Messages

4281

Finished Screens / Re: Mach3 2010 Screenset - Now available

« on: May 04, 2011, 10:10:33 PM »

Thanks guys. I like it too.

4282

General Mach Discussion / Re: Does anyone have the G code for a 3d Fleur de leise (not sure of spelling)

« on: May 01, 2011, 09:52:23 PM »

Will this work?
http://www.vectorart3d.com/store/index.cfm?fuseaction=freemodels
They have free software to create the g-code for it.

4283

General Mach Discussion / Re: Homing position is not absolute

« on: May 01, 2011, 03:02:16 PM »

Here's a macro that will home at the set speed, then re-home at 1/10 that speed, then reset the speed to what it was before.

DoButton(24)
DoButton(23)
DoButton(22)
While IsMoving()
Sleep(100)
Wend
SetParam("XRefPer", GetParam("XRefPer")/10)
SetParam("YRefPer", GetParam("YRefPer")/10)
SetParam("ZRefPer", GetParam("ZRefPer")/10)
DoButton(24)
DoButton(23)
DoButton(22)
While IsMoving()
Sleep(100)
Wend
SetParam("XRefPer", GetParam("XRefPer")*10)
SetParam("YRefPer", GetParam("YRefPer")*10)
SetParam("ZRefPer", GetParam("ZRefPer")*10)

4284

General Mach Discussion / Re: Homing position is not absolute

« on: May 01, 2011, 12:52:11 PM »

Lower your homing speed in Config >Homing/Limits. It sounds like you're homing at 100% speed. Try 10%, or less.

4285

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Elephant Problem

« on: May 01, 2011, 09:47:39 AM »

If you used a "real" CAD program instead of Sketchup, Offsetting the line should take about 5 seconds. Sketchup is not really a good choice for doing 2D CAD drawings, imo.

This free 2D CAD program has been getting outstanding reviews.
http://www.3ds.com/products/draftsight/download-draftsight/?xtor=SEC-6-GOO-[]-[]-S-[draftsight]

4286

General Mach Discussion / Re: 500 line test designs??

« on: May 01, 2011, 08:32:26 AM »

I wonder how many lines a Smiley face would take? one round circle, 2 smaller circles and a curved line??

I just threw these together. They are 1" diameter, centered at X0 Y0. Cutting .01" deep. Just scale the X and Y to the size you want, and cut.

For what it's worth, the 500 line limit was more than enough for me to make enough money with Mach3 to pay for itself in two weeks. If you're cutting real parts, and not engraving pictures, you can do a LOT with 500 lines.

4287

General Mach Discussion / Re: circular interpolation not showing on arc cutting surface

« on: April 28, 2011, 05:51:45 PM »

Not sure I fully understand but most CAD software draws circles as a number of straight lines, the lower the resolution the less the number of lines and worse the appearance.

I'd say exactly the opposite. Most CAD software draws circles as circles or arcs, and NOT straight lines. Autocad definitely does.

As for your stepped circles, lots of things could cause that. How is your machine driven?

4288

FAQs / Re: Thermwood E cab

« on: April 27, 2011, 05:33:13 PM »

I believe it only outputs code for Thermwood machines, or Shopbot's if you buy the ShopBot module for $1500 I think.

4289

General Mach Discussion / Re: Simple, Simple question about home.

« on: April 27, 2011, 05:31:15 PM »

If you want to always start from a certain spot, you'll probably want all your g-code to finish in that spot.

Unless you  are only talking about when you firs home the machine, than use Home Offsets like Brett said.

4290

General Mach Discussion / Re: tool offsets when writing your own gcode

« on: April 27, 2011, 05:28:33 PM »

And g41 applies the stored tool diameter of the called g43hxx.

No.

G41 offsets by the radius of the current tool called with M6 Txx.

G41 Dx offsets by the radius of tool #x

G41 Px.xx offsets by radius x.xx

Call G40 to cancel the G41/G42 offset.