Messages

21

General Mach Discussion / Re: How to run Mach without CNC on

« on: April 01, 2012, 03:32:34 PM »

Just call it a big-dummy moment, I went over the Mach3 2010 Reference Manual and found the reset icon.

All is good.

Steve.

22

General Mach Discussion / How to run Mach without CNC on

« on: April 01, 2012, 03:26:51 PM »

I would like to import a file and review it on the Mach screen for errors and use the run-time simulator without being connected to the CNC.  My problem right now is the emergency stop won't let me do all I want.

How do I tell the program that I am not connected?
Can I turn emergency stop off?  (Actually I tried that in "pins input", but after apply it kept automatically coming back as active.)

Using screen 2010x.

Steve.

23

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: How to match BobCAD options with Mach3 configuration

« on: April 28, 2011, 10:33:24 AM »

Ed,

I use the basic one, but it is less than good.  I have to make changes in the code after the fact most of the time.  The real solution would be for me to learn how to edit the post processor, but I just don't have the time.

If you don't use the macro for "start program" then you have other problems.  If you use the macro "start program" then it inserts g-codes that cause Mach to do unusual things.

I've accepted that there aren't that many BCC/Mach combination users.

Steve.

24

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Need some g-code critique

« on: March 31, 2011, 06:01:40 PM »

I found my problem with the nesting wizard, the code doesn't return to the zero'd start location so the indexing of the nested parts are offset each time by where the cutting finished.  There isn't any option in BobCAD/CAM that would generate that.  In my prior use of the wizards this wasn't a problem due to the geometry.

Unless someone knows the BobCAD secret handshake, I think that I need to end the g-code with a return to my initial zero point.  After some reading and looking at examples, it seems that G54 is what I need.  It wasn't clear to me if the G54 needs to be repeated later in the code or a G55, G56... is what i need.

Assume I manually jogged X, Y, Z to a position and I have "zeroed" those axis on the Program Run screen. 

/////

G54 (along with all other necessary g-codes)

G00X0.75 Y0.75 (this moves away from the zero'd points I started from)
Z0.5
Y2
X2
Y1
X1.5 Y1.5 (this location is not at my Program Run Screen zeroed starting point)

G00 Z0             (will this rapid the Z axis to the point I zeroed to on the Program Run screen?)
G00 X0 Y0        (will this rapid the X & Y axis to the points I zeroed to on the Program Run screen?)

/////

I tried a program (not this one), but it wasn't clear on the screen if the locaton changed and I didn't want to sacrifice a tool bit to the code gods.

Steve.

25

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: How to match BobCAD options with Mach3 configuration

« on: March 31, 2011, 02:04:41 PM »

Graham,

I've used those BobCAD settings for several years with a different CAM software package.

What would be the matching selections in Mach3 configuration? 

Should distance mode be absolute or incremental?

Does incremental/absolute make a difference for the Wizards?

I have attached the general logic configuration, are there any changes that would match the BobCAD settings any better?

Steve.

26

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / How to match BobCAD options with Mach3 configuration

« on: March 30, 2011, 08:40:53 PM »

BobCAD V21 has options for the g-code in the CAM side for g-code and are shown in the two jpg attachments. 

I am using a Gecko G540 controller/drivers.

Is there a "best" set of settings for Mach3?

What are the matching settings in Mach3 for the options in BobCAD?

Steve.

27

General Mach Discussion / Re: Configuration change problem

« on: March 30, 2011, 07:12:03 PM »

Hood,

Justplate.txt is the original and justplatemp.tap is after multipass.

Steve.

28

General Mach Discussion / Configuration change problem

« on: March 30, 2011, 03:33:57 PM »

I used multipass and nesting wizards couple weeks ago with great success.

This week I tried them again with another part and the results are baffling to me.  Rather than following the geometry for each pass, it makes several irrelevant (to me) lines.  I thought it was in the part CAD, so I made up just a simple rectangle with fillets at the coners and it does the same thing.  Without multipass it is fine.

I figured that I must have changed the configuration file to cause this.  So, I reinstalled Mach3 with no better affect.

If someone could take a look, I would appreciate it.

With the nesting wizard, the repeated parts are offset in X and Z, even though X is zero in the screen.  I'm not sure what the X offset value comes from, since it isn't the same as Y that I entered.  I'm hoping what is wrong for multipass is same for nesting.

Steve.

29

General Mach Discussion / Re: Anyone using TTFtoDXF or Vectric Cut 2-D?

« on: March 21, 2011, 05:57:09 PM »

"If you have BobCAD, it should be able to do everything and more that Cut2D can do. I would think that it can also do V Carving, and convert ttf's to vectors for machining? "

No knock to BobCAD, that is true and what I have been doing.  The included single line fonts and other single line fonts that I have downloaded are bland or more appropriate for 4" tall lettering.  I was just looking for a product that would make the transition from text to cutting path much easier and give a better range of fonts.  

"If you do use Inkscape, you'll want to download a better .dxf exporter than the built in one."

I use inkscape quite a bit to reduce nodes in Corel DXF output.  I'll check my exporter and see if that will work better for me.

Steve.

30

General Mach Discussion / Re: Anyone using TTFtoDXF or Vectric Cut 2-D?

« on: March 21, 2011, 03:34:35 PM »

Tweakie,

Do you have Cut2d?

Steve.