Have some questions about the programming side...

[panozeng]

Ok, I've got a small functioning plasma table now, and could use some help on the programming side of things to dial it in. I'm running Mach3, and currently found Lazycam (not pro) to be a very simple way to convert my dxf files to g-code. So far it's worked well, but I do have some questions...

I need to account for kerf to get more accurate parts. I know Lazycam free doesn't have a functioning offset option, but can Mach take care of this? Seems like it would be better to do a cutter compensation in Mach anyway - but I have yet to figure out how! How can I do this?

Does anyone know if the feedrate reduction in circles works in Lazycam? I cannot see that it does anything. Might not be configuring it correctly.

Is there a setting somewhere to make Mach default to inches as the working unit? I have the machine units in metric as I have metric leads on the ballscrews, but would really like to not have to go under setting and hit inches every time I load Mach. I've tried the save settings button, but this one doesn't seem to save.

Finally - should I be asking these in the Machsupport forum instead? Maybe I'll copy this over there as well..

Thank you!

[Torchhead]

Free (for lazycam) is hard to beat BUT if you want a CAM program that has good Plasma features then look at SheetCAM TNG.

1. Reads DXF, SVG and HPGL files
2. Has tool settings for:

a. Pierce Height

b. Initial Cut Height (beginning height)

c. Pierce delay

d. End of cut delay

e. Kerf width (for calculating offsets)

f. Default feedrate

3. Has automatic toolpath features for:

a. Kerf offsets

b. Inside/outside/online cuts

c. Auto lead-ins/outs (5 types)

d. Auto touch-off (IHS) for floating type torch holders.

e. Choice of import units

You can select and cut objects in Groups (layers in SheetCAM) and define different cut parameters for each group. So you can group all your holes (or even small and medium holes separately) and setup different feedrates. If you are using a THC with MACH then you can turn the THC function ON & OFF with M codes (custom macros) using code snips.

SheetCAM has several interesting POST processors that work with MACH. One that works with our MP1000 and MP3000 (DTHC) is a "Scriber" post that lets you mount a perminate pneumatic sciber/marker and just select a new tool in SheetCAM for a group of objects and it will mix plasma cutting and scribing in the same job run.

The direct read of SVG file formats is interesting. If you are into FREE then you can draw, import and edit vector files with Inkscape (freeware) and save in it's native SVG format and SheetCAM will read those files and let you define the toolpaths and generate G-code.

There is a free limited (to 150 lines of output) demo at SheetCam homepage.

TOM caudle
www.CandCNC.com
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