Messages

1

CamBam help (General usage) / Re: Errors in G-Code Halting Process

« on: April 04, 2025, 12:58:35 pm »

Further to my quest I have spent the last four days researching the prospects of replacing both GRBL Breakout Boards (BOB's) for Parallel Port BOB's and running Mach3 - This is becoming frightening

It is doable with my 3036 ( modified 3018 ) but my Fox Alien has closed loop Servo's and I don't have a Scobie where they hang into on the BOB or as daft as it may seem go directly to input pins

Has anyone converted one of these beasts or am I talking twattle again?

2

CamBam help (General usage) / Re: Errors in G-Code Halting Process

« on: March 30, 2025, 13:54:33 pm »

Thank you so much for the reply. I have given the CamBam GRBL Machine a good try but I don't seem to have any immediate success. A completely new learning experience which will take me a lot of time to get used to.

Of my three CNC Machines a Silhouette Cameo Cutter and a 3D Printer all of which use G-Code The only one's which gives me Coding issues are the GBRL 3036 and Fox Alien Masuter.

I would love to stick with my good old Mach3 but only one of my machines talks Parallel Port Coms. all the others only talk USB, Yes I know, buy Mach4 but hey man I have spent a small fortune on Software.

I have to put this into perspective also, I am NOT a trained CNC Machinist quite the opposite. I have spent my life working life in the electronics industry then Teaching Mathematics' in high school. This is a hobby.

Switching Off The MOP's in turn has allowed me identify the problems down to hole cutting, sometimes it works without stopping othertimes it stops after one cutting revolution.

3

CamBam help (General usage) / Errors in G-Code Halting Process

« on: March 29, 2025, 18:54:20 pm »

Once again I have hit a road block and struggling to find an answer. My Mill is a small 3036 GBRL driven by UGS. My Code is derived by CamBam. I am attempting to machine a facia for my new lab variable PSU, the medium is 0.8mm MS panel. 

The first problem which causes a halt is the instruction T7 M6 (8 lines from the top) I'm not sure what is wrong  with this.

After that it continually stalls after a few seconds. What am I doing wrong?

I have taken the liberty of appending the code and the error output displayed in the UGS Console, hopefully some kind person will point ot the errors of m my ways.  

4

Latest News / Re: Forum Back Up and Running

« on: March 29, 2025, 10:18:44 am »

There appears to be something wrong with the Forum Security Certificate, it keeps flagging up as NOT SECURE There are workarounds to gain access but it is a right pain with the AV Software continually nagging me.

5

CamBam help (General usage) / Re: Out of my Depth here

« on: March 25, 2025, 19:50:46 pm »

Thanks Eddy, I have the .cb file and that is exactly what I was looking for. I need to have a look and a play around at the polyline method you mention also Bubba's Toroidal MOP solution.

Thanks again.

6

CamBam help (General usage) / Out of my Depth here

« on: March 25, 2025, 16:34:36 pm »

IAs it says in the subject " of my Depth here" and I don't mind admitting it, What I am trying to do is to skim a few tenths of a millimetre of my spoil board to trim and level the surface. The spoil board is 300 x 360 and I have several Surfacing Bits from 12mm up to a frightening 32mm.

I have spent best part of today trying to create G Code in CamBam to do this but frankly I'm stumped. I think I'm right in creating a Pocket, but I want it to machine left to right, top to bottom but no matter what i do it wabs to machine in a spiral.

Once again any advice would be appreciated.

7

CamBam help (General usage) / Re: Errors with Elongated Slots

« on: March 15, 2025, 11:47:44 am »

Thank you so much Lads, The Frenchman's Idea proved a treat, simple create a longitudal rectangle and edit the dimensions (See attached image) In my case the Elongated Slots were 80mm x 10mm with a 5mm Radius

As I said proved simplicity with error free code. At an absolute loss as to why the shapes created in SolidWorks, transferred to a DXF proved so troublesome but hey-Ho who cares, Job done, and as we say up here ' 'Job's a Good'n'  and Learned something new.

p.s. If our French Friend is reading, "merci beaucoup

8

CamBam help (General usage) / Errors with Elongated Slots

« on: March 13, 2025, 18:54:23 pm »

I have struggled on nearly all day trying to fathom out why my project kept getting kicked out of my Fox Alien CNC with UGS. Narrowing it down with time consuming shapes I found out that UGS is very particular with Elongated slots.
The shapes were from an imported DXF drawing created in SolidWorks and brought into CamBam something I have done successfully very many times.

In the end to prove my Hardware I created an elongated slot in Cambam which eventually worked without being thrown out.

Am I missing something or yet again am I the only nugget experiencing problems with the dreaded Elongated Slot..

9

CamBam help (General usage) / Re: Tool Change Codes

« on: March 13, 2025, 13:41:58 pm »

Thank you so much Lloydsp
I'm sure this will help others wishing to do the same.

I love using Mach3 on my other CNC machine but this Fox Alien Machine will only talk to a USB connection and I'm blowed if I'm going to spend more on Mach4       

10

CamBam help (General usage) / Tool Change Codes

« on: March 13, 2025, 12:06:35 pm »

A good while back when sing Mach3 there was a G-Code process which halted the the current task, stopped the spindle allowing you to change the tool, hit commence and it would continue where it left of.

For the life of me I cannot remember the code sequence or more to the point I cannot find anything about it on here.  

11

CamBam help (General usage) / Re: Done something stupid

« on: March 09, 2025, 10:38:30 am »

That's it  -  All done thank you. 

When I get some time I will write up a small tutorial of how to transfer and share the Tool Library for those who are less fortunate or more to the point like me find MickySoft 11 somewhat painfully daunting. 

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CamBam help (General usage) / Re: Done something stupid

« on: March 08, 2025, 19:47:22 pm »

Thank you both kindly for your replies JD and David. Being a lazy old fart I took the least path of resistance and went for David's solution.

Having access to the styles folder allowed me to painlessly remove the offending XML file. My CB runs effortlessly again. Thank you both once again.

Can I copy my Tools Library from my PC and replace the new .xml files through the Browse System Files ?

I have over 30 tools in my Library on my PC and manually entering each tool is a real bind.

13

CamBam help (General usage) / Done something stupid

« on: March 08, 2025, 17:05:26 pm »

In an attempt to transfer my Tool Library form my my PC to my Laptop I stupidly copied the standard-mm.xml file into my plugins folder (pretty dumb thing to do )

Now I get an error dialogue box (see ascreenshot.png attached) Basically it is saying "Error reading file C:\Program Data\CamBam plus 1.0\styles\Standard-mm.xml"

Styles must be a hidden folder as it is not visible and the goodly Windows 11 will not let me un-hide to remove the offending XML file

Tried un-installing it and re-installing CamBam without any joy. Any Help really appreciated.

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CamBam help (General usage) / Re: Out of memory errors even with the patch.

« on: September 03, 2017, 14:49:37 pm »

Don't know if I'm talking out of order or opening my mouth without engaging my brain but I have enough RAM memory to shake a stick at so I thought if I ran your STL it may highlight a problem.

Jings! that is tiny at 7mm by 6mm you must be milling this with a darning needle.

Hope this might help.

15

CamBam help (General usage) / Re: Help with Fishing Lure Mould

« on: August 30, 2017, 11:30:58 am »

We should start a new Club/Organisation, "Pensioner's United"

Another question, is there anything around preferable free or low cost which will give a an idea as to where to expect my toolpaths will go, something that reads the G-Code and imitates the machining process on screen?