I have Autocad 2000, Lazycam ver 2.61, Mach3 ver R2.63, my problem is I cant seem to load a DXF into Lcam,

I do a drawing in cad 2000 and polyline, I then save it as a DXF in 14, open Mach3, open Lazycam, click on new, click on open DXF, click the DXF in autocad, click mill in import session and nothing appears on the turquoise screen, I have a licence for Mach3, and I think I have one for Lazycam, is there a way I can confirm it?,

This is my first post here, I hope I've done it right

...........Edmund...........

Hi, Edmund

Post the DXF file, Use the REPLY button to attach it.

Have you tried acad 12 output.

Chip

Hello Chip, thanks for the prompt reply, I hope the attachment arrives, I have tried 2000, 14, 12 dxf, I also downloaded a attachment from a member of this forum,  its in the shape of a sprocket,

...........Edmund.......

Hi, Edmund

Your using a fairly old ver of LazyCam, Download the latest ver. 3.00.2 above under DownLoads and give it a try, You can install it in it's own folder to test.

Hears what I'm getting with your files.

Chip

Hello Chip, cant explain what I did but I am now able to get the drawing complete into the turquoise screen, how I get it is:- I openMach3, click on file lazycam, click on new,click on OK (new blank project),get border on screen,then click open dxf, then click on the dxf dwg, click on import session type, and the drawing appears with the black border surrounding the shape, the left screen shows I have zero to 5 entities,

Now my problem is the next move I click Mach3 load and the entities disappear along with the dwg, and the bottom window indicates a process of information which seems to indicate that all has been sent to Mach3, when I minimize lazycam there is no gcode or display in Mach3, so I click on load gcode in mach3 and click on the dxf dwg, and get words like section, header,extmax, and bad character on line zero, also no display just cross hairs,

.......Edmund.........

Hi, Edmund

The Mach3 Load is to retrieve a file from Mach3, You need to use the "Post Code" button to create a G Code file.

Chip

Hi Edmund,
You may want to take a look at Appendix B & C in the link below. Although written for LazyTurn, which is for a lathe, a lot of the drafting points made is applicable.
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,10091.msg62111.html#msg62111

You'll need a license to post code out of LazyCam.

As far as trying it out and program specifics, your in good hands with Chip.

RICH

Hello Chip,
        Yes I finally got it, one of the problems I had was that I couldn't see the post code button on the right side of screen, it was partially hidden, any idea how I can bring it into view?,

Can you advise me how to include a step down in depth say .050  increments until it reaches a depth of .625, how is it entered into the existing code?,

Hope I'm not asking too much of you,

........Edmund.........

Hi, Edmund

Pic 1 shows the settings you need to put in Layers Tab, Then click the Tool button and create the tool as in the picture.

Now go back to Layers Tab and  click Set Layer & Set All Layers and Send to all Layers buttons.
 
Put the mouse in the view, Hold down Mouse Center Wheel and move the Mouse will rotate the Pic 2.

Pic 3 shows the view in Mach3, and a G code file to look at, If you not licensed in LazyCam your G code May be cut off short as Rich stated.

Chip

Hi, Edmund

You also need to use Clean & Optomize, If you haven't offset for Tool Dia. in your Cad, Then you need to do that in LazyCam also.

Chip