Messages

121

Share Your GCode / Re: Degree Wheel

« on: January 31, 2010, 04:59:42 AM »

New (and improved) version of the Degree Wheel. After routing a couple of pieces of wood, and then checking the wheel for accuracy, I discovered that it was anything BUT acurate!  So, I went back to the drawing board, and took even more time in CorelDRAW setting up a series of boxes to contain the characters in, so that a common point of origin could be accomplished. (There were slight differences in this in the orginal, therefore, even though snap was used- well, to quote a line from a movie "It would be impossible to discuss without a comman frame of reference").  The guide boxes yielded MUCH more acurate results. I also moved the witness marks to the outside of the circle, to open up more space between them (the space between the marks on the first wheel, were the same width as the envraving cut- a glorified SANDER).

122

Share Your GCode / Re: Degree Wheel

« on: January 27, 2010, 04:07:43 PM »

Rich,
So how many hours did you spend creating your own?
Also what software did you use for this purpose?
 I have completed the Arial font, (upper and lower case letters, and numerals) but am still working on creating the symbols. I did not think that the symbols would be needed for most purposes, until I gave it a test drive with my name and address. (NO comma!). I actually had formal typesetting training many years ago, and have learned first hand, the importance of "Font Widths".
 It is FAR from being a word processor, but using the Grid and Ruler setup, and Snap functions in Corel DRAW X3 produces some usable results in character placement. And they really do turn out beautiful on the router!

123

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)

124

Tangent Corner / Re: Internet Explorer cannot display web page

« on: September 08, 2009, 08:53:33 PM »

Thanks Dave,
I may try to download IE 7 (if it's still available on the MS website) and see if that corrects my problems. The virus I mentioned in Firefox renders virtually the rest of the Internet useless. The only way I can surf, is to hover the mouse over active links (and read the link address) and enter it directly into the location bar. If I simply click the link, the virus takes over, (google re-direct www.*********.com) or whatever. My wife was actually redirected to a ********* site from our county's department of education website. Darn criminals! Virus scanner finds nothing, and I have been unable to correct these problems. Anyway, Thanks

125

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?

126

General Mach Discussion / Re: My CNC build

« on: September 07, 2009, 05:01:15 AM »

I am not familiar with Hot Wire Cutters, and cannot offer any information regarding the wiring for such a tool. However, as I comprehend it, CNC can be used to drive your "tool of choice". Mine happens to be a Porter Cable LN690 wood router. Please see the MYCNC.PDF file (attached at the beginning of this post thread) for a drawing of the table design I built to drive the router (tool of choice). Perhaps others on this forum could help you with the wiring of the tool itself. But as far as what I have actually built, the PDF lists most of the components. I am using an old Dell Optiplex computer with 2 GB of memory & Mach3 software. For the driver I have a Gecko G540 driver board. And I upgraded the stepper motors to 900 oz/in from Keling Technologies. I am using 1/2" diameter 10 threads per inch ACME lead screws to drive the X and Y axis, and a 3/8" diameter 5 threads per inch ball screw to drive the Z axis on my table. Having said all of this, I am sure that it probably conflicts with some of the items I listed in the MYCNC.PDF file. The items listed in the file were acurate at the time I wrote the file. However, I have since "upgraded" to the items listed here, because the used motors, and driver board, and power supply I originally started with were a source of major frustrations trying to learn how to use the Mach3 software with unreliable components which would not function consistently. After upgrading to the components listed above, I have created many beautiful pieces on my router table. I am still evaluating various design software packages, and have so far been most impressed with Vectric's V Carve Pro. Lack of funding prevents me from any new purchases for now, but plan to later. Hope this helps to point you in the right direction to get started. I will say this, (repeating the advice of others on this forum) Buy RIGHT, Buy ONCE! If you cannot afford to buy new QUALITY components, then Don't Buy until you CAN afford to! This will save you a lot of un-necessary frustration, and money! Do as much research as you possible can, in designing your machine, and the best components needed for your use before buying anything. Unfortunately, it is the "school of hard knocks" that will be your best teacher in all of this. But you will learn along the way.

127

Tangent Corner / Re: Router motor as a Spindle Drive

« on: September 02, 2009, 05:37:48 PM »

Thanks for everyone's input. After further research (for the bearings) I have dismissed the idea. At least with the 7 to 1 ratio. I may yet try a larger timing gear to drive the spindle. Something more along the lines of 2 to 1 ratio may actually be do-able. Lack of funds prevents me from buying a water-cooled VFD spindle motor to achieve the higher speeds, so it's the inventor in me that poses these questions. I have also designed an improved linear rail system, using swing bolts, small bearings, and square tube steel (as the rails). I will post the modified MyCNC.PDF once I complete the file for viewing -probably sometime tomorrow. It will (hopefully) provide for enough stability for machining aluminum. Again, thanks for the input!

128

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?

129

General Mach Discussion / Best import filter in LazyCAM for CorelDraw files

« on: June 30, 2009, 05:42:31 PM »

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?

130

General Mach Discussion / Re: My CNC build

« on: June 28, 2009, 03:50:41 AM »

Arizona,
YES - I would like to cut wood at 100 IPM! Wired serial, I am only able to tune the motors to about 76 IPM (without losing steps- by "losing steps" I mean the motors whine without turning if I try to tune them above about Velocity of 76 IPM and Accelaration at about 18 IPS). I will try the parallel scheme tomorrow, and report back with the results.