Beginner needs help

[pinpres]

Hi,

I have used autoleveller in the past (free version) with some success. Now after a few months with all brainpower taken up with a house move I got back to pcb making and bought the paid for version.

Unfortunately when I click on the "Create Levelled Code" nothing happens. Here is the situation:

Mach3 is running and I can control the CNC with the up/down etc keys.
I start up Autoleveller and enter a GCode .txt file.
I Click on "Create Levelled Code" and enter a filename for the output file as requested.
Then - nothing!

Any suggestions please - am I doing something stupid after a long time away from AL?

Regards,

Pinpres

[Country_Bubba]

OK, lets try again as I messed up.


Hi,
I will try to walk through the steps just to make sure all is being done as necessary. I assume your using the latest download V0.8.7?

Starting at the top,
1. You have used the drop down menu to use Mach?
2. You have browsed or otherwise located the etch file you want leveled (will assume a bottom etch for discussion)
3. In the lower left pane, have checked the "create probe file only" box
4. Press the "Create Levelled Gcode" button
4a. This will generate the necessary gcode file to probe your board.
4b. Using this file, probe your board so you can do the next step.
Reload Autoleveler and using the same etch file for the "Origional Gcode file"
5. Uncheck the "create probe file only' Box
6. "Browse for the Probe Log file" ( I am not sure what your machine will call it. on mine, it is Points.dat
7. Click on "Create Levelled Gcod"
8. This will generate your new gcode file.

Sorry for the previous information as I got ahead of my self instead of physically going through all the steps including the actual probing.
Hope this helps.

[daedelus]

Cheers Guys, must have taken my eye off the ball (forums) lately. Thank goodness for Art.

It should work with or without using the probe log file and I just tried without which seemed to work fine with the gcode I used it on, i.e. you should be able to go straight to step7 from step2 and you should get a leveled gcode file without probe files as with 0.7. Does this work OK?

Pinpres, if you have gone through the steps does file work in 0.7?

Its getting late here and I need my beauty sleep I will get back to you tomorrow.

ta,

[pinpres]

After some careful following of the steps detailed above I get the follwoing results.

If I DON'T tick “create probe file only” I can engrave normally with correct depth of cut.

If I DO tick “create probe file only” and then use this file to make a new engraving file as in steps 1 - 9 above, the cut produced is about 1mm too deep ie a disaster with a Vee cutter.

Am I supposed to re-zero the blade before cutting?

Regards,

Pinpres

[daedelus]

Am I supposed to re-zero the blade before cutting?

Yes, but there are 2 sub-procedures calls towards the beginning which should do it for you as long as your probe wires are attached:

Code: Select all

(Set Z before milling starts...)
M98 P100
M98 P200

1mm does sound too deep yes, but from my tests everything looks correct. Could you email me you original gcode file and any raw probe files created: daedelus@autoleveller.co.uk

thanks.

[pinpres]

Thanks both of you for your help - now sorted.

I hadn't been reading the messages in Mach3 which indicate the re-zeroing routines when using a probe file.

Perhaps some very, very basic step by step instructions would be useful for absolute beginners (like me).

Thanks,

Pinpres

[daedelus]

No problem, glad its working.

Regarding the instructions, there is a guide here, if you didnt know: http://www.autoleveller.co.uk/autoleveller-guide/

Also I did plan to make a few step by step videos after I finish the new AL8. I only have 1 video for AL currently and that is really old now. I seem to have dozens of plans for AL though so when I get round to it, is anyone's guess.