Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need help with basic understanding

« on: March 01, 2011, 11:51:57 AM »

thanks, good suggestion

2

General Mach Discussion / Draftsight plotter driver for hpgl files

« on: February 28, 2011, 02:17:54 PM »

I have used Draftsight to create DXF files but on occasion I like to use plotter files. I cannot create the plot files directly in this program so I was trying to find a plotter driver that I could print to file. The ones that were recommended to me were the drivers for HP 7475a or HP 7580a. The problem is the HP download site does not have these drivers anymore and I cannot seem to locate them. In addition, I read somewhere that they are not supported on Win XP. So, question is what plotter driver is available and where can I download it ?

Thanks

3

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Turbocad PLT file does not load correctly in LazyCam

« on: January 14, 2010, 11:10:21 AM »

Rich, I have experienced a lot of problems in the past with DXF files and LC and Corel Draw. So, I found that if I stick with plt files, they would always work ok. Then I got a new version of Turbocad and exported a very simple drawing as a plt file and opened it in LC. It did not display properly. Basically, the plasma cutting file has three parts to it. I have a 1/4 x 3" x 20" piece of steel that I want to cut a 5" radius on each end and a 3/4" hole for a bolt at one end. This would be welded to a 5" pipe which is a leg for a 40" high patio table. When it loads into LC, I only see a long straight line. When I load the plt file into corel I see the two curves and the hole but they are displaced vertically. When I load it back into TC, it looks ok. The TC created DXF file is ok in LC. But this is a very simple operation and I have problems with more complicated DXFs.

Thanks

4

LazyCam (Beta) / Turbocad PLT file does not load correctly in LazyCam

« on: January 13, 2010, 03:59:03 PM »

I am having trouble loading plt files created by TurboCad 15 into Lazycam. Plt files from other programs like Corel Draw work correctly. If I open the plt file after saving it, it looks ok in TurboCad. When I look at the file in notepad, it seems the coordinates for the PA command are not correct or are using a format that is not recognized. I tried to attach both the tcw and the plt file but this forum seemingly does not accept those file types. An exported DXF from TC seems to be ok.
Thanks

5

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Plasma kerf width in Lcam

« on: September 11, 2008, 02:05:26 PM »

I have LC Ver 2.58 and I cannot find where I would enter kerf information. Can you please help me find it ?

Thanks, Alex

6

LazyCam (Beta) / Default values for version 2.58

« on: November 28, 2007, 02:04:20 PM »

Can someone please tell me where LCam gets the z value for initial height ( I get 60) and the initial velocity for the F parameter ? I get F60 when I save the gcode.

Thanks

7

General Mach Discussion / THC Control Family

« on: November 25, 2007, 01:08:33 PM »

I have downloaded the latest Mach 3 and use LazyCam that came with it. When I save the gcode from lazycam, the initial z axis setting is 60. I cannot for the life of me find out where that comes from. Also, it does not automatically add lead-ins. Is there something I need to setup for both of these problems ?

In the Mach3Mill beta 7.57 documentation, there is a discussion on page 6-12 about THC control family. Where in Mach3 is this section talking about ? I have a plasma CNC and I want to use the torch on control.

I have another problem I think I created.  For testing purposes, I created a gcode file to cut 5 lines 2 inches long spaced 1/4 in apart. I must have checked something wrong because when the code tells the torch to move to a location, the x and y motors do not move at the same time such that the movement is a diagonal. It moves the x first and when it gets to the end of travel, it then moves the y dimension. In Mach3 the toolpath movement that is displayed does move in a diagonal. Last week it did move correctly.  Help please !!!

Thanks for any assistance

8

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: LazyCam Manual

« on: November 17, 2007, 08:21:29 PM »

Chip, thanks for the help. The G4 dwell in milliseconds was checked, I guess it is a default setting. I am sure this will fix my problem

Thanks again

9

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: LazyCam Manual

« on: November 17, 2007, 10:26:17 AM »

I have another problem with LazyCam and or Mach3 plasma. When I create the gcode, I need the program to delay to wait for the torch to come on before moving the head. In Lazycam I put in 2 seconds wait and the gcode comes out G4 P2.0000. Problem is this looks like something much smaller than 2 seconds as the head starts to move before the 2 sec would be up. I put in 1000 and the program does wait for 1 second. What is wrong ? I have to go into the gcode and manually change all the P values to make this work.

Thanks

10

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: LazyCam Manual

« on: November 16, 2007, 01:03:50 PM »

How do I "Move to origin upon completion" which used to be an option on the Gcode save menu ? It seems to have disappeared. I use plasma mode.

Thanks