[fretsman]

Hi all, I have Autocad 2000 and I'm using (trying) it for engraving in which I then save it as a dxf and then import it into LazyCam and then finally send it to Mach 3.

I've also used Solidworks 2005 and got the same results..when saving to dxf...

My problem is that when I set it up in lazycam, a font like Times Roman gets "split up" and the z axis has to go up and down around 10 times just to get around one letter because it treats each entity (curves and lines) separately.

Isn't there a way to "smooth" the font out and make the z axis start at one point and go all around the letter and when it gets back to the start point, THEN lift the z and go on to the next letter?


Thanks so much and Happy New Year!

Dave

[ger21]

Are you exploding the fonts with Express tools text explode?

[fretsman]

Hi Gerry,

No sir, I'm not but I looked into it and first let me say that I actually have 2004 not 2000 like I previously said. I installed the express commands but unsure how to use them. Is there a tutorial somewhere or is it easy enough to tell me how to use it?

Thanks again-
Dave

[ger21]

If your bringing regular text into LazyCAM, then you have a LazyCAM issue, not AutoCAD. It is possible to explode the text in AutoCAD and create polylines, but you'll probably need to explode some letters again and clean them up, then use the pedit command to rejoin them together. I don't use LazyCAM, so can't help you there, but you might want to see if you can figure it out in there if its easier.

[fretsman]

Gerry, it's definitely a text issue with autocad as I've heard this can be done but can't remember where I saw it. A friend of mine has Bobcad and can "group" these entities together for me but I want to be able to do it myself and not have to ask everytime I need it done, ya know?

As for text in lazycam, it's very limited in what you can edit so it's a lot nicer to create in autocad and import into lazycam.

Thanks for your time though, my friend, happy new year to you!

Dave-

[ger21]

Gerry, it's definitely a text issue with autocad as I've heard this can be done but can't remember where I saw it. A friend of mine has Bobcad and can "group" these entities together for me but I want to be able to do it myself and not have to ask everytime I need it done, ya know?

Sorry, but I don't think it is. Can you post a .dxf of what your trying to bring into LazyCAM?

[fretsman]

absolutely here is the file:

[ger21]

How did you create that in AutoCAD? Did you just draw it?

[ger21]

Does this work any better?

[fretsman]

Yes, I just drew it up like you see it.

Yours is definitely better as it shows as 27 chains rather than the 43 that I was getting so you definitely helped a bit, thank you.

May I ask what you did?

[ger21]

Use the pedit command and join the lines and arcs into continuous polylines.

I really dislike LazyCAM. By trying to make it very easy for beginners, imo they've made it very difficult to use. The .dxf I posted only contains 6 polylines. Yet LazyCAM "breaks" it into 27 pieces? The old .dxf importer Mach had before LazyCAM would read it as 6 polylines, very simple.

You might want to look into the macro I wrote that exports gcode from within AutoCAD. Here's the code I got from it. You can download it from http://home.comcast.net/~cncwoodwork.../AC2GCv039.zip

Be sure to read the included .pdf to set it up correctly.


