I have been taking images etc and converting them to vector/line curves and saving them as plotter files. I then import them into mach2 and generate the gcode using mach2.

Sometimes it gives me way to many drill points and rapid movements but the most redundant thing it does it path the line 2-3 times. It looks like it is running the lines clock wise then turns and runs the same line counter clock wise. No matter what pattern it does it in it all ways runs the path at least twice. The rapid movements I have not caught it doing twice just the cutting path.

any help?

Buy a CAM program. You might want to try LazyCAM, included with the latest releases of Mach3. If that doesn't work, take a look at www.sheetcam.com

Thanks

Anymore suggestions?

We have many customers designing in Corel Draw and using VCarve Wizard to calculate toolpaths. The software includes automatic cutter compensation for the tool diameter when pocket / profile machining, plus lets you engrave / carve great designs using V-Bits. The 3D Preview shows you exactly what the finished job will look like and also tell you how long it will take to cut.

Take a look at the VCarve Wizard thread on the forum,

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=292

The software is very easy to learn and is great fun to use.

There's a fully working Trial version (http://www.vectric.com/WebSite/Vectric/products/download.htm) that will let you cut sample files on your machine to make sure it all works.

A New version of VCarve will be released before the end of the month, which is a Free upgrade to al customers and includes many more use tools such as Drilling, Tabs / Bridges, Texturing +

See > http://www.vectric.com/WebSite/Vectric/whats_new/VCarvePro/New_in_V3.htm

Hope this helps and let us know if you have any questions.

Tony

Yea I think V carve is great just to expensive... least for a hobbist.

dbtoutfit,

I am a hobbiest as well but because of VCarve Wizard I was able to secure a contract to provide signs to a hotel using my homebuilt JGRO cnc machine. These signs have repaid all the money spent on this hobby so far and are currently funding my 4x4 router build and then the 5x10 router which I had plans to start first but delayed due to space constraints.

The price may seem a little high at first but after saving for a few months I had enough to buy it and have not regretted it since.

The new features being added to the new version will make it even more unbeatable in its price range as well as other products that are much more expensive.

My JGRO thread.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13872

Jason

I agree but for someone that just learn how to set their machine limits in mach and have no idea as to how to make money from the machine I would say it's a little much.

If I knew how to make money using it I would purchase it today but I dont :(

I guess it will be a year or more before I can get to that level IDK.

I can honestly say as many ppl on here that are new to cnc if they made the price more reasonable their would be more purchases or make a hobbist version IDK but $500 going on a welm not my cup of tea. Shame though nice program. I just know theres other software like mach for an example that has ALOT of features, may not do the exact same thing but had more to it for $150 plus it comes with Lazy cam. So i guess I feel vcarve is a little inflated. Thats just me, I think it's great tho :)

dbtoutfit,

I am a hobbiest as well but because of VCarve Wizard I was able to secure a contract to provide signs to a hotel using my homebuilt JGRO cnc machine. These signs have repaid all the money spent on this hobby so far and are currently funding my 4x4 router build and then the 5x10 router which I had plans to start first but delayed due to space constraints.

The price may seem a little high at first but after saving for a few months I had enough to buy it and have not regretted it since.

The new features being added to the new version will make it even more unbeatable in its price range as well as other products that are much more expensive.

My JGRO thread.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13872

Jason

Awsome job on the machine man!
Anything you plan to do different on the next?

OK I admit it- I'm dense
Now where can I find Lazy Cam?????
I downloaded, installed & paid for / licensed Mach 3, but I see it nowhere.
The artofcnc website just says, "included in Mach 3 downloads"
If it was in the download, it has landed somewhere that I cannot find.
-Mike

It's not in the "lockdown" version (1.84?), it's in the latest beta releases. Someday, it *should* be seperate download.

Thanks Gerry-
I was having a heck of a time getting the Mach software to import dxf files exported by Corel without giving a "blank" error message and no results. Corel has a bunch of formats to choose from when saving a dxf file, like versions 11,13,14,2002, etc...
I could not get any of them to import into Mach. I ended up saving the (originally eps files) as *.plt and imported them OK that way. They looked pretty good to me that way, but I sure wish I could figure out what the deal with my dxf format is. The import section in the user manual doesn't go into much detail on this topic.
Thanks, Mike

Try the oldest versions. If you can't get it to work, post a .dxf here and I'll look at it.

Thanks Gerry-
I was having a heck of a time getting the Mach software to import dxf files exported by Corel without giving a "blank" error message and no results. Corel has a bunch of formats to choose from when saving a dxf file, like versions 11,13,14,2002, etc...
I could not get any of them to import into Mach. I ended up saving the (originally eps files) as *.plt and imported them OK that way. They looked pretty good to me that way, but I sure wish I could figure out what the deal with my dxf format is. The import section in the user manual doesn't go into much detail on this topic.
Thanks, Mike

I have X3 and I have to save it as plt. If i save as dxf it wont import. One thing that sucks is when you import the plt into lazy cam it wont allow you to set depth, only when a dxf is imported can you set depth least thats my experiance.