Newbie needs Advice

Jenny have a look at vectric cad/cam packages very well supported Link Here vectric.com

While one may not normally need to write G-code I'd assert that a basic understanding of the types of functions, their operation, and the common commands is useful. Especially when things don't go according to plan. Although rare CAM systems don't always generate G-code that reflects the toolpath shown. I'd concur with SoD that a G-code backplotter is essential as a sanity check - I use NCPlot.

A basic understanding of G-code also helps in writing a post-processor - essentially macros that configure the specific machine and how it implements various commands. It's safe to say that G-code is a non-standard standard.

I only written one G-code program by hand, to implement helical features which my CAM program wouldn't do, so when needs must.

Andrew

Thank you Martin. For now it looks like code from the enigma machine to me, but let me sit on it for a bit and I’ll come back to it.

Jenny

One of the nice things about UGS is the visualiser which shows what you actually asked the tool to do rather than what you thought it was going to do. Use that and a standard text file to refine your design and you will learn a lot as you go along.

Thank you Phil,

I’ve downloaded and installed F360 and was planning to follow through a Utube tutorial today. I’m slightly put off by F360’s ‘family’ stuff. Nothing serious, but why? However, if I don’t make a start somewhere, I’ll never reach the destination. Is Vectric so good that I should switch before I get started with F360? or is it a matter of personal preference? Having looked at Vectric on line, it seems appealing.

Jenny

I had Vectric2D come with my mill but soon stopped using it as it was too basic for what I wanted to make but there are some other versions that may well serve your engraving and carving needs quite well so look at all the various options before diving in..

Jenny, the point of the code I sent is that you should be able to just load the GRBL file into your GRBL controller and it will move the machine in a circular path that would cut a 50mm disk using a 2mm cutter, no need to look at the code. With no milling cutter in the machine set it to be x=0 and y=0 at the middle of its travel and with the bottom of the collet at least 10mm above the machine bed when z=0 and try to some air cutting as it is commonly referred to.

The same part in the Mach3 file can be loaded into Mach3 to see what the code is telling the machine to do, basically using Mach3 like a simulator. The basic shapes DXF file is for you to use when trying out DXF to gcode programs and can be used with Estlcam for example to then produce the gcode program. Having simple files like these allows you to work through the required processes knowing that some of the steps have been completed for you already so you only have to learn one part of the process at a time.

Does the machine work? You need to load a GRBL file on to it and see if it moves.

Can you produce a GRBL file? You need a suitable part drawing to produce it, hence the DXF file.

Is the Gcode produced doing what you expect it to do? Use Mach3 as a simulator and load the Mach3 code into it to find out.

Can you produce a DXF file or other format that can be used to describe the part you want to make?

Do the simple things first then go onto the steeper learning curve required for more complicated parts by knowing the basics concepts and methods required already.

Martin C

Thanks Martin,

Yes I did understand that the purpose of the files that you sent me was to test out machine motion.

I’m not at a point yet, where I’m knowledgable enough to use them, in fact I’ve not yet connected my computer to the controller, although everything is in place to do so. It’ll all happen in time - which is, as ever, in short supply.

Jenny

I’m all hooked up now, and I’ve updated the controller to map step sizes, speeds etc so that they match the mill’s capability. I’ve started to explore F360 too, through tutorials and plenty of mistakes, so progress is taking place, slowly.

Jenny