G0 Z0.13
G0 X5.31 Y4.23 Z0.13
G1 X5.31 Y4.23 Z-0.02 F10
G1 X5.25 Y4.23 Z-0.02 F50
G1 X5.01 Y4.55 Z-0.02
G1 X4.98 Y4.55 Z-0.02
G1 X4.96 Y4.55 Z-0.02
G1 X4.95 Y4.55 Z-0.02
G1 X4.93 Y4.55 Z-0.02
G1 X4.93 Y4.35 Z-0.02
G3 X4.95 Y4.27 Z-0.02 I0.12 J-0.02
G3 X5.00 Y4.25 Z-0.02 I0.05 J0.05
G1 X5.03 Y4.25 Z-0.02
G1 X5.03 Y4.23 Z-0.02
G1 X4.74 Y4.23 Z-0.02
G1 X4.74 Y4.25 Z-0.02
G1 X4.76 Y4.25 Z-0.02
G3 X4.82 Y4.27 Z-0.02 I0.01 J0.07
G3 X4.83 Y4.35 Z-0.02 I-0.20 J0.07
G1 X4.83 Y4.79 Z-0.02
G3 X4.82 Y4.88 Z-0.02 I-0.12 J0.02
G3 X4.76 Y4.90 Z-0.02 I-0.05 J-0.05
G1 X4.74 Y4.90 Z-0.02
G1 X4.74 Y4.92 Z-0.02
G1 X4.99 Y4.92 Z-0.02
G1 X5.03 Y4.92 Z-0.02
G1 X5.07 Y4.92 Z-0.02
G1 X5.11 Y4.91 Z-0.02
G1 X5.15 Y4.91 Z-0.02
G1 X5.18 Y4.90 Z-0.02
G1 X5.21 Y4.88 Z-0.02
G1 X5.24 Y4.86 Z-0.02
G1 X5.26 Y4.84 Z-0.02
G1 X5.27 Y4.81 Z-0.02
G1 X5.28 Y4.78 Z-0.02
G1 X5.29 Y4.75 Z-0.02
G1 X5.29 Y4.73 Z-0.02
G1 X5.28 Y4.71 Z-0.02
G0 X5.28 Y4.71 Z0.13
G0 X5.27 Y4.68 Z0.13
G1 X5.27 Y4.68 Z-0.02 F10
G2 X5.11 Y4.58 Z-0.02 I-0.19 J0.11 F50
G1 X5.26 Y4.37 Z-0.02
G1 X5.29 Y4.33 Z-0.02
G1 X5.31 Y4.31 Z-0.02
G0 X5.31 Y4.31 Z0.13
G0 X5.76 Y4.54 Z0.13
G1 X5.76 Y4.54 Z-0.02 F10
G2 X5.59 Y4.37 Z-0.02 I-0.19 J0.02 F50
G1 X5.74 Y4.16 Z-0.02
G1 X5.76 Y4.13 Z-0.02
G1 X5.77 Y4.11 Z-0.02
G1 X5.80 Y4.09 Z-0.02
G1 X5.82 Y4.07 Z-0.02
G1 X5.85 Y4.05 Z-0.02
G1 X5.88 Y4.04 Z-0.02
G1 X5.91 Y4.04 Z-0.02
G1 X5.91 Y4.02 Z-0.02
G1 X5.72 Y4.02 Z-0.02
G1 X5.48 Y4.34 Z-0.02
G1 X5.46 Y4.34 Z-0.02
G1 X5.44 Y4.34 Z-0.02
G1 X5.42 Y4.34 Z-0.02
G1 X5.41 Y4.34 Z-0.02
G1 X5.41 Y4.14 Z-0.02
G3 X5.42 Y4.06 Z-0.02 I0.12 J-0.02
G3 X5.48 Y4.04 Z-0.02 I0.05 J0.05
G1 X5.50 Y4.04 Z-0.02
G1 X5.50 Y4.02 Z-0.02
G1 X5.21 Y4.02 Z-0.02
G1 X5.21 Y4.04 Z-0.02
G1 X5.24 Y4.04 Z-0.02
G3 X5.30 Y4.06 Z-0.02 I0.01 J0.07
G3 X5.31 Y4.14 Z-0.02 I-0.20 J0.07
G1 X5.31 Y4.58 Z-0.02
G3 X5.30 Y4.67 Z-0.02 I-0.12 J0.02
G3 X5.24 Y4.69 Z-0.02 I-0.05 J-0.05
G1 X5.21 Y4.69 Z-0.02
G1 X5.21 Y4.71 Z-0.02
G1 X5.47 Y4.71 Z-0.02
G1 X5.51 Y4.71 Z-0.02
G1 X5.55 Y4.71 Z-0.02
G1 X5.58 Y4.70 Z-0.02
G1 X5.62 Y4.70 Z-0.02
G1 X5.66 Y4.69 Z-0.02
G1 X5.69 Y4.67 Z-0.02
G1 X5.71 Y4.65 Z-0.02
G1 X5.73 Y4.63 Z-0.02
G1 X5.75 Y4.60 Z-0.02
G1 X5.76 Y4.57 Z-0.02
G1 X5.76 Y4.54 Z-0.02
G0 X5.76 Y4.54 Z0.13
G0 X5.41 Y4.25 Z0.13
G1 X5.41 Y4.25 Z-0.02 F10
G1 X5.42 Y4.25 Z-0.02 F50
G1 X5.44 Y4.25 Z-0.02
G1 X5.44 Y4.23 Z-0.02
G1 X5.41 Y4.23 Z-0.02
G0 X5.41 Y4.23 Z0.13
G0 X5.02 Y4.89 Z0.13
G1 X5.02 Y4.89 Z-0.02 F10
G3 X4.93 Y4.87 Z-0.02 I0.02 J-0.29 F50
G1 X4.93 Y4.58 Z-0.02
G1 X4.95 Y4.58 Z-0.02
G1 X4.96 Y4.58 Z-0.02
G1 X5.00 Y4.58 Z-0.02
G1 X5.04 Y4.59 Z-0.02
G1 X5.08 Y4.60 Z-0.02
G1 X5.12 Y4.63 Z-0.02
G1 X5.14 Y4.65 Z-0.02
G1 X5.16 Y4.68 Z-0.02
G1 X5.17 Y4.71 Z-0.02
G1 X5.17 Y4.74 Z-0.02
G3 X5.02 Y4.89 Z-0.02 I-0.15 J0.01
G0 X5.02 Y4.89 Z0.13
G0 X5.49 Y4.68 Z0.13
G1 X5.49 Y4.68 Z-0.02 F10
G3 X5.41 Y4.66 Z-0.02 I0.02 J-0.29 F50
G1 X5.41 Y4.37 Z-0.02
G1 X5.42 Y4.37 Z-0.02
G1 X5.44 Y4.37 Z-0.02
G1 X5.48 Y4.37 Z-0.02
G1 X5.52 Y4.38 Z-0.02
G1 X5.56 Y4.39 Z-0.02
G1 X5.59 Y4.42 Z-0.02
G1 X5.62 Y4.44 Z-0.02
G1 X5.63 Y4.47 Z-0.02
G1 X5.64 Y4.50 Z-0.02
G1 X5.65 Y4.53 Z-0.02
G3 X5.49 Y4.68 Z-0.02 I-0.15 J0.01
G0 X5.49 Y4.68 Z0.13

