Messages

11

LazyCam (Beta) / Offsets not being created in LazyCam

« on: January 04, 2011, 07:15:09 PM »

Im trying to create an offset, on the far right end of the drawing but cannot seem to find anything to make it work.  I am trying to use an 1/8 endmill to do the entire part so I dont want to change tools.  The slots are suppose to be .125."  I have changed the tool diameter and the size of the slots but cannot seem to find a way to get them all to work.  They are identical parts but only two of the eight slots are being offset.  Any tips on this?   I have tried changing the tolerances as well

12

General Mach Discussion / Re: cumulative error

« on: February 11, 2010, 08:45:58 PM »

I am already on my 2nd LPT driver card.   

 I think I will put the old computer in use.  I have a old kvm switch I guess I can put to use...

Thanks!

13

General Mach Discussion / Re: cumulative error

« on: February 11, 2010, 07:46:26 PM »

Cutting a ~5"x6" in a single loop my return was about 1/32 to 1/16 off.   If its a logic voltage issue, is there a fix?  I don't have much informaton on the table, its just an ebay noname special.  I was real happy with it on my old PC.   I guess I could go back to the old PC, buts its real real slow and can't do much more than run CNC only.

Thanks,
Charlie

14

General Mach Discussion / cumulative error

« on: February 11, 2010, 05:30:46 PM »

I am getting cumulative error that i have not noticed before.   I am using a simple 3 axis router table and after running just a little while, i hit the verify button and pretty high error.  I recently upgraded the computer that is using an PCI Parallel card.  I have tried slowing down the acceleration and speed, but it does not seem to help.   I have run the driver test and it starts by saying pulsing too fast, then it restarts and says my connection is excellent, but the green bar is only about half way.  Everything seems real tight on the machine and its well lubricated.   I suspect the new computer/configuration since I have never noticed the error before on much larger routines it would always keep up.  Any ideas what I can try.

Thanks,
Charlie

15

Screen designer tips and tutorials / Re: Sorry for the hopefully simple basic question

« on: February 10, 2010, 07:58:57 PM »

OK.  I have the program running.    Trying to run it on a 64bit machine, and does not seem to respond too well.  I will have to brave the elements and go out in the shop and see if I can figure out how to do some cutting and pasting.   it looks like 1024.set is the main form?  Where are the virtual pendent controls for jogging, etc so I can copy them. 

16

Screen designer tips and tutorials / Sorry for the hopefully simple basic question

« on: February 10, 2010, 02:03:40 PM »

I have never made a custom screen before, but need to.  I saw the tuturial on screen4, not sure if that is the right thing to use.  The main issue is I can even find the program.   I do not want to create one from scratch.  I want to just make a couple changes to the main standard screen and add some of the control pendant features onto the same screen.   I have a touch screen LCD and want to be able to jog, etc without using the keyboard and hiting tab to show the jog pendent.  I don't have spindal control, so I was just going to put the jog buttons in the spindal area and delete the spidal controls.   I assume I should make a custom screen versus modifiing the existing.  Can someone give me some real quick pointers as far as what program I use and where it is and how to do some copy and paste of the existing functions to make my custom screen. 

Thanks!
Charlie

17

Mach Screens / new touchscreen questions

« on: February 01, 2010, 10:50:47 PM »

I got a deal on some LCD touchscreens for $10 and they work great.  So now i want to captitalize on my investment...

Hopefully simple questions so I can elimiate using the keyboard to some degree when cutting and setting up.

How do I get the pendent to pop up and disapear (<TAB> on the keyboard)

This one may be a little more complex.  There is a jog on/off button off way to the right of the pendent screen (<ctrl-Alt-J>), how can I move this so I don't have to take up the whole screen, its a great feature so I can run slow or step or move quickly by just touching the screen only.

Thanks,
Charlie

18

General Mach Discussion / Re: rolling to a new computer

« on: February 01, 2010, 10:31:57 PM »

Hi.  I have the new computer started and have transfered the files.  The new computer did not have a built in parallel port so I have installed a 2 port EPP/ECP PCI card.   I can't seem to get it working through.

Under resources each port list two sets of address.   I have E800-807 and E480-487 on one of the ports and EC00 to EC07 and E880 - E887...

So what port am I suposed to use in the setup, It does not allow me to put in a range?

Thanks,
Charlie

19

General Mach Discussion / rolling to a new computer

« on: January 26, 2010, 12:35:26 PM »

Is there a set of files/folders, etc to copy from my existing PC to put on my new PC that I will be using Mach3 and LazyCam on?  Or can I just copy the entire directory?   I don't want to lose my stepper motor setup, limits, etc, licences, etc.   I am currently using XP, and the new computer is supposed to come with a dual install of either XP or Windows 7, so I plan on sticking with XP.  Is there anything else I need to calibrate, etc since the new computer will be a lot faster than the dinosaur I currently use.

Thanks,
Charlie

20

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: pockets messing up

« on: December 20, 2009, 01:59:18 PM »

Well after much fiddling and what not, I decided to try to draw the pocket cuts in CAD.  I managed to get the outside and inside offsets as one continous chain.    In drawing the offsets in CAD (Solidworks) i releasized why LazyCam had trouble with it.  Just offseting the lines kept creating all sorts of illegal overbound situations, but I finally faked it inot working.   Next is to try it out and see what happens.   THe issue will be as I need to make tweaks to the design, etc I will have to manually repocket it or manipulate it so lazycam can handle it each time, both time consuming...

THanks for all the help.

Charlie