Messages

171

General Mach Discussion / Maxnc 5

« on: July 08, 2010, 11:49:08 AM »

Does anybody have a profile for this machine? 

I just picked up one as my seocnd machine, and it came with Windows 98 based control software, but because I have become familiar with Mach 3 I was thinking it might be more convenient if I could run it off Mach 3 so when I generate code files from my CAM software I know they will work pretty much the same on either machine. 

Well, that and I don't think I have any 98 machines left even on my spare shelf.  I think I have given them all away to a friend reconditions them and gives them away to school kids who's family can't afford a computer for them. 

172

General Mach Discussion / Re: It Just Goes Wonky

« on: July 07, 2010, 05:47:00 PM »

That one is 1.6 ghz I guess.  I bought it for running Mach 3 as a step up from the machine that was running it before. 

173

General Mach Discussion / Re: It Just Goes Wonky

« on: July 07, 2010, 05:12:57 PM »

Well, I brain damaged the computer.  I went into the CP and uninstalled EVERYTHING that I didn't KNOW I had to have, and then I turned off the toolpath display.  It cut fine from start to finish.  No problems.  I guess there ARE some practical limitations to file size for Mach 3.  I just wish I knew what they were so I could adjust memory, processor speed, setup etc. so I could run those big files and still use the toolpath display.  Brain damaging the computer and uninstalling everything else doesn't annoy me as much.  I never use anything but Mach 3 and Cam Bam on that computer anyway.  Now I don't even have Cam Bam installed on it. 



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174

General Mach Discussion / It Just Goes Wonky

« on: July 07, 2010, 01:26:41 PM »

Ok...  I've been doing some of what I consider to be relatively basic work lately, but it generates some moderately large files.  Looking at the tool paths in my CAM software looks fine, and it looks ok in the Mach Tool Path screen, but it just goes wonky sometimes.  It will forget the Z or Y depth its supposed to go to, and just move on the other axis in a move and start cutting.  I kept getting driver watch dog errors so I turned off toolpath display.  Then I went in and uninstalled EVERYTHING else on the control computer except the minimum to keep winodws running.  I set parrallel port to "normal" and verified every single power saving, screen saving, and "other thing" I could think of was turned off.  I've gone over my mill with a fine tooth comb making sure that all the screws move freely, none of the lovejoys are binding, and the the screw bearings are not stopped up to tight. 

Here is a sample file "if it will fit" that does it.  No one MOP causes a problem.  Is it just too big?  I have other large files that cause the same type of symptoms.  Never mind the tool changes.  That is just for logistic reasons.  This will all cut with a .125 ball cutter except the last two MOPs which require a .250 ball cutter.  Has no significance to the problems running the code.  For test purposes they can all be cut with the .125 ball cutter. 

175

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: I've pretty much quit using lazy cam for anything...

« on: May 31, 2010, 03:20:56 PM »

I still have not found my ideal CAD software, but the commercial version of Cam Bam is looking really good for CAM even if it is in my opinion lacking in the engraving department with it not allowing a simple process to increment engraving depth like DeskCNC or LazyCam.  Actually I think that particular method of engraving is probably easiest to layout in Lazy Cam except for some of the wild artifacts. 

After some of the posts in this thread I did play with LazyCam some more and figured out how to make it do a few more things.  I also played with DeskCNC a lot more using more complex files for each.  Lazy Cam still throws in wild artifacts.  DeskCNC looses elements of DXF files sometimes.  They both arbitrarily convert some exploded splines into a bunch of circles.  I think I'm going to plunk down the cash and pay for Cam Bam.  I don't have to explode or convert anything to make it work with most files.  I did find the last free beta version would just plain lockup on some things or take so long (18 hours to generate a g-code file for a complex logo) to complete a process as to effectively lock up. 

I may actually use LazyCam for a few things now that I undertand how the layers bit works and how to assign attributes, but I'm gravitating away from both DeskCNC and LazyCam towards CamBam now that I am really starting to understand how it works.  I can live with the engraving limitations, and work around them if I need to. 

I do have to admit that LazyCam has more capabilities than I thought, but it is certainly not very intuitive to me.  The big killer for me is the funny things it does with some exploded splines and the artifacts that pop up.  For a complex file that can take a lot of zooming and editing manually to keep from destroying a work piece.  I'ld like to add that CamBam also seems to do some really efficient planning for tool paths and travels.  The code files are testing out a lot faster than I expect based on either LazyCam or DeskCNC generated files.  Not bad for $150.  DeskCNC was $250 and LazyCam was $75 if I recall. 

176

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: 3d cam

« on: May 31, 2010, 02:37:59 PM »

Getting back to Cam Bam for a moment.  I was playing with the executions limited commercial product this morning and it is definitely superior in a couple ways to the last free beta version.  For one when it appears to freeze up, but is actually working it displays a CamBam is thinking message.  While I relaize this may not mean it hasn't locked up, so far it has not.  It really does need a lot of processing power.  I have a lot of older 3rd and 4th gen machines out in the shop.  This morning I ran it my daughters computer int he house.  In order to test it I ran it on some very complex engraving files.  Zing!  Nothing over abotu a minute to generate either tool paths or code files.  Stuff that was taking 15-30 minutes to generate tool paths on the machine I use int he shop and overnight to generate actual code files. 

Obviously I need to install the commercial executions limited version out on the my shop design computer to see if its really superior.  Its only a 2ghz single processor, and this machine is a 2.1ghz dual processor.  Both have the same memory 1G and the same hard drive.  I suppose also the graphics adaptor could make a difference.  Although they are both onboard AGP using shared memory. 

Time to break down and put a 2nd gen computer out in the shop I guess. 

177

General Mach Discussion / How Many Lines of Code

« on: May 20, 2010, 11:05:38 PM »

How many lines of code can Mach 3 handle when its registered? 

Practical limit I guess. 

178

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: 3d cam

« on: May 20, 2010, 10:40:53 AM »

Well, once again I found myself writing the raw code by hand to get my cylinder.  I think I've written almost as much code from scratch using a macro in Excel as with my cam software. 

Excel is sure handy for re-iterative work. 

Cut this curve.  Step down .003, cut this curve, step down .003, cut this curve ...

179

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: 3d cam

« on: May 18, 2010, 07:44:35 PM »

Well, I pretty much know what I can do with my first two cam programs.  Lazy Cam and DeskCNC.  Basically they are 2D pocketing and pocket island tools.  Cam Bam I am still learning, but as i mentioend in another thread I figured out how touse it to turn organicx shapes and roatated splines into either exploded splines or poly lines so that my other cam programs can interpret and display them. 

So far the closest thing I've found to an easy 3d point and shoot tool is Gmax.  One website does list them as a possible 3d CNC CAD resource along with a bunch of other programs including cnc toolkit. 

180

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: 3d cam

« on: May 18, 2010, 04:06:32 PM »

Ok...  I am now playing with gmax.  It seems to generate some of the fundamental gemometric solids ok.  Spheres, cones, cylinders, etc.  Now how do convert that to something I can machine. 

For example...  how would I use that to generate a half cylinder shaped pocket in a piece of plate. 

Available tools are Corel Draw, Cam Bam, gmax, gsimple, lazy cam, deskcnc, and a host of other misc items minor utilities.  I have not yet downloaded the utility that converts gmax files to another type of file, but will when I need to.  I need to generate Mach 3 compatible code of course.  I only have DeskCNC for the nice easy 2d cam features.