that your steps per unit are correct and were checked with backlash removed to confirm.
See what your total backlash is degrees. Do a 360 degree cw rotation. Now do a 360 degree ccw rotation.
That will show you how much backlash you have. That in itself is can keep from locking / stopping at the pawl
and account for the incorrect position.

RICH
 

928

General Mach Discussion / Re: New to CNC, mach3, and all the other stuff. Am I on the right path?

« on: April 28, 2016, 05:07:52 AM »

Here is what I would recommend.

Go buy CNC Programming Handbook by Peter Smid. Then read / study the first 150 pages or so because that will ground you
in the basic's of CNC. Yes there is other stuff around, but that book can be your "single" source of info for reference, learn right the first time!

Then watch the Mach video's, then have a read / study of Mach manual.

Sorry, it's a learning path that everyone must walk.

Look in Members Doc's and there is Hoss book in there for learning Gcode.
Just note that there are differences in  Gcode just as there are dialects in language.

RICH

929

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problem with MACH3

« on: April 26, 2016, 06:18:08 AM »

it came with a cut down version of mach3

I must say that personally I don't provide any support for any of the Chinese stuff like a 3040, etc.
Don't know what a cut down version of  Mach3 is.

Post a link to exactly what and where you got the license from.
Post the xml file that you are using.

RICH

930

General Mach Discussion / Re: Problem with MACH3

« on: April 25, 2016, 10:54:10 PM »

Have you installed your  license?
 Unlicensed / demo mode of Mach3 is limited in the number off code lines.

RICH