Messages

391

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Chains and entities question

« on: September 06, 2009, 08:19:53 AM »

if spacing was right you would get the affect you are after with no problems creating the code and screwing around with offsets or pockets as all you need to do is defined the cut paramaters. All of that would be one chain if you put it on one level of the drawing.

You have to remember im new at this. Are you saying I can define my own tool path somehow without using the pocket and offset tabs?

Now i would first machine the "blue lines" because this way the tool need not constantly plunge into the material.

How would i go about doing that. Would i click on those entities and create a tool path next to those?

I'm willing to learn anything you are willing to show me. Take that dxf file and describe how you would do things in Lcam as Doc has. I'll try to replicate it step by step and learn something new!!

Thanks Rich

 

392

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Chains and entities question

« on: September 06, 2009, 08:00:02 AM »

steve
downloaded that last dxf you put up. it was a real pain. you got a right to go nuts over this. this one had more trouble with archs than the first.

I had one dxf that made the part look like a football with a big bulge in it. That dxf is no longer with us.

393

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Chains and entities question

« on: September 06, 2009, 07:55:15 AM »

HMM.....
For training, do each of the tutorials in the manual. For confusion just ask me. 
Not all DXF's are created equaly, maybe, Apsire should  be added to my list!
RICH

Hi Rich!

I read the manual, every word, and did the tutorials that related to milling. I revisited the manual several times before i came to the forum for help. The problem is'nt that i don't know what to tell LC to do, it's LC wont do what i tell it.

There is an obvious problem with my dxf files as even the seasoned vets are having big problems. Like i said many times, I used Docs Lcam file and everything worked exactly like i wanted it to.

For me, this isn't about getting a file that works, I have one. This is about finding a way for me to get from Alibre to Mach3 without having to rely on you good people to generate files for me. If i have to import into lcam, then save and open mach3, then import to lcam again, thats what i'll do if it works.

I just need to find a way to get there.

394

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Chains and entities question

« on: September 05, 2009, 08:26:32 PM »

Vmax: I tried the garage computer and got the same result.

Doc: You provided a file thats works perfect. I could cut the part right now. It has become more about learning something rather than making something.

I'm done for the night myself!!

Steve

395

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Chains and entities question

« on: September 05, 2009, 07:40:58 PM »

steve

i used your file. the step by step is exactly how i did it.did not move any chains or alter them. it went real easy.
maybe it might be a graphic card thing. uninstall your card,shut down computer cold,let it reinstal the card. check for a driver update.
like you say it might be something else. do you have another computer you can try.

vmax there is a lot of things wrong with l-cam and the math is a big part of it. art said when he gets lathe done he is going to clean l-cam up and merge them.
l-cam does run better on more modern computers with better graphics cards. but that does not fix  the program.

bill

I can try the computer in the garage that actually runs the mill. Lcam is installed out there. I'll try it right now!

396

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Chains and entities question

« on: September 05, 2009, 06:51:30 PM »

Steve just for the record I can't get it to work here either(;-) at your scale.

For the record, I cant get it to work at any scale. I have worked with it at 4X, 10X, 16X, and it simply will not pocket the center of the inner oval and leave the ribs as islands. Using Doc's file it will do everything that I wanted.

Hey Doc, did you use my dxf (v14) file or did you convert mine to another version of dxf (V12) before working with it? There has to be a reason it works everywhere but here.

397

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Chains and entities question

« on: September 05, 2009, 03:44:53 PM »

I had a problem about a few weeks ago and tried that. It did'nt help solve the problem.

398

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Chains and entities question

« on: September 05, 2009, 02:53:40 PM »

I would like to thank all those who helped. I have decided that manual milling is the way for me. For whatever reason my hardware/software wont do what yours will. I give up!

You guy's are awesome for hanging in there with me!!

Steve

399

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Chains and entities question

« on: September 05, 2009, 02:25:22 PM »

V14 is as far back as Alibre will let me go for DXF.

400

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Chains and entities question

« on: September 05, 2009, 08:52:52 AM »

LC is a dxf importer and produces gcode based on the machining operations you want to do. LC is not a CAD program ( this is noted over 10 times in the manual).

Hello RICH

I'm not sure what you think i did or am trying to do but i can offer this.

The part was drawn in Alibre V11. A drawing of the part was made and then it was exported as a Autocad V14 file as a DXF. I'm not trying to modify the part in any way, i just want to cut the part out as drawn.