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Topics - adprinter

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21
Feature Requests / Append depth of cut on the fly
« on: February 09, 2010, 12:51:19 AM »
One of the frustrating things I have found, when cutting a piece with my router table, is the need to stop the G code from running, launch LazyCAM, and load the G code into LazyCAM to alter the depth of cut. I have not experimented with the Z Scale function in Mach3, perhaps this would accomplish what I am trying to do: sometimes the cut is not deep enough (when doing something very touchy such as engraving into wood), or too deep. It would be nice to have a button added to the Program screen of Mach3, which could be clicked, and a dialog box opened for all negative Z depths to be appended by X.*********" (Positive numbers entered would cause the depth of cut to be shallower, while negative numbers enterd would cause the depth of cut to be deeper into the stock).  I don't know if such a function would be useful to all, but thought that I would mention it here to see what others thought.
-Mike

22
Third party software and hardware support forums. / Gear Template Generator
« on: February 06, 2010, 02:27:42 PM »
I spent several hours trying to draw a set of gear profiles in Corel DRAW X3 to be imported into LazyCAM to create a tool path for cutting the gears out on my router table. After many frustrating failures (lines were not connected close enough for LazyCAM to interpret as single entities), I started searching the web for a solution. I found the following web page:
http://woodgears.ca/gear_cutting/template.html
And after trying it out, immediately ordered a copy of the software. You can actually print out the gears directly from the web page, but the purchased version will output as DXF, or PLT files which are flawless where LazyCAM is concerned. I have already cut 4 gears out of wood, and mounted them with the teeth tips contacting the pits and the spin freely.
Just thought that other users of Mach3 would find this as useful as I have.....
-Mike

23
Share Your GCode / Degree Wheel
« on: January 27, 2010, 11:07:43 AM »
I spent about twelve hours creating this file in Corel DRAW X3, and exported as a HPGL Plot file. I originally created the file, using the Arial font, and attempted to engrave the Degree Wheel for a rotary axis project that I am building. But discovered that all fonts are exported as outlines of the font characters when importing into LazyCAM. Obviously, for an engraving this small, the characters are rendered unreadable once engraved with the outlines. So, I then spent MANY hours searching the web for single-line, or stick fonts which could be used for this purpose. NOT! So, then I spent the next twelve hours in Corel DRAW X3 painstakingly recreating the Arial font as a grouped series of lines, and arcs of each character in the font in order to achieve the desired results.
They still do not function as fonts, so must be placed with standard typesetting conventions to be usable.  However, it occurred to me that others may find this useful.  I have included the LCAM file, (after several attempts at sending a ZIP file, PLT file, and TAP file, and receiving the "An Error has occured -files of this type are not allowed" message.  Enjoy! -Mike (Adprinter)

24
Tangent Corner / Internet Explorer cannot display web page
« on: September 08, 2009, 07:52:45 PM »
I have a problem when running Internet Explorer v8 to try to access the Support/Forum link from the Artsoft website. I am directed to an error page of some sort which states simply "Internet Explorer cannot display the web page" and has links to Diagnose Connection Problems, and another which simply lists things like Internet Connection has been lost, typing error when entering the web site, etc. I also have the Firefox browser, which displays the Artsoft pages without problems. However, there is some sort of virus running through that browser which re-directs the browser to websites of IT'S choosing, whenever I click on an active link on just about ANYONE ELSE'S Website! Therefore, my browser of choice is Internet Explorer for this reason. Except to access the Machsupport Forum, (which because of IE's inability to display the web page) I am forced to use Firefox. I have already experimented with virtually every setting in Internet Explorer's Tools, Internet Options, and all subsequent tabs and the various settings, and have YET to find a combination of settings which will allow me to access the Machsupport Forum with IE. Can anyone offer any suggestions to correct this problem?

25
Tangent Corner / Router motor as a Spindle Drive
« on: September 01, 2009, 05:18:32 PM »
Hi all,
I have a Porter Cable LN690 router that I am using on my CNC build. I ran across a 7 to 1 ratio timing gear and belt set which I gleaned from some old equipment I have lying around my shop. The thought came to me, to mount the large timing gear in the router chuck, and install a second chuck to be driven by the smaller gear. With a 7 to 1 ratio, using the PC Router (27000 RPM no-load speed), that works out to an incredible 189000 RPM! My question to the group, has anyone ever done something like this? If so, what are your thoughts on designing a shaft and bearing assembly which could withstand such speeds? I realize that it will probably be much lower speeds than the math suggests, (especially once the cutter makes contact with the material being cut), and that quite possibly there are no bearings available which could support such speeds. I just wanted to know if anyone else has ever tried something like this?

26
I do not have a dedicated CAD program for creating DXF files for use with LazyCAM. I am currently using CorelDraw X3, and have tried exporting files in each of the supported AutoCAD DXF formats: R13, R14, AC2000, AC2002, and AC2004. I have also tried exporting the files in EACH of the supported vector formats for various other programs such as Adobe Illustrator, HPGL, Windows Metafile, etc. The ONLY format which would allow me to successfully import the file with circles and arcs appearing in LazyCAM as actual circles and arcs (instead of obscure Octagons) is the Windows Metafile format. However, all scaling is LOST in the process. I created a "Test Pattern" in CorelDraw which contained a 4"x4" square with a perfect circle 4" in diameter centered within the square, with a horizontal line, and vertical line, and two lines at 45 degrees all intersecting at the center. When I opened the file into LazyCAM it measured 5,988.00 x 5,988.00 units in size! Can anyone help with what file format to use for the export FROM CorelDraw X3, and which format to use for opening the file FROM LazyCAM?

27
General Mach Discussion / My CNC build
« on: March 08, 2009, 05:59:14 PM »
Hi folks!
I have just registered my copy of Mach3, LazyCAM Pro, and Mill add-ons. I have been using Mach3 to drive my home made Router table. I am using a Mechatronics 4 axis driver board, and NEMA 34 Vexta PK296-01AA stepper motors 24VDC 2a per phase Bi-polar wired serial. I have been through MANY frustrating hours of attempting to tune the motors in Mach3, and switching the DIP switches on the Mechatronics board between Full, Half, Quarter, and Eighth step and STILL cannot get the motors to drive the machine reliably without losing steps. Can anyone help with DIP switch settings, and Step, Velocity, and Acceleration rates which will yield reliable results? For a look at my machine build, please see the MYCNC.PDF Any help would be greatly appreciated!

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