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CNC The Learning Curve

I have been playing with my new little Taig CNC setup. Getting it layed out just right was a it of a pain, but I think I have everything except a perfect tru vertical on the head. Its close enough for most of my work though.

Getting my mind around teh simple concept of basing the directions as if the head was mvoving relative to the table kinda screwed me, but when I did I went OH! Duh! LOL.

I have been using LazyCam, Mach 3, Inkscape, and Corel Draw as my tools so far.

Well, so far it looks like the easiest free software to use is Inkscape to convert rastor to vector graphics. The problem is lazy cam can't handle much detail. It will handle PLAIN SVG files output from Inkscape. Just not with much detail.

On the positive side its pretty easy to just make a project out of a bunch of little files, use lazy cam to convert them to code, then cut and paste them together, and edit some of the dimensions. Lazy Cam does some weird things to the Z dimension for some reason. I've broken a couple engraving points because of it until I relaized what was happenening. That or had to re cut a project because it set a bunch of the runs at Z0.0000 for no good reason.

I may sit down and write my own little text editor with its own process to check for out of whack dieemenions. Maybe editing my G-code in a spread would make it easy to search for < or > conditions before running.

Now I guess I need to sit down and read the Inkscape manual to make modeling in 3D a little easier. Its got some cool tools to do it though. Inkscape is not quite intuitive in doing 3D modeling, but its not bad.

Bob La Londe

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Reply to
Bob La Londe
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I'd suggest you focus on using the dry run functionality in Mach3 to validate your G code before breaking engraving tools or interrupting runs to fix Z0 issues.

Reply to
Pete C.

Um... ok.... how is that going to show me the difference between a Z0 vs a Z-0.0005? I would be more interested in finding out why LazyCam doing it to begin with. What I found that fixed the problem for now was to go over the code and do a find replace using my text editor before running it. Its kind of odd though when you select all chains and set them to the same depth that some wind up being set to a different depth. I may scrap LazyCam if I can't figure out why that is happening. I've got a couple other CAMs that have post processors for Mach 3 to try.

Reply to
Bob La Londe

Sorry, learning to many software tools at once GSimple is the 3 D software I am playig with it the moment. Inkscape is what I am using to convert rastor to vector.

Reply to
Bob La Londe

Sorry, learning to many software tools at once GSimple is the 3 D software I am playig with it the moment. Inkscape is what I am using to convert rastor to vector.

Reply to
Bob La Londe

Look from the side at a close enough view.

Reply to
Pete C.

Yeah, that's basically what I figured. I think I'll just figure out an easy way to check my code for limits before implementing it. I am currently engraving at about 3 inches per minute while I am refining my process, and it takes quite a while to do a project big enough to test how everything works. I want to get things going to the point where I can sart a job and then go work on something else.

I can run faster though after I get some other things figured out, and do not have to cut as deep when engraving. Right now I am in the process of designing and building some clamping fixtures for engraving sheet to try and take out some of the variance by flattening it in the clamping fixture. So far the best thing I have come up with is a square made out of angle with t-bolt screw down tabs on the outside of the square and a floating clamp plate on the floating side of the square. I figure I'll make two or three so I can at least clamp flat the section I am working on. Maybe a 5 x 5, 5 x 8 and 5 x 12. This would allow me to make engraved plates up to 10 by 12 with my 5.5 by 12.5 working area. I think I'll have to go with something a little different though for the mold making I plan to do after my engraving project is completed. I don't think that will be as big a deal though since I'll be starting with much thicker stock. Just surface it, re-zero, punch my index holes, and then run my code.

I've got the pieces of the 5 x 5 partially clamped up and ready to be welded, but I think I'll wait until tommorrow amd all the details have worked out in my head before finalling that one. I am using some scrap from another welding project to make these clamps and I do not want to waste any material.

Reply to
Bob La Londe

Big CNC routers use vacuum to hold sheet material flat. Could you rig something like that? Maybe google on vacuum chuck.

Pete Keillor

Reply to
Pete Keillor

You might also look at Alibre Express for free 3D part modeling. There may also be a free Alibre CAM Express available.

Reply to
Mike Henry

I looked at that. If I was using a gantry style machine I think I would even set it up with multiple tables for different things, but I am using a mini mill, and I'm not sure how I would implement it since I'll often be using sheet larger than my table. (for most of my use a gantry machine probably would have been a better choice for me. Live and learn.) It is a good idea, and I'll keep it churning in the back of my mind until something pops up.

Reply to
Bob La Londe

I will look at it. My latest one to play with is Gsimple.

Reply to
Bob La Londe

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