Need Help!- dumb newbie needs urgent help on very basic stuff!

[petebham]

Hi. first of all, I apologise if this is in the wrong section. there seems to be a plethora of categories and I simply don't know which is correct!

I'll keep this short and sweet!

I want to engrave words onto metal and I am told that this machine would do it: Click here

So, i bought this machine and it arrived a few days ago with a dodgy Cd and a few bits.

I've managed to load the artcam pro software and put the machine "together".

However, I am now stuck and it's driving me absolutely crazy. I assumed the software would be quite simple (I have a laser engraver which runs off coreldraw and I simply type what I want and press "go"!) - this doesn't appear to do that.

So - can someone give me some much needed help please. all I want to do is engrave small metal objects for some trophies. But I don't know where to start. I can get as far as typing the words, but how do you send it to the machine??? (sorry - I realise I sound dumb!)

Any help would be hugely appreciated!!!

Thanks

[hanxiriel]

I am a newbie too but maybe you should try Mach3 or EMC depending on your OS?

[Al_The_Man]

It looks like it should work out of the box?
So what software and operating system did they include?
Al.

[ssutton]

Park right here and just read.........................for weeks. You will eventually have a Helen Keller moment.

Scott

[Phife]

Artcam is your problem, its a extremely complicated program. Why did you buy it? its very expensive and made for 3D work, not engraving.

Get something like Vcarve Pro, I use that for all the Stainless steel engraving I do. Works great and very easy to learn and use.

[Walky]

I'm sorry to say this, but a CNC is nothing like a printer, it's way more complex to operate and needs some knowledge about what's going on and what you can and can't do.

Artcam can not move the machine by itself, you need a controller software to open the toolpath file generated by Artcam. Most people use Mach3. Kcam is another nice software you can use that is a little more user friendly than Mach3 for people who are new to CNC.

Watch some Artcam tutorials on YouTube, read A LOT not only about Artcam but about CNC as a whole (CNCZone is probably the best place to start reading), and do a lot of simulations before you try to actually cut something, because it's very easy to damage your bits and machine if you don't. Artcam has a "?" sign that enable extra information about some options like toolpath generation.
You'll also need some information about the machine itself to configure the controller software (screw lead, pinout, active low/high, acceleration/speed and other stuff), info that SHOULD be provided by the machine's seller.

[Al_The_Man]

The way I read the ad, it seems to imply that the operating S/W is included, if so maybe you need to know how to download a file from the CAD to the controller and then run it?
Al.

[Phife]

Took a look at the ebay ad, It says 2 Stepping motors. I see one on the back of the Z for Z+- and one under the bed for X+-, wheres the Y axis stepper? I dont see it in the pics..

[Walky]

Originally Posted by Phife Took a look at the ebay ad, It says 2 Stepping motors. I see one on the back of the Z for Z+- and one under the bed for X+-, wheres the Y axis stepper? I dont see it in the pics..

It probably is behind the gantry, (there's something that looks like a reduction pulley cover) the first image doesn't show anything but that seems to be a completely different machine.

[cyclestart]

Sorry but I think we need more to go on

Originally Posted by petebham So, i bought this machine and it arrived a few days ago with a dodgy Cd and a few bits.

The dodgy CD is motion control software that runs in windows ?
Can you offer a screenshot ? (you may not be allowed attachments with only 3 posts ?)

I assumed the software would be quite simple (I have a laser engraver which runs off coreldraw and I simply type what I want and press "go"!) - this doesn't appear to do that.

Your laser runs directly from a coreldraw file ? That's cool
Artcam creates (posts) a gcode text file and your ebay purchase claims to read these type of files.
Gcode explained;
G-code - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maybe you understand this part but it's not clear from your post.

I can get as far as typing the words, but how do you send it to the machine???

Can you rephrase "typing the words" ? The way this usually works is a gcode text file is created and that file is opened in the motion control software. The software could be expecting a certain file extension in the name (example .txt)

(sorry - I realise I sound dumb!)

Nah, it sounds more like you've walked into a foreign land. We've all been there.

[JC50]

If you have already purchased Artcam, you do not need to buy another program like V-Carve (in my opinion). Not trying to get into an argument with others with different opinions on here, but it will generate engraving toolpaths just like V-Carve. Granted, it is more complicated than most of Vectric's software and probably better suited for 2 1/2 and 3D equipment, but there is a learning curve with all software.

Spend time learning and researching. Do the tutorials on the Artcam website. You'll get there.

[petebham]

thanks for the advice...

Right, i am starting to get to grips with the theory behind this. Ok... so Mach3 controls the machine, is that right?

Anyway, I've spent ages on this and have managed to sort out the "ports and pins" settings in mach 3 and have loaded a sample g code.

i then press start and the machine doesn't move at all. it runs through the code and the image shows the various stage of the cut (it's a very simple square shape)

All I want to do is make the machine move! I think that once I can be assured that the thing is moving. Anyone any ideas about what I should be pressing to make my machine spring into action?

I'm sure it's a really simple thing, but if anyone can give a step by step "idiots guide" i'd greatly appreciate it!

The machine is a Redonda... cheap chinese rubbish probably!