[mike hide]

let me preface this with the fact I am an absolute novice, have built a working [at least jogable] machine and have downloaded mach3 trial version.

I am trying to inlay a fairly complex 1/16" rectalinear boxwood string design.I can post a icture if desired]. I want the machine to cut the channel on the drawer front ,everything is setup to do it including the cutter.

The problem I have been wrestling with is how to get the machine to perform.I have produced a dfx drawing in turbocad and brought it into lazycam and beyond liewing the tutorials over and over still cannot figure how to get it to produce long multidirectional channels [1/16"] deep times 1/16' wide channels beginning and ending at the same point. I might add doing this kind of job accurately by hand is difficult as most woodworkers know.Any and I mean any help appreciated...mikehide

[Regnar]

So if I understand this right you draw your channels to start and stop at the same point but once you start machining it doesnt endup like the drawing.

If this is the case it sounds like you are missing steps. Manually jog your machine back and forth and see if it comes back to the same position if it doesnt then you are missing step and you have to allign or slow down the machine. Slow computers cause this too.

On another note to I havent used lazy cam in awhile but if I remember correctly it has lead ins and lead outs that it will add into the drawing. You can turn these off if this is the problem as well. Posting a picture of what the machine is doing would help.

[ger21]

Can't help you with LazyCAM, but I'll give you the gcode if you post the .dxf

[mike hide]

[QUOTE=ger21;386691]Can't help you with LazyCAM, but I'll give you the gcode if you post the .dxf[/QUOT

Thank you Ger.The outer rectangle delineates the drawer edges, the inner traces are the desired path of the 1/16" wide boxwood strings. The string cross sections are 1/16" by 1/16" so the channels will end up about .060" deep slightly less than 1/16" to allow for sanding .

Incidentally I got the 1/16" cutters which were on sale at MLCS as you suggested in an earlier post .Thank you for your help and all the best for the new year.....mike hide

[Regnar]

Mike you have a few problems with your drawing that might make for some of the reasons its not stopping on the right places. If you look at the picture I attached you will notice I put arrows to all the places that overlap or dont connect. Just something to think about. The overlaps are not huge but for a nice inlay they would show up. [IMG]<a href="http://content.screencast.com/media/a066fc61-64ae-4ae3-b798-cc4d303ea914_672fadac-f9ce-41f0-9b89-8dde03f75627_static_0_0_2008-01-01_1058.png"><img src="http://content.screencast.com/media/a066fc61-64ae-4ae3-b798-cc4d303ea914_672fadac-f9ce-41f0-9b89-8dde03f75627_static_0_0_2008-01-01_1058.png" width="1008" height="748" border="0" /></a>[/IMG]

[mike hide]

every time I try and open the file I get this "m3control" thingy what is all that about. It prevents me from opening the drawing.???.That file should be a cleaned up drawing . Hopefull I do not need to dump mach 3 to open it .

[jimini]

Hi Mike here's the Gcode for your drawer front using a 1/16" bit (2 passes)
with X0,Y0 being the lower left corner of your drawer front.
I haven't run it but it should be OK.
The other file is just a single pass cut.

[mike hide]

Hi Mike here's the Gcode for your drawer front using a 1/16" bit (2 passes)
with X0,Y0 being the lower left corner of your drawer front.
I haven't run it but it should be OK.
The other file is just a single pass cut.

This will be my first attempt at machining . Thank you all for your help...happynew year....mike hide

[ger21]

Sorry, my internet connection was out all day yesterday. If Jimini's code doesn't work for you, let me know.

[mike hide]

It is 23 degrees here and feels like 8 so I will forgo the shop today.the code looks very good when run on the computer .I must say I am quite excited and many thanks to you all for your help ..regards mike hide

[mike hide]

Well go all the loose nuts and final mod to my Joe's 2006, machine finished and loaded the G code Jimini had given me a couple of posts earlier .

The machine sprang into life and produced the desired pattern perfectly, however every dimension was half size .I would imaging it is just a matter of scaling .If someone could offer how to do this it would be appreciated . The machine is running on mach3 and the hobbycnc board regards mike hide

[mike hide]

Well still trying to get the drawer inlays done .I am currently having problems with the machine stopping in mid travel in the X axis.This occurs even when I am milling air so it cannot be due to tool loads. I have got the dimensional problem fixed and the g code Jimini gave me has been rechecked several times ,it looks good.

I did reduce the x axis acceleration levels in the X axis as the inertia loads are the highest in the x axis which should reduce the initial torque loads .In the mean time I thought it might be worth taking a look at the x axis drive .One thing that has bothered me for some time is the machine tolerances . basically the bed tolerances . gluing up the bed with all the internal webs etc faceplates etc at the same time is difficult enough let alone trying to keep it a precision operation especially when all the parts are made on basic woodworking equipment.

My machine has two side plates which are capped with angle iron top and bottom ,the gantry rides on these caps .To take care of dimensional variations I decided to make the left hand top cap the master and let the other "bearing trollies" float in effect slaves ,that should for the most part eliminate any binding between the left and right sides.

One thing that did surprise me was the amount of surface rust on the x axis drive screw.

[woodman08]

if he's using a mach3 trial its limited to a number of lines

[jimini]

if he's using a mach3 trial its limited to a number of lines

If you're referring to the Gcode I sent it's not restricted at all.
Fully operational (Mach3) program.

[mike hide]

Jimini gave me two sets of G code which appear to work fine both have worked fine at one time or another.The problem now is repeatability. I will get one perfect run and the next one falls short ,I just cannot get two or three consecutive good consistent runs .

I thought perhaps there might be some restriction in one of the drives .I am able to jog each of the axes full travel with no problems .As a further precaution I stripped the x and y drives down made fine adjustments and cleaned and greased the drive screws and rechecked for any binding . Next I reduced the acceleration levels and drive speeds to no improvement, even tried the constant velocity and the stop and drive version .

The only thing that nags at me is the allen screws in the lovejoys ,if the joint slips seems to me it would produce exactly the problem I am getting .I have tightened them as tight as I can without torquing off the allen wrench but I still wonder. If this joint has endemic slipping problems please let me know and I will file flats on the drivescrews .

I have been fiddeling with this thing for well over a week and to be this close sure is frustrating .........any help appreciated mike hide