[ger21]

If you want an easier way to deal with text in AutoCAD (for machining), you might want to look into Outline Art.

http://www.dwgtool.com/outline.htm

[fretsman]

Gerry,

Thanks again for the info and I will have a look at your macro (thanks that's very gracious of you).

I ran your Gcode example and what a difference in the quantity of Z lifts. There was one issue I noticed and that's at the top of each "R", on the radius, it has a "jog" or a "dip" and doesn't follow smoothly. I'm guessing this is a result of the macro settings?

[ger21]

There was one issue I noticed and that's at the top of each "R", on the radius, it has a "jog" or a "dip" and doesn't follow smoothly. I'm guessing this is a result of the macro settings?

No, it should follow the lines exactly. Are you sure it's not just the way it's drawn? Which part of the R, the very top where the flat transitions into the front, or underneath on the back side?

[fretsman]

No, it should follow the lines exactly. Are you sure it's not just the way it's drawn? Which part of the R, the very top where the flat transitions into the front, or underneath on the back side?

I will get you some screen shots to show exactly what I meant-

[ger21]

No, it should follow the lines exactly. Are you sure it's not just the way it's drawn? Which part of the R, the very top where the flat transitions into the front, or underneath on the back side?

I loaded it into Mach3 and see the problem. I think it's rounding errors due to using two decimal places in the g-code. Normally, I use 4 places. When I tried it that way it matched the drawing.

[ger21]

Try this.


