Re: CAM Expert software

Hi Alan,

You've got me there! I'm not sure what "fix" you are looking for.
Something to find Acad2000 DXF bugs? I've heard that tiny "extra" arc's
can pop up as artifacts like this. The CAD program may try to make too
fine an arc segment, and you get "trash". Fred has described it better
then I can.

I was wishing I had my Vector 9 manual with me yesterday night, when I
wanted the info on the PLC format. I called up the .PDF on my notebook
computer, did a search for PLC, and quickly had the information I
wanted! Probably faster then if I tried to find it in the manual. And
no, I'd NEVER use a Vector manual for the use you suggest!

I am curious what tip Fred gave you on getting the vectors to go the
"right way". Are you talking about "ordering", or the cw/ccw directions
of the cuts around islands (my pads and traces)? I "import" my first
experimental pads an traces last night (generated from a Gerber file),
and discovered that although the pads were all CW, half of the traces I
had "drawn" in the wrong direction. Yeah, I can fix that (in my
software), but a "global" command to make 'em all CW would be great! No
big deal, but nice. ;>)

Alan KM6VV

alenz@... wrote:

>
> Alan,
> Need to pick your brain. I recently had a question about
> getting an Acad2000 spline into G-code and got my answers (thanks
> guys). Then Ace's g-code wasn't in the cutting order that I
> wanted. I usually just hand edit, but this was way tooo long
> and complex for me. Thanks to a tip from Fred, I tried saving
> in R12 .DXF and Vector read it fine. Used Vector to redirect
> the 'vectors' and used Ace to generate G-code. Came out OK, but
> one problem. There were two real arcs, but they came out as
> mirror images about the Y axis and as G03 instead of G02.
> Easy to fix in this case, change the G03 to G02 and reverse the
> sign of the X and I. The absolute values were OK. I am sure that
> if I printed out the manual, I could find the fix, but that
> rascal is nearly 400 pages, (reminded me of the Sears & Roebuck
> catalog that hung on a nail back on the farm) and I ran out of
> ink at about 90! But seriously, the manual looks to be really
> good, a BIG plus for Vector!
>
> Is ths an easy parameter to set, or can you direct me to the
> section of the manual that covers this, (so I can print it out)?
> Thanks,
> Al
>
> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., Alan Marconett KM6VV <KM6VV@a...> wrote:
> > Hi Ron,
> >
> > You really want to print out the manual, and go through the
> exercises
> > (do enough so that you know how to draw some simple figures).
> Vector
> > CAD doesn't work like your "average" CAD.
> >
> > I don't believe ACE does the tool compensation. That's why you
> want to
> > use Vector to do the offsets. THEN export .DXF to ACE.
> >
> > If Ashlar Vellum can export a .DXF, then you could even DRAW in
> Vellum,
> > export a .DXF to Vector, and do the tool offsets, if you desire.
> >
> > I draw in Vector CAD/CAM, add the tool offsets, and export GCODE.
> One
> > step!
> >
> > HTH!
> >
> > Alan KM6VV