im not a computer guy in a computer world

mirrocraft · Post by **mirrocraft** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 7:31 pm

hello everyone my name is scott im in florida i fell in the trap of the lightning cnc who are now out of business so no tech support im slowly figuring this out but im needing some help i have a 5x5 cnc plasma with mach 3 sheetcam and inkscape as well as cad2 im able to load g code and gut but when i load to sheetcam and prosses it says its good with no problems but when i load it to mach3 in my shop it has a screwy image either missing parts of the image or no image at all or something nothing like the original image i dowmloaded mach 3 on my home computer it loads the image fine i dont know what im doing wrong or where i have it set up wrong is there anyone who can help me i need it explained to me or shown to me ive been trying youtube and its helping but im stuck here

mirrocraft · Post by **mirrocraft** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 7:53 pm

: image i wanted this is in sheet cam

: image i wanted this is in sheet cam

Post by **acourtjester** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 8:32 pm

From the images it looks like you have more then one layer in your drawing. I can see some of the inside paths but have no idea where the circle came from. have you check the version of mach 3 that is on you table PC?
Attached is a zip file with a job file for SheetCam and an image of what it is. un-zip it and load it into sheetcam and do the post processor on it and them look at it in mach to see what it looks like.
for some reason the attachments did not work.

Post by **acourtjester** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 8:33 pm

here is the image

Post by **acourtjester** » Sun Dec 28, 2014 8:39 pm

Have you tried to download an DFX file from here and run it through sheetcam to see if it works that way.
have you tried using a different post processor like "mach 3 plasma" just a simple one on extra stuff.
Have you hooked the PC up to the web and let sheetcam update itself.

mirrocraft · Post by **mirrocraft** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 7:33 am

my shop computers not hooked to the internet but im working on a wireless adaptor have it just have to load the cd and hook to my network i will post some more pics of stuff that works when i get home this after noon i will try the windmill later and post pics of what it does i was able to cut the preloaded test g code and i was able to convert some dfx files and cut both dfx files i could care where simple mud flap trucker chicks lol

rikduk · Post by **rikduk** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 8:18 am

If i remember correctly, the lightning tables didnt come with a registered mach3 or sheetcam.
with a demo, there is a limit to the g-code lines.
do you have the right post processor in sheetcam?

Post by **acourtjester** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 12:00 pm

Something that may help is to just run things in Mach with out cutting. You can hook a pin or felt tip to the torch and do fake cuts on paper this will allow you to see the results of you actions without wasting metal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z56Hjot7dSQ Just leave the plasma unit off.
From your face book page you are cutting just need to understand more on how things go together to go from a drawing to a cut project.

mirrocraft · Post by **mirrocraft** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 11:00 pm

on heres an update to my lack of understanding and my huge learning cure thanks to everyone for there great info and help i baught my lic for mach3 loaded both my home computer and shop computer loaded some of the images i was haivng issues with they went ok the ones that where crazy looked like they should the ones that just a blank screen still where so i figure that was how i did g code but as i was cutting fine detail my material warped which i would expect thats why i wanted the auto head to control my torch over wavey metal but it just goes from 0 to 2.5 back to 0 between cuts how do i get the head control to auto sence the job do i need to buy a switch or does it do it based on tention on the motor when it hits the surface or i dont know