G0 Z0.1250
G0 X5.3092 Y4.2263 Z0.1250
G1 X5.3092 Y4.2263 Z-0.0200 F50
G1 X5.2483 Y4.2263 Z-0.0200 F150
G1 X5.0076 Y4.5537 Z-0.0200
G1 X4.9826 Y4.5530 Z-0.0200
G1 X4.9630 Y4.5527 Z-0.0200
G1 X4.9452 Y4.5531 Z-0.0200
G1 X4.9313 Y4.5537 Z-0.0200
G1 X4.9313 Y4.3515 Z-0.0200
G3 X4.9451 Y4.2686 Z-0.0200 I0.1240 J-0.0219
G3 X5.0014 Y4.2456 Z-0.0200 I0.0520 J0.0469
G1 X5.0276 Y4.2456 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.0276 Y4.2263 Z-0.0200
G1 X4.7387 Y4.2263 Z-0.0200
G1 X4.7387 Y4.2456 Z-0.0200
G1 X4.7638 Y4.2456 Z-0.0200
G3 X4.8246 Y4.2748 Z-0.0200 I0.0061 J0.0653
G3 X4.8350 Y4.3515 Z-0.0200 I-0.2013 J0.0663
G1 X4.8350 Y4.7945 Z-0.0200
G3 X4.8211 Y4.8774 Z-0.0200 I-0.1240 J0.0219
G3 X4.7638 Y4.9004 Z-0.0200 I-0.0529 J-0.0489
G1 X4.7387 Y4.9004 Z-0.0200
G1 X4.7387 Y4.9197 Z-0.0200
G1 X4.9949 Y4.9197 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.0332 Y4.9192 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.0715 Y4.9175 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.1096 Y4.9140 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.1473 Y4.9075 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.1837 Y4.8958 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.2118 Y4.8806 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.2369 Y4.8610 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.2585 Y4.8375 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.2748 Y4.8102 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.2846 Y4.7798 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.2876 Y4.7481 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.2862 Y4.7264 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.2830 Y4.7096 Z-0.0200
G0 X5.2830 Y4.7096 Z0.1250
G0 X5.2740 Y4.6836 Z0.1250
G1 X5.2740 Y4.6836 Z-0.0200 F50
G2 X5.1141 Y4.5775 Z-0.0200 I-0.1860 J0.1068 F150
G1 X5.2631 Y4.3685 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.2880 Y4.3344 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.3092 Y4.3090 Z-0.0200
G0 X5.3092 Y4.3090 Z0.1250
G0 X5.7618 Y4.5381 Z0.1250
G1 X5.7618 Y4.5381 Z-0.0200 F50
G2 X5.5884 Y4.3675 Z-0.0200 I-0.1860 J0.0156 F150
G1 X5.7373 Y4.1585 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.7556 Y4.1332 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.7750 Y4.1087 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.7961 Y4.0857 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.8200 Y4.0657 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.8490 Y4.0506 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.8802 Y4.0409 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.9125 Y4.0355 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.9125 Y4.0163 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.7226 Y4.0163 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.4818 Y4.3437 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.4569 Y4.3429 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.4373 Y4.3426 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.4195 Y4.3430 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.4055 Y4.3437 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.4055 Y4.1415 Z-0.0200
G3 X5.4194 Y4.0586 Z-0.0200 I0.1240 J-0.0219
G3 X5.4756 Y4.0355 Z-0.0200 I0.0520 J0.0469
G1 X5.5018 Y4.0355 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.5018 Y4.0163 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.2129 Y4.0163 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.2129 Y4.0355 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.2381 Y4.0355 Z-0.0200
G3 X5.2988 Y4.0647 Z-0.0200 I0.0061 J0.0653
G3 X5.3092 Y4.1415 Z-0.0200 I-0.2013 J0.0663
G1 X5.3092 Y4.5844 Z-0.0200
G3 X5.2954 Y4.6674 Z-0.0200 I-0.1240 J0.0219
G3 X5.2381 Y4.6904 Z-0.0200 I-0.0529 J-0.0489
G1 X5.2129 Y4.6904 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.2129 Y4.7096 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.4692 Y4.7096 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.5075 Y4.7091 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.5457 Y4.7075 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.5838 Y4.7039 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.6215 Y4.6975 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.6580 Y4.6858 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.6860 Y4.6706 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.7112 Y4.6510 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.7327 Y4.6275 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.7490 Y4.6001 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.7588 Y4.5698 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.7618 Y4.5381 Z-0.0200
G0 X5.7618 Y4.5381 Z0.1250
G0 X5.4055 Y4.2510 Z0.1250
G1 X5.4055 Y4.2510 Z-0.0200 F50
G1 X5.4238 Y4.2476 Z-0.0200 F150
G1 X5.4382 Y4.2456 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.4382 Y4.2263 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.4055 Y4.2263 Z-0.0200
G0 X5.4055 Y4.2263 Z0.1250
G0 X5.0158 Y4.8908 Z0.1250
G1 X5.0158 Y4.8908 Z-0.0200 F50
G3 X4.9313 Y4.8715 Z-0.0200 I0.0207 J-0.2861 F150
G1 X4.9313 Y4.5826 Z-0.0200
G1 X4.9481 Y4.5825 Z-0.0200
G1 X4.9614 Y4.5822 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.0028 Y4.5841 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.0437 Y4.5908 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.0829 Y4.6041 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.1181 Y4.6258 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.1411 Y4.6488 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.1585 Y4.6763 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.1688 Y4.7072 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.1720 Y4.7395 Z-0.0200
G3 X5.0158 Y4.8908 Z-0.0200 I-0.1458 J0.0057
G0 X5.0158 Y4.8908 Z0.1250
G0 X5.4901 Y4.6807 Z0.1250
G1 X5.4901 Y4.6807 Z-0.0200 F50
G3 X5.4055 Y4.6615 Z-0.0200 I0.0207 J-0.2861 F150
G1 X5.4055 Y4.3726 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.4224 Y4.3725 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.4356 Y4.3721 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.4770 Y4.3740 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.5179 Y4.3808 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.5572 Y4.3940 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.5924 Y4.4157 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.6153 Y4.4388 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.6327 Y4.4663 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.6431 Y4.4971 Z-0.0200
G1 X5.6463 Y4.5295 Z-0.0200
G3 X5.4901 Y4.6807 Z-0.0200 I-0.1458 J0.0057
G0 X5.4901 Y4.6807 Z0.1250
G0 X0 Y0

[fretsman]

there ya go! That worked correctly, thank you again, my friend-