Messages

5701

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Important Tip For All Autocad Users

« on: February 14, 2009, 08:29:20 PM »

While on the AutoCAD subject, I've written a macro that directly exports g-code from AutoCAD, and is (imo) far easier to use than LazyCAM. Works in 2002 and newer.

http://tinyurl.com/cghkzp

5702

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Important Tip For All Autocad Users

« on: February 14, 2009, 08:26:31 PM »

The text explode command is an Express Tool command. Under the Express menu, see Text>Explode Text.

If you don't have the Express Tools, here's a good alternative.

http://www.dwgtool.com/outline.htm

5703

General Mach Discussion / Found a bug??

« on: February 12, 2009, 06:57:08 PM »

Can someone confirm this?

If I run this code to cut a hole, it works fine.

G40
G20
M3
G0 Z0.1250
G0 X0.2500 Y0.3750 Z0.1250
G41P0.125
G1 X0.3750 Y0.6250 Z0.0000 F30
G3 X0.0000 Y1.0000 Z0.0000 I-0.3750 J0.0000 F30
G3 X0.0000 Y1.0000 Z-0.2500 I0.0000 J-1.0000
G3 X0.0000 Y1.0000 Z-0.2500 I0.0000 J-1.0000
G0 X0.0000 Y1.0000 Z0.1250
G40
G0 X0 Y0
M5
M30

But when I add a second hole, the first one no longer cuts correctly, even though the code is identical. But the second one cuts OK.

G40
G20
M3
G0 Z0.1250
G0 X0.2500 Y0.3750 Z0.1250
G41P0.125
G1 X0.3750 Y0.6250 Z0.0000 F30
G3 X0.0000 Y1.0000 Z0.0000 I-0.3750 J0.0000 F30
G3 X0.0000 Y1.0000 Z-0.2500 I0.0000 J-1.0000
G3 X0.0000 Y1.0000 Z-0.2500 I0.0000 J-1.0000
G0 X0.0000 Y1.0000 Z0.1250
G40
G0 X2.2500 Y2.3750 Z0.1250
G41P0.125
G1 X2.3750 Y2.6250 Z0.0000 F30
G3 X2.0000 Y3.0000 Z0.0000 I-0.3750 J0.0000 F30
G3 X2.0000 Y3.0000 Z-0.2500 I0.0000 J-1.0000
G3 X2.0000 Y3.0000 Z-0.2500 I0.0000 J-1.0000
G0 X2.0000 Y3.0000 Z0.1250
G40
G0 X0 Y0
M5
M30



Edit:

I've found that adding a short G1 move after the G40 gets rid of the error.


Gerry

5704

Mach Screens / Re: Moving the background bitmap

« on: February 12, 2009, 08:59:52 AM »

Also, in general config, you probably have auto enlarge turned on.

5705

Mach Screens / Re: Moving the background bitmap

« on: February 12, 2009, 08:59:21 AM »

In Photoshop, save as .png for transparency, or use color 245,245,245. I use Photoshop for my screens and transparency works fine with .png files.

5706

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Need Help With G40, G41 & G42 Programming

« on: February 11, 2009, 09:29:50 PM »

Make sure you use the latest development version, as the comp is being changed and works differently in the newest version.

5707

Mach Screens / Re: Moving the background bitmap

« on: February 11, 2009, 01:30:47 PM »

Enter the coordinates of the upper left hand corner of your image in the dialog box (right click on it to get the window to open). Both would typically be set to 0. You can also drag it, unless you have it locked.

5708

General Mach Discussion / Re: Two Questions About Mach 3

« on: February 10, 2009, 05:55:34 PM »

Mecsoft has a post for mach3 and Visual Mill.
http://www.mecsoft.com/DownloadPosts.shtml

5709

Works in progress / Re: Another new screen

« on: February 07, 2009, 01:15:51 PM »

That screen's not done yet.

5710

Works in progress / Re: Another new screen

« on: February 07, 2009, 11:41:29 AM »

I redid the whole design from scratch. And used Overloaded's name, Aqua. Here's a (hopefully) usable beta.

http://tinyurl.com/ak8q2z

Auqa.set goes in the Mach3 folder.

.png's need to go in \Mach3\bitmaps\Aqua\

For the spindle override LED to work correctly:

Spindle OR LED.brn needs to go in \Mach3\brains\

Under the Operator menu, go to Brain Control and enable it.

This is the only way I could think of to get it to work like the FRO does.
Note: Occasionally, I've the reset spindle LED lit when starting mach3, but no spindle OR applied. If you move the slider and reset, it sems to work fine after that. I'll look into this further down the road.

Most things work, but not the tool change position buttons.

Let me know if there are any problems, or if there are any suggestions.