Topics

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G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / My rapids are leaving toolpath marks.

« on: January 24, 2010, 08:29:07 PM »

When I pocket in Mastercam, can I set up the rapids to have the Z come up a few thousandths and then back down when rapiding? I'm getting nasty toolpath marks that I'll have to sand out of my pockets.

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G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Warning-zero length line?

« on: January 21, 2010, 09:12:32 AM »

Hello everyone, hope all are well today. I am encountering a problem using Mastercam. Sometimes when I am scaling an object down, an error pops up saying warning-zero length line. It won't let me continue at all and closing it out is not possible. It is very frustrating since the only way to continue is to close down the program and start from scratch. I don't know if it's mcam warnning me or my system. I have enough ram and space on my win xp. This only happens occasionally. I researched the web but don't see much and what I do see I can't understand what to make of it. Does anyone else know what this means and how to fix it? Thanks sincerely.

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General Mach Discussion / Machine won't move.

« on: December 03, 2009, 07:01:51 PM »

I ran a cnc router with Mach trial for many months, until my computer had a crash( a virus I think). I purchased another computer,(Gateway 3.06GhzCeleron 512mb, 40gb) and downloaded Mach trial again. I had the orig xml from the maker of my router, and dropped it in, got the xbox 360 plugin/driver and the whole nine. I can't get the machine to move. Screen comes up normal, the coordinates move when I toggle the joystick, and it says the xbox plugin is working, and I configured plugins, cancelled shuttlepro plugin, and all that.I ended up repeating this process a few more times. I shouldn't have to mess with configs if my xml was fine before. I checked device manager settings for all the hardware on the new computer and every port and hub is good. I even got the old computer started again briefly so i could get my old Mach program(that worked good) on a usb stick, and transferred that to the new computer. I can't make sense of why Mach won't work on this new computer. It appears right. I had the old computer running through Mach, and jogging my router around fine just before I shut it down for good to get repaired. The old computer was a Dell optiplex, but it shouldn't be much different than this Gateway. Does the Mach program have to be downloaded in the C drive to work? I sent it from the memory stick into my documents, mabye that is a problem? I'm confused.

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FAQs / In need of a low speed spindle motor

« on: November 27, 2009, 12:20:26 PM »

I posted this question in the router building section and didn't get any replies, so I thought I'd try it here. My question is... Is there any spindle motors or palm routers for cnc router that aren't jacked up to 15,000 to 30,000 rpms? I got a Rotozip on mine, and it's good for everything not metal.
I just want to do some very light machining on steel, and don't want to burn up my bits. Getting a milling machine is out of the question right now. What I want to do is plunge a 1/16" carbide endmill about .040 into steel, and do it repetitively. I need about 3000 rpms, but even a spindle tool that would go down as low as 5000/7000 rpms I would be happy with. I am unfamiliar with the 240v stuff, and I only have 110/120V electric. As of now, at 15,000 rpms and keeping the feed low, it's just not working. Thanks for your help.

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General Mach Discussion / In need of a low speed spindle motor/ palm router

« on: November 22, 2009, 10:34:36 PM »

Is there any spindle motors or palm routers for cnc router that aren't jacked up to 15,000 to 30,000 rpms? I got a Rotozip on mine, and it's good for everything not metal.
I just want to do some very light machining on steel, and don't want to burn up my bits. Getting a milling machine is out of the question right now. What I want to do is plunge a 1/16" carbide endmill about .040 into steel, and do it repetitively. I need about 3000 rpms, but even a spindle tool that would go down to 5000 rpms I would be happy with

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G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Problems loading cad files to L-cam

« on: November 11, 2009, 05:50:09 PM »

Just got a new cad program, actually, my first. It is full version Autocad. My problem is, I draw up something and export it, and can't get it up on Lazycam. I exported it as a dwf, and the second time as a pdf and no luck. I seem to always lose my files somewhere. The l-cam did load something, but it didn't remotely look like what I created in cad. My L-cam is trial version, but it should still let me import stuff right?

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General Mach Discussion / How to use the Run From Here option.

« on: August 05, 2009, 09:41:50 PM »

Hi fellas. Just wanted to say thank you to all for the great help and advice you've given. My cnc router has been buzzin away with no problems for over a month!
I haven't yet learned how to cycle start other than in the beginning of the program. If I want to start somewhere say in the middle of the program, what must I do?
So far, I have had to run the program all the way from the beginning if I want to get to a certain tool change or M00 command and it wastes a lot of time.

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General Mach Discussion / How do I reverse the values on my DRO?

« on: June 11, 2009, 09:31:08 PM »

Simple question. I forget how to get the DRO to change my axes values. Z up used to be Z- and down used to be Z+. How do I get the DRO to read reverse so I don't have to change all my programs?  Thank you for all your help.    Corey

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General Mach Discussion / Can someone give me a walk thru for device manager settings?

« on: June 09, 2009, 09:46:47 AM »

I have a Zenbot with 4 wire bipolar 285 ounce in nema 23 steppers. It worked great for a few months and then it started having problems it seems after I had disconnected the tower for a few days. The axes just bump and grind and bounce around, do not jog. I checked the mechanical, its all good. I replaced the ic drivers on the board, adjusted my configurations in the ports and pins many times, and got mixed results. Sometimes an axis would jog smooth, then another one would act up. I think the problem is between the pc and the driver now. Mabye my settings in the computer's device manager are not right. I'm using a Dell Optiplex tower with plenty of memory and gig.

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General Mach Discussion / Thing ran fine, now jogging skips?

« on: June 01, 2009, 07:39:09 PM »

Hi everyone. My Zenbot was fine for two months. In the last 2 weeks the Z axis was fluttering terribly when I tried to jog with xbox 360 controller.I checking the belts and bolts and everything mechanical, nothing out of place. I switched the cables from the driver to the steppers and found the z axis stepper worked fine when plugged into the x axis cable.  I then checked  in the motor configs, the z was different than the other two axes so I changed it and it ran flawlessly. Thought it was fixed, then after a few days, the x axis started doing the same thing. This time, I don't see anything off in the motor configs, and after shutting everything down, restarting, I can't get it working.
 I would just like to know, what would make the machine just go from working fine to this?