Messages

11

LazyCam (Beta) / Missing parts from DXF import

« on: September 27, 2010, 02:20:48 PM »

I have created a DXF file in AutoCad, and imported it into LazyCAM successfully and all components of the drawing show up in LC.

However once I generate the G code and load it into Mach 3 only portions of the picture are present.

I cannot see a correlation between the parts that show up and those that do not. The only difference I see when importing the file are that some entities show up as a green line an others as a blue line.

I am new to LC and not sure what the different colors represent.

I have made sure the original DWG file has good connections and no unterminated lines.

Any suggestion on what is happening?

I have tried this on two different files, in both cases the DWG file was created from a scanned image using Raster to vector conversion, then cleaned up in Autocad and saved as a DXF file. I have made certain all lines inthe DWG file were on the same layer, and same line type.

Thanks

Kevin

12

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Setting depth in Lazy Cam

« on: September 26, 2010, 05:09:54 PM »

Got it!   Many Thanks   

Kevin

13

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Setting depth in Lazy Cam

« on: September 26, 2010, 04:51:30 PM »

Rich,

Thanks for the info. I was not able to locate the manual on Artsofts site. Can yo point me in the right direction?

Kevin

14

LazyCam (Beta) / Setting depth in Lazy Cam

« on: September 26, 2010, 03:34:32 PM »

I have never used Lazy Cam before, so please bear with me.

I have imported a DXF file into LC and would like to do a simple 2D outline cut of my image  (a line drawing), all lines the same depth and width.

However I am not sure about the process of going about this in LC. Is there a way I can specify all lines in my project to be the same depth and width.

I am really wanting to try this simple exercise first in an effort to learn more about LC.

Thanks

Kevin

15

General Mach Discussion / Re: Running my first program

« on: September 26, 2010, 02:26:23 PM »

Dan & Hood,

Thanks for the heads up on the Wizards, I looked at them and they seem helpful.

Being in the USA, I use inch units for my table. I did note that some of them are in metric units and when I load them it changes my table units which caused me some confusion. If cutting a program that is in metric units, do I need to reconfigure my table??

Thanks on the LazyCam....I will try it to convert some simple DXF's   Do you recommend a particular CAM program if I wish to do pocketing??

Thanks again, I really appreciate it.

kevin

16

General Mach Discussion / Re: Running my first program

« on: September 26, 2010, 12:19:52 PM »

Dan,

Thanks for the input. Can you tell me if there is a "library" of test programs somewhere? I would like to run something as simple as a circle or square just to test the accuracy of each axis.

I don't have a CAM program yet, I can create a DXF file in Autocad, but I think I need a CAM program to convert the DXF into G code.

Thanks

Kevin

17

General Mach Discussion / Running my first program

« on: September 26, 2010, 11:33:57 AM »

Hi All,

I am ready to run my first test program on my CNC Router and am looking for a little guidance.

I have the table proved in manually, it is auto zeroing, and ready to run an automated test.

I loaded the "roadrunner" file that comes with Mach3 and ran it without any tool (cutting air so to speak) and all seemed to work fine.

My primary question is how to set my tool diameter or what it should be??  When running some of the programs shared here on the forum, do they generally contain tool information, so I know what to run??

Thanks

Kevin

18

General Mach Discussion / Re: Setting Z axis height

« on: July 06, 2010, 10:23:03 PM »

Well that is too simple 

Thanks for pointing out the obvious (I am learning lots as I go)

19

General Mach Discussion / Setting Z axis height

« on: July 06, 2010, 09:21:53 PM »

I am in the infancy of starting up my CNC router and have another basic question.


How do I tell Mach where the top edge of my piece to cut is located? Is there an offset you enter first before running one of the example G code files (such as the Road Runner?

Thanks

Castle Works

20

General Mach Discussion / Initial Test Run for CNC Router

« on: July 01, 2010, 09:18:50 PM »

Hi All,

Well I have all my home switches working, table seem functional.....so my next question. Where to go from here?

Should I load a test program and see what happens from there?  Are there some real simple test programs available to prove in the table and verify operation?

Thanks

Kevin