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« on: December 25, 2015, 12:29:34 PM »
Hi everyone, I am Jimmy and I am new but not new. I got on this forum site a long time ago but lost my computer and system for quite a while. For those who remember me, I am a machinist of 30 years, retired from the Army and have worked as a machinist in several steel mills (until they shut down). Im back in the game now with a new computer along with cadcam from Bobcad and still run with my Mach3 program. I am teaching myself all this stuff as I get time after work and on the weekends. I have made some progress and have even made a few parts on my machine that turned out ok. My problem is not fully understanding the Mach3 and the many features and operating functions of the software. I am computer literate but at a very low level. Much of what I have accomplished was thru trial and error and by viewing youtube vids on different tasks and subjects. The cad cam portion is slow but im getting there. Bobcad helps me when I need it to learn but some times I have little time to play and learn on my system due to work and family obligations. My current problem is getting my tool offsets correct and understanding just how mach3 uses input values to work with the values that are generated by the cadcam software when I design a part. Maybe im setting the tools incorrectly thru mach3, im not sure. My machine always seems to want to plunge right down thru the part in many cases. A few times it has worked correctly but very few. I am getting ready to purchase a new Mach3 software package that I can license to myself and hope it works. I am currently and have been running on the Mach3 disc that came with the machine that is licensed to a Taiwanese man. This disc came with the machine but I think it better to have a fresh version of the software and license it to myself so I know it is legit. As stated before I am not as computer literate as I would like to be and the settings of pins and ports and motor tuning etc. get me very confused and throw me off. My machine runs but I am not sure because I just don't know if its running at the potential that it should be. After reading some of the posts and replies here on the site, it is clear that this is a site full of great and skilled craftsman and technicians, much smarter people than me, I humbly ask that you share your kindness and knowledge in helping me advance from where I am now. Im not 100% sure I even know how to use this forum site because its the first time I ever joined one. Again my name is Jimmy my email is ellinas47@hotmail.com and I welcome any advise that any one can help me with. I will gladly share my machinist experiences with any one who would ask. Thank you all and may you all have a great holiday season and a healthy and prosperous new year ahead.
thank you all, and merry Christmas
Jimmy