Messages

71

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Won't do offsets

« on: June 11, 2009, 08:34:31 PM »

Two possible solutions - Invest in LCAM Pro or look into D2nc link is http://www.d2nc.com/  An inexpensive program that should do just what you want.  I use both programs depending on what I am doing at any given moment.  Graham Hollis of D2 has give me excellent support in the past.

Like most (if not all) inexpensive programs LCAM and D2 each have their own set of quirks, but I have been able to work through them and (IMHO) get excellent results.

Bob@BobsShop - not affiliated with anyone -

72

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: z axis repeatability problems

« on: March 11, 2009, 08:55:33 PM »

I use a Taig - but with steppers not servos.  Have been able to engrave to depths of .003 consistently - even when using the 4th axis for engraving rings.  No experience with steppers so can't offer anything about them.

Bob@BobsShop

73

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help with verify button

« on: March 08, 2009, 05:16:26 PM »

Ron, can't help you with the home and limit switch question, but I have had similar cuts (one side of part smooth and the other side showing steps (wedding cake tiers).  In my case my table was out of true by about .002 or .003 (running inch mode) over six inches.  Taking .010 cuts in a .375 piece of material would produce at least 3 tiers.

Since my mill is Taig with a nonadjustable (on the Y axis) headstock column (without taking it apart and hoping for a better fit after cleaning and reassembling), I made a cutting plate (3/4 inch aluminum)  I was able to shim this plate and true it to the the cutting quill.  Smooth cuts from front to back have been achieved.

Good luck and good cutting.  Hope someone more knowledgeable than I can help you with the switch questions.

Bob@BobsShop

74

General Mach Discussion / Re: What is your trade?

« on: February 28, 2009, 08:48:46 AM »

What is my trade?  Sounds like an old (really old TV show - if you don't remember it, you are not old enough).

Trade - By the numbers - Paperboy, short-order cook, grocery clerk, made paint (dirty - hazardous to health don't go there), inventory control and truck parts counter guy, bad-debt collector, loan company manager, finance sales, insurance sales, director of marketing.  Retired - hours are good; Pay sucks.

Now - almost 70 - attending trade school to study and learn manual lathe and mill practices.  In the garage CNC mill(small Taig), old no-name 12X36 manual lathe.

Bob@BobsShop - waiting for the next stimulus check so can buy more toys - or beer.

75

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Won't do offsets

« on: February 25, 2009, 08:11:40 PM »

Promise this is my last post on this subject. 

Just because I am getting older (a lot) and even more forgetful, I decided to try one more "fix," to avoid this type of problem in the future.  I went in to my tooltable and added .0001 in the Diameter Wear column for every tool.  Tried the DXF file again with a .25 endmill and LCAM produced the code properly.

The .0001 wear lie should not cause many problems for the type projects I am contemplating.  If the adjustment is a problem then Mach3 and my Taig mill are a lot more sensitive than I ever imagined.

Bob@BobsShop - has left the building.

76

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Won't do offsets

« on: February 25, 2009, 04:34:53 PM »

Vince, now that you mention it, I remember encountering a similar problem.  In my case, I cheated and told LCAM the tool was .001 (or something near that) smaller than the actual tool.  As I recall that solved the problem. Another writer said LCAM has some issues; And it does.  But since I am not building orbital rockets and LCAM has enabled me to cheaply make one-off parts for the Harley, I give it some slack.

Bob@BobsShop - Making parts and grinning.

77

LazyCam (Beta) / Re: Won't do offsets

« on: February 25, 2009, 07:57:54 AM »

Vince - I was able to produce the following offset for your drawing without any problem.  In LCAM go into the Setup Function and select "Loading Functions - AutoClean Settings.  In that screen you will see a section labled "Connection Line Tol. Used to Optimize."  I set this to .01 for this drawing (the setting can be adjusted to accommodate other drawings and needs).  A large setting for the here will result in your "slices," being joined which makes offsetting a problem.  For the offset I used a .125 endmill and assumed you wanted to offset to the inside of your spokes.

Although I did not cut the project, I did use LCAM to produce the code.  It appears to be right.  LCAM did produce one errant circle that had to be edited out. The entire project, loading into LCAM, changing the Optimize setting, offsetting, generating the code, and editing the final gcode took about 5 minutes.

Don't know if this will help or not.  But, I have used LCAM to produce some very complicated pieces and felt tackling your problem would be fun.

Good luck with your project.  Post a completed picture when you are done.

Bob@BobsShop

78

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

« on: February 18, 2009, 06:59:33 PM »

Not sure that LCam will read all the various DXF's in Autocad, but I just saved a drawing under the 2007 DXF format (Using AutocadLT 2009 Student version) and LCam read it without any trouble.  But, it wasn't text file, just a file with lot of angles and lines.

I am pretty sure that I have saved under other versions of AC and retrieved without problems since I don't always remember to use the R12 DXF format.

I have not been successful in bring DXF text into AC - nor has using the Text application in AutoCad produced TEXT that can be read by LCam.  For this I generally use two programs - CADX11 and DeskEngrave.  Using both I have developed text for several pieces that I have been working on.  DeskEngrave (a free program) will also produce a DXF file that LCam reads without any problem.

CADX11 is also a free program (although licensed version will handle much larger files).

Bob @ BobsShop

79

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Started my Taig enclosure......

« on: January 08, 2009, 05:13:27 PM »

For sometime now, I have been observing the commitment to excellence and detail exhibited on here.  You guys are amazing.  So, I thought I would show you how the rest of us (at least some of us) do things.  Trying to attach some pics of my Taig mill enclosure.  Not sure what will happen.  But here are the details.

The pan is an old photo developing tray that had been stored in the garage for - oh, about 10 years.  Drilled a 1/2 inch hole in the bottom to handle coolant return to a 5 gallon bucket containing a small pond pump.  The Taig was just a little too deep for the tray so I raised it above the lip on 2" nylon blocks.  Drilled through the blocks and workbench to make everything solid.  Product called Plumbers Goop works as a great sealent, no leaks.   Length wise, the tray works great.  the Table (including steppers) can move to either extreme without hitting either side.

The enclosure is 1/8" Plexiglas that has been screwed to the sides of the pan (Plumbers Goop again, no leaks).  Upper corners are held together with L-brackets.  Did not have room for either horizontally sliding or hinged doors so I extended the to about 3 feet with 1/4" aluminum channel.  I can raise the front cover straight up (its held up by small hooked springs, not fancy).  Actually, it works very well.  I can reach straight in and get to any part of the Taig or whatever part I am working on.

Not art, but very functional - and the price was right.

Bob @ BobsShop - Not associated with Plumbers Goop, Taig, or whatever company built the tray.

80

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: DXF import into Lazycam

« on: January 04, 2009, 08:28:01 PM »

Can't remember having that problem.  If you want to shoot me a copy of your dxf I will see what it does here.

Bob@BobsShop