when i was coding, id put in my next destination to the X or Y axis( ex: X -1.850) and the line would go in a totally opposite direct in comparision to my last plot.
Well, the first question that comes to mind is...are you programming in absolute mode or incremental? I think absolute mode is pretty much what everybody uses.
for instance .. if i went down 2 , right 2, up 1 and i wanted to go Left 1
If you were at X 0.0 Y0.0 it would be
y-2.0
x2.0
y-1.0
x1.0
and you would get this in absolute mode....
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In Incremental mode, the same program would look like this
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In Incremental mode, the last position moved, becomes your new X0.0 Y0.0 point. Absolute mode is much more easy on the brain. On my brain it is, anyhow. Think of absolute like the grid on the game Battleship. The points stay where there supposed to and don't change. (unless you tell them to, but this is basic so...crawl before ya walk)
i was wondering, is there a visual guide, a graph or something to kind of help indicate the plotting numbers for beginners, similar to a multiplication chart or something, with numbers along the bottom, up the side, so you could estimate your next position, put it in, trial and error to get it perfect?
Well the first thing that comes to mind for a visual aid is this....
load up the famous roadrunner tap file that comes with mach. ( any file will do, but you hafta load something so mach can scale something to the display.)
Go to the MDI screen. Type in "x0.5" and hit the enter key.( or "x0.5 y.125" or "g90 g01 x1 y-2 f20 t1" or whatever else.) The point on the screen will move for a visual aid for what you just typed. There are simulators out there, but none that are free have ever impressed me. Mach beats them hands down, in my opinion. There are some really nice ones too, but they cost allot of money.
2) i was wondering if there was an easier way to Code using the program itself
If your doing simple shapes and learning, nothing could beat doing it by hand just so that you get the understanding of whats going on. Once you start doing complicated stuff, you will want/need some sort of cad and cam software. When you get that far along, "easier" has gone out the window long ago.
Now a bit of a personal rant......
Learning how to do welding in school
I have welded for many years. ITS HOT!!! It's bad on your lungs. Its bad on your nervous system. ITS HOT!!! Its bad on your eyes. Its bad on your skin. Its dirty. Its smelly. ITS HOT!!! Its just plain bad. Don't get me wrong, it is a valuable asset to me. I'm very very very glad I know how. However, doing it for a living is a completely different ballgame (been there, done that). I would HIGHLY advise also learning machining, because you obviously have an interest in it, or you wouldn't be here asking questions. The two do go hand-in-hand on most jobs. I still have to do it now and again, and it is definitely a requirement. I will never forget the words a prior boss told me...Go ahead and quit, I can always find another welder on any street corner. I did quit, and he did find another welder to take my place. Nobody can tell you, "go ahead and quit, I can find another programmer at the drop of a hat" Just food for thought. There are downsides to machining.
1. Vehicle floor mats should be considered a company expense. Kind of like gloves and a pair of greens are for welders.
2. I can be walking from the
Kitchen to the living room, and like magic, I can get a steel sliver in my foot.