[kolokithas]

Hi,

I am at the early steps in CNC and i have some questions maybe stupid,maybe good to mention.But the point is that i don't know the answers.Because i have many questions,i will post them with order and clarity.If anyone has the courage to answer them i will be more that grateful.

1)Backlash compensation works also for jogging?
2)What is the "Meter in backlash" under the tab Machine setup/Machine.Is it true that it works when you cut circles?
3)What is "Buffer output"?
4)Can someone explain to me with an example the role of the Tolerances tab?
what is Min arc length,Min Arc radius and Tan deviance?And what are the effects/result when you change them?(I think by bringing an example something like based on a DXF design,will be better for me)!
5)What is "Read absolut Arc centers"?
6)And finally,what is "Break arc into lines"
Sorry if i don't understand technical words but i live in Greece and its difficult to know all these words(and their meaning of course!)

If anyone out there...
Thanks in Advance!
Panos

[kolokithas]

[gmfoster]

Not very many here that use Deskcnc..

[kolokithas]

Hmmm...

I see.The point is that i don't find support in anyway.Even in IMS forum that supports DeskCNC.So im on my own?
Sad thing to be...

[DennisCNC]

I looked in to Deskcnc also but went with mach3 as there are over 7,000 users! you get aswers quick.

[imserv]

Hmmm...

I see.The point is that i don't find support in anyway.Even in IMS forum that supports DeskCNC.So im on my own?
Sad thing to be...

This is not a DeskCNC support forum, it's a public discussion area. If you are a registered DeskCNC user, you should contact your dealer with these questions.

If you do not get satisfaction from your dealer, contact DeskCNC support by e-mail.

If you use a search engine, you will also find that I (and others) have previously answered most of these questions in public discussion forums.


Fred Smith - IMService
http://www.imsrv.com

[InspirationTool]

I have DeskCNC, and will be moving to Mach soon due to my unhappiness with DeskCNC.

1)Backlash compensation works also for jogging?

Yes. You can verify this by ear as well as with an indicator. You need to do this to verify your backlash compensation anyways.

2)What is the "Meter in backlash" under the tab Machine setup/Machine.Is it true that it works when you cut circles?

I think so.

3)What is "Buffer output"?

I assume this has to do with sending directions to the controller board. Dunno.

4)Can someone explain to me with an example the role of the Tolerances tab?
what is Min arc length,Min Arc radius and Tan deviance?And what are the effects/result when you change them?(I think by bringing an example something like based on a DXF design,will be better for me)!

I have had issues with creating toolpaths on small arcs. Messing with these values seemed to help.

5)What is "Read absolut Arc centers"?

Dunno. Haven't messed with it.

6)And finally,what is "Break arc into lines"

Dunno.

WATCH out for the fact that the FEED override changes the JOG override as well... an easy way to stall out your steppers.

-Jeff

[Torchhead]

Before you throw out the baby with the bathwater, your issues (with the exception of backlash comp) appear to be CAM related. The tolerances you listed would be how the software converts a DXF file into g-code and how it treats lots of small arc segments and lines, and that is not actually part of twisting the motors (control).

If DeskCAM will let you import/run g-code, then you can use an external CAM program that might be easier to understand and get usable toolpaths. SheetCAM is a low cost CAM for 2D and 2.5D toolpaths and has features (auto tool offset, auto lead-in's, tabs, etc) and it's DXF import does a pretty good job of building continuous node chains. There are tolerances in the setup but seldom need to be messed with once setup.

As for backlash compensation: It's not easy to do in any package. In the long run the better approach is to engineer out the backlash in your machine. MACH has backlash compensation but you have to turn off one of the features that makes it a nice controller: CV (Constant Velocity) that gives smooth moves and cuts. Art is working on making backlash comp better but after almost 5 years of MACH development it's clear it's a big challenge.

I don't know what you are using to draw with, but if the artwork gets exported with lots of segments then the import needs to do some "blending". It's aways a tradeoff between accuracy and smoothness. Opening up the tolerance will make things smoother but the deviation from the actual drawing will be greater. If it's decorative in nature it won't matter. If it's a close tolerance machine part it will.

This may sound like I am discouraging you from MACH. Far from it. I have been using it from the very first and virtually every product we sell is based on it. I have hundreds of hours if MACH sticktime. You just need to be aware that for the issues you listed it is not going to be a magic bullet (except maybe for support from lots of end users). You will have to abandon the pulse card that mates with DeskCNC and count on using another CAM program to develop toolpaths. MACH has LazyCAM but it's more a import filter than a true CAM program.

I can understand your frustration but I don't want you to think you can switch systems and all the problems will go away.

Part of it may be the drawing tools you are using (?) and settings in the import and conversion engine. If you can use DeskCAM to control your motion and other tools to do the toolpath side you might have a compromise that won't require a total retro fit.

On the other hand if you do want to come across to the MACH side you will get lots of support and there is a huge amount of products and goodies built around MACH.

Tom Caudle
www.CandCNC.com

[kolokithas]

Mr Smith,sorry for beeing that hursh about DeskCNC support,but indeed even when i used the search engine didnt seem to find an answer that satisfies me.I have purchased DeskCNC from Carken inc. so i think that makes me a registered user,i don't know Anyway, i don't have a problem with anyone, but some times i get frustrated not knowing things and don't find answers.Most of my questions are answered,directly or indirectly,by the guys here(thanks fellas!!!)I think trial and error will be the only solution when you need to understand something in deep.
I don't have a particular problem with DeskCNC because i haven't used it yet(im in the conversion stage with my mill)so i don't know its limitations.But i will take a look at mach3,SheetCAM etc.

