AXYZ ToolPath issue

[VTX1800]

Hello All,

Used to do this all the time.
Must be having a brain cramp.

I have a DXF file that has text and a perimeter shape.
The file is a 2d dxf drawing for a sign.

Carve the text using the special engrave 3d functions. No problem.

Then I send a rdy file to cut the perimeter shape thru using multipass function.
The material is 1.5 inch thick high density foam board.

On the OUTPUT page:
Compensation set to radius of cutter.
Depth set to THRU.
Multipass ON and the material thickness set to 1.5".
Pass depth to 0.25". Number of passes updates to 6.
Change cutter and set F4 and F8 cutter depths accordingly.

The router advances to the start point and comes down to the material surface.
Never plunges down to the step distance. Repeats six times if I let it.

Exported the file as a text NC file and there are X and Y values but no Z values.
ToolPath issue or 2D drawing requires something?
What am I missing?
thanks,

Ted

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[VTX1800]

Extensive testing resulted in ToolPath evidently has problems with ellipses or arcs.
Plain rectangle object had no issues using multipass function.

There should be a user group for AXYZ cnc routers to share experiences.

Ted

[Quebecois_Sti]

If you have any documentation of the ToolPath program it would be really
helpful for me.

I just acquired an used AXYZ Millennium and don't know so much how to
send programs to controller (always getting errors when going on DNC) or
use the ToolPath program to do the toolpaths needed. I wish I could use VCarve
for the machine, I am looking into creating the post-processor for it...

[VTX1800]

If you have any documentation of the ToolPath program it would be really
helpful for me.

I just acquired an used AXYZ Millennium and don't know so much how to
send programs to controller (always getting errors when going on DNC) or
use the ToolPath program to do the toolpaths needed. I wish I could use VCarve
for the machine, I am looking into creating the post-processor for it...

Quebecois_Sti,
I gutted the AXYZ control panel a few years ago and installed inexpensive switching power supplies.
Then wired the stepper motors and sensors to the modern motion controller from Dynomotion.
The AXYZ 4008 machine I have dates from ~2000. The old WIN95 PC had a proprietary card from AXYZ that sends a binary serial file to the controller.
This file is not viewable or editable. Another reason to get new software with a true Gcode editor.
If your AXYZ is of this generation you need that card and the AXYZ software.This card is obsolete and no longer available.
I strongly suggest investing a few hundred dollars in the Dynomotion motion controller and driver board.
The added benefit is it comes with the CAM software at no extra charge.
No special PC card required. Just a USB cable to the board.
Check them out at Dynomotion Motion Control Boards for CNC Manufacturing and Robotics Applications.
I now use VCarvePro for the design and post processors.
Good luck.

[Quebecois_Sti]

According to what I read those support Mach3 as well !?!

So basically I need to buy the KFLOP & KSTEP ? It would enable all my axis, limit switch and spindle ?
I got an offer from someone who can do the conversion between 1900-2800$ but if I can do it for less than 1K$ it could be nice.

Does this controller can handle 3D surface carving as well ? What post-processor do you use on Vectric/VCarve ? It's in the list ??
I don't see any DynoMotion or KMotion in the post-processor list... I have VCarvePro v6 as well. How do you send your GCode to the controller now ?

Thanks for support

[Quebecois_Sti]

What I liked about that DynoMotion controller, it looks like to be pretty open-source.

The controller is programmed in C. Everything seems to be possible to modify. It's not a black box
like so much stuff around.

[VTX1800]

The KFLOP and KSTEP boards drive 4 stepper motors on my formerly AXYZ 4008 machine.
There are also 3 proximity limit sensors to determine machine home. One for each axis.
I also purchased a separate IO relay board to handle the E Stop circuit and spindle On/Off.
The VCarve Pro 8.5 software I use has a post processor named: G-Code Arcs (inch).
This worked fine for the KFLOP and KSTEP boards.
The file is sent to the KFLOP board through a USB cable.
The Dynomotion software is very similar to Mach3.
It comes with the boards at no extra cost. Mach3 costs about $300 and you do not need it.
You have to provide the proper power supplies for the boards.
You also have to do some axis calibration for the distances per step for your drive system.
This is easily modified in the example C program.
I spent about $700 for everything. Power supplies, DIN rail, KFLOP and KSTEP and IO relay boards and 3 prox sensors.
Lastly, you need a game controller to help manually position the cutter for home position at the work surface.