4 axis router

[lwbox69]

Hello people
i have a machine i would like to use . can any one help with some barley twist?
my home page is a link to youtube with video's of my machine.

i want to turn candle sticks and possible bed steads .
i want to learn this big time. i have invested in candle making supplies as well as this machine. i have mach3 and lazycam registered.
and i have autocad2007 as well.

i have tested the machine with the example files and it works great routing.
what i have discovered is taking a pic or jpg and creating a gcode through lazy cam is over my head. if i do raster either in x,y or y,x it just does lines in those directions clear across the slab of wax , it doesnt create the image is what i'm trying to say.

next i would like to find some help on the Hollow Barley twist. i've read on the manual routing techniques i'de like my machine to do this process. i've played with cad and cant get the entities in lazy cam, least thats what it tells me no entities no chains exctera.
i sure could use some help .


[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6WN7Lt49Rw"]YouTube- testing the axis.MP4[/nomedia]

[mcphill]

You are going to need to get and learn how to use a real CAM program, or have someone do the programming for you. If LazyCAM was too tough for you to learn, I suggest you start by finding someone to do programs for you. That said, it won't be cheap, so you may not be able to do what you want at the budget you were expecting unless you learn it on your own.

You X-axis sounds like it is set up poorly and is dropping tons of steps. You will need that to run as smoothly as your Y and Z do, or it won't make anything usable.

[lwbox69]

the machine is running just fine, it does the gcodes i have with excellent detail.

i just have to learn it.

[cabnet636]

i am using aspire to run my rotary axis,

good looking machine, my question is how do you get the z out over the rotary (A) axis?

jim

http://www.youtube.com/user/cabnet63...15/uigIWptYOpQ

[lwbox69]

Thanks Jim

i'll post the link here and i'm taggin you on youtube.
your machine has 2 cutting heads?
now thats a nice machine. wanna trade? j/k


[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvPOJqNooSM"]YouTube- in wrap mode1.MP4[/nomedia]

i stuck the block on that Burl carved to demonstrate to me how the machine worked. and now i've already mounted a foam block to learn on.

i have no clue how to work the machine. i bought it thinking these forums would help me learn a new trade.
so far you see what the response has been.

i'm going to work my way up soon as i figure this one out.
might be a while

Lee

[cabnet636]

actually it has tree heads but whos counting

i gotta give you a big congrads on that setup, i figured you had a offset plat of some kind and was amazed at the x to z setup!!!

vcarvepro and aspire both have rotary toolpathing in thier software, i use it as my sole source and it keeps getting better.

the next step up was 10.000$+ too rich for me so vectric has all i need, you can download the demo and test for free

jim

[ger21]

next i would like to find some help on the Hollow Barley twist. i've read on the manual routing techniques i'de like my machine to do this process. i've played with cad and cant get the entities in lazy cam, least thats what it tells me no entities no chains exctera.i sure could use some help .

The simple way to do a barley twist is to use a profile tool and hand code it.

Something like:
G1 X20 A1800

should rotate 5 times while moving 20". Change the starting rotaion and make multiple passes and your done. Google Magnate I think for the profiled router bits.

It sounds like you're trying to import 3D entities into LazyCAM. LazyCAM only works with 2D drawings, not 3D, so you won't be able to do any type of rotary work with it.

[lwbox69]

Thanks Jim

i'll post the link here and i'm taggin you on youtube.
your machine has 2 cutting heads?
now thats a nice machine. wanna trade? j/k


[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvPOJqNooSM"]YouTube- in wrap mode1.MP4[/nomedia]

i stuck the block on that Burl carved to demonstrate to me how the machine worked. and now i've already mounted a foam block to learn on.

i have no clue how to work the machine. i bought it thinking these forums would help me learn a new trade.
so far you see what the response has been.

i'm going to work my way up soon as i figure this one out.
might be a while

Lee

[lwbox69]

Thanks Gerry

i've checked out legacy wood working , i found a slew of bits there.

what i really needed was help with the gcode.
you've gave me one fairly simple.

3 numbers and i can go from there.
i'm going to go test those right now and see what my machine does.

i'm leaving the router turned off .

i'll see yall in a few

L.W

[awerby]

Try DeskProto (www.deskproto.com) - they have a free trial that lasts a month, and a special offer for hobbyists: the full program for about $300. If you can make a barley twist in AutoCAD and save it as an STL, DeskProto will do the rest.

I'm not sure how that machine works, though - is the lathe-like assembly adjacent to the bed something that lifts onto it when you want to run in 4th axis mode? Is it controlled with steppers or servos? It seemed to run pretty fast for steppers. I also wonder about the rigidity of the Y-axis, since it's only supported by a couple of skinny rods; it seems like it would be bouncing around a lot if you actually tried carving anything.

Andrew Werby
www.computersculpture.com

[mcphill]

i have no clue how to work the machine. i bought it thinking these forums would help me learn a new trade.
so far you see what the response has been.

These forums are fantastic, but the work is still on your part. You really haven't posted a question that can be answered. You state you don't know how to use your machine... OK... I don't either, but that doesn't mean I can't help you out. Your question, though, is so vague that I cannot offer any help.

I am not clear if you even understand the CNC process. You need to design in CAD, take the CAD data in to a CAM program. The CAM program turns the CAD information in to gCode that your machine can understand. The gCode is then loaded in to Mach3 and you are off and running.

LazyCAM was never fully developed, and as far as I know, it is best suited to some quick programming needs (making bolt circles, or simple shapes). Few people use it as their only CAM program.

There is a long thread on various CAM programs here: What CAM Software Does Everyone Use??

Maybe after reading through that thread you can download a few demo programs, learn which one suits you, and be ready to move on to specific questions about how to get specific actions done in the programs. Or maybe not...

[lwbox69]

ok here it is in a nutshell .
it's pretty stout.

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl3app82Z34"]YouTube- 4th axis.wmv[/nomedia]

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K3nbLcKDto"]YouTube- 40x24 with 4th axis on stand.wmv[/nomedia]

Burls on vacation for a couple weeks so i cant refer to him on the process.
every thing is different than a normal 4 axis machine.
my video's show the axis and how they work in different modes.

I been working with Gerry's formula,
and lets say it's totaly different
for me to get the machine to work all axis i have to run in wrap mode and this is the code i have been playing with.

with this i can get the 4th axis to rotate in the direction i want for the router to cut, and it's really slow, after it makes the 1st revolution it starts its journey on x20 , the 4th axis stops during this process.

right now all i am trying to do is mill down a 4.5" square x 20"
i'm trying to get it to 3.75" diameter.

X=X,
Y=A,
Z=Y,
A=Z

confused yet?... i am
I could swap the cables around on the controller then swap them back when I used the normal X,Y,Z axis on the Bed.
so when i look at all these codes it does get confusing for me.

Nice Sculpturing web site Andrew.
i've moved on from Acad2007 and have rhino now. i'm searching big time thats for sure, and thanks to you 3 I have progressed a little further in my quest

L.W. Box