Thanks a lot for the support in any kind!
Panos

[HobbyCAD]

Hi There Fred,

Yes, this is not the DeskCNC forum, but if I go to the IM Services Forum, for DeskCNC boards, there has been no answer from you, or anything posted since last year. I have posted questions, but they are all in the "Moderator Checking" mode, nothinh has made it to the forum posts !!!

How and where do we ask questions, if we are registered users of your software and boards, I have 2 sets !!! Where do we do it, and at least receive a reply, anything to know you have moderated it, or have the post placed on the web, for users to reply to my questions. Remember, you are experienced, have the knowledge, know the terminology. For you, serching the forums for answers is easy, but for us Newbies, who fell for your marketing, and bought your products, we struggle. So, your comment that, "search for your answer" sucks. Remember, many years ago, you were like us, 10 toes on each hand. Now we want to be like you, we want to learn, but don't "not reply" to us !!! At least lead by example, and direct us to a post, if you know it is out there.

My 10 cents worth !!

Regards all,

Francois


Where, where, where, where ????????????????????????

[kolokithas]

Hi,

I received an email From Fred Smith:

"The public DeskCNC support forum is now closed. If you are an IMService customer, you may still be eligible to receive support through e-mail or our private DeskCNC forum.

To request support by e-mail, please include your name, what and when you purchased, and enough identification to make it possible to identify you as our customer.

Fred Smith - IMService"

So as you can see my friend you re almost alone.
I think that you still can post some questions here in CNC zone.
Some times you have to "press" for answers to come(i was in that position a long time ago,when i needed certain answers to move along,but the answer was not there).I know that some people know the answer to your question,but they re bored to answer.Its logical some times,because when you post a simple question that for someone is simple but for you is a "mountain" he is thinking that its a waste of time to write a few lines,because you may come up with a new question,and another one,and a new one and so on...

As you can see im also a newbie and a Chip sweper.But some times its better to experiment yourself than looking for ready answers.That makes you more smart!!!

Friendly,
Panos Labrakis
Greece

[HobbyCAD]

Hi There Kolokitas,

Yes, you are right, I also received that mail from Fred. They mention, "... still reply via the private forum, please identify yourself...." I did just that, sent a fax to their office, mentioned the invoices to 3 boards I have, all purchased less than a year ago. Asked them to inform me of the private forum. But ALAS, STILL NO REPLY !!!

SO, FRED, IF YOU ARE OUT THERE, YOU LEAVE ME NO OPTION TO NOW BE OF OPINION, YOUR BOARD SEEMS FINE, BUT YOUR SUPPORT SUCKS !!!

And I'll now openly advertise your lack of support, rather than recommend your product. I've really tried hard, but absolutely no reply, that's unfair !!!!

Regards,

Francois

[InspirationTool]

I'm sorry you've bought three boards.... If I were you, I'd put them up on eBay and buy something that supports Mach 3.

Yes, it will likely cost you at least $200, but Mach 3 is THAT much better than DeskCNC.

-Jeff

[kolokithas]

Hi Inspiration tool,

Is it true that by converting the PC into a controller is not good?Because you use the parallel port to send the step/dir and I/O signals out and overloading the PC?
Look,we use DeskCNC for now and in parallel we test and examine the mach 3
Im thinking that Mach3 might be better than DeskCNC but every new program has a long road of teaching and learning...(and for now,i know DeskCNC better than mach)Little by little we going to decide wich program suits our needs.By the way,Mach3 has nice screen layout!

PS:Hobby CAD, relax...I know that lack of support sucks,but Fred might be in a lot of business and not having time.Try little by little learn the MACH3,you never know what you might find...(As for me,Im always open to new programs,methods,etc,but i need my time)

Waiting for inspiration's answer...

See ya...

[InspirationTool]

Yes, you can create step signals more reliably and faster with a dedicated step generation board option like DeskCNC.

That said, I have had great results with a good Pentium III machine and the parallel port.

And more importantly, there are several dedicated step generation board options coming out for Mach 3 like NCpod and the GREX, and maybe even a DeskCNC adapter as well.

I've had no problem with DeskCNC hardware. It works great.

I just hate the software with a fiery passion. I set up faster, cut faster, make less mistakes, recover from mistakes faster, and can do more with Mach 3.

And the (forum based) support is alot better. The userbase is probably 10 times that of DeskCNC. More users generally means more support.

I haven't had to get support directly from Artsoft yet. My questions have been resolved within 24 hours on the forums.

-Jeff

[smparkinson]

Thanks for all the first hand info guys. I'm gonna be a Mach3 guy and learn by taking baby steps and asking you guys questions and reading and cutting streight lines and circles and taking notes and experimenting and stuff. This forum and it's members rock!

[scristelli]

i have to agree with you. i bought into imservice and feel i got nothing for the $4200, i spent. i like victor cad/cam, but the controller and instructions suck, (see my post titled 'in the dark'). support is not good. i need answers. i gave up a long time ago trying to learn the software; i have a business to run and not alot of time to "look up", answers. i spent 35 years in computer system programing. when a customer asks a question, they expect an answer, not some lame comments about going to their support web site. oh well i know better now.
scristelli