QCAD/CAM

Thanks for the reference, Andy

I will have a look at dfx2gcode before deciding which way to jump.

I’ve already found a simple tutorial, here : **LINK**

https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/dxf2gcode-tutorial/10209

MichaelG.

.

… and, incidentally, that Maslow project is rather inspirational

Based on the notes here: **LINK**

https://sourceforge.net/p/dxf2gcode/wiki/Installation/

… I’m tending towards QCAD/CAM as my optimal solution

[ and will just have to hope there are no ‘gotchas’ ]

MichaelG.

Yes the Mac installation does look rather techie. It's easy on Windows unless you want the bleeding edge changes.

Do let us know how you get on if you go for QCAD/CAM.

Well … after faffing about all day, I’ve finally made the purchase

Total, including VAT, was £93.84 using PayPal

That does make the CAM extension look quite pricey … but it also looks exhaustive !

I have exported the GCode from a simple drawing, and it opens nicely in UGS ; so my hopes are high.

**LINK** : https://winder.github.io/ugs_website/download/

… I will report back in a couple of weeks.

MichaelG.

This may be of interest to prospective purchasers:

There is a long list of 'Postprocessors' available in the CAM configuration ... I can find no handy description of their usage, but I do recognise a few of the names; and was particularly pleased to see HPGL

I suppose it's 'need to know' ... in the sense that you will recognise the name of something which you will need to be using.

.

and ... if I understand correctly, there also is a facility to create your own.

MichaelG.

.

For ease of reference : **LINK**

https://qcad.org/en/qcad-cam-postprocessor

MichaelG.

[ UPDATE ]

I have, with a little difficulty, managed to configure QCAD/CAM to output suitable GCODE to drive my little Laser Engraver using Universal GCODE Platform [UGS].

The ‘brief tutorial’ at https://qcad.org/doc/qcadcam/QCADCAM_Tutorial_en.pdf **LINK** is rather specific to one Postprocessor, and so it was very helpful to find this video on YouTube https://youtu.be/zy18Z2xYxHU**LINK**

The Configuration [postprocessor] “PWM Laser (Offset,mm)” works nicely … and generated a file which runs correctly on my little engraver.

The process, in brief summary, is to:

1. Convert all the individual shapes in the drawing into polylines.
2. Create one or more Tools
3. Create a Toolpath [which calls-up a Tool and has other variables] for each polyline.
4. Export the code
5. Run the code in UGS
6. Admire the result

There is a lot still to learn, but it all looks very promising.

.
My test piece is a 50x40 mm rectangle with two rounded-end slots, and the generated Code is clean and simple:
The Toolpaths ‘Oval_Fast’and ‘Oval_Slow’ differ slightly, and are there to allow me to experiment with various parameters :

.....................

; Grbl G-code file generated by QCAD/CAM (RibbonSoft)
; File: 2021_11_test_3paths.nc on: Sun Nov 21 16:22:43 2021
; Post processor: PwmLaserOffsetMM Rev D.
;
; >>> Preset parameters <<<
; Home position at : X0,Y0,Z50
; Startpoint at : X0,Y0,Z50
; Vertical Safety distance : ; ;
; Clearance distance : Z2
; Z Safety distance :
; Z Up movement clearance : Z2
; Z Up Pass clearance :
; Z Start height :
; Z End Depth :
; Default Cutting Depth : Z-1 mm
;
; >>> PreSetting Laser <<<
N10 F1000 S0 M05
;
N20 G0 X0 Y0
; >>> Toolpath: Rectangle <<<
N30 T1 F100 S300 M03
N40 G1 Y40
N50 G1 X50
N60 G1 Y0
N70 G1 X0
N80 S0 M05
;
;
N90 G0 X4.901 Y10.0252
; >>> Toolpath: Oval_Fast <<<
N100 T2 S500 M03
N110 G1 X5.0001 Y30.0248
N120 G2 X14.9999 I4.9999 J-0.0248
N130 G1 X15.099 Y10.0252
N140 G2 X4.901 I-5.099 J-0.0252
N150 S0 M05
;
;
N160 G0 X35 Y10
; >>> Toolpath: Oval_Slow <<<
N170 T2 F80 S500 M03
N180 G1 Y30
N190 G2 X45 I5 J0
N200 G1 Y10
N210 G2 X35 I-5 J0
N220 S0 M05
;
;
;
; Homing Tool
N230 S0 M05
N240 G0 X0 Y0
N250 M30
; READY

.....................

MichaelG.

.

Click picture for larger image

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 21/11/2021 20:01:49

Tried QCAD and got in with it quite nicely. It opens .dwg files so I can still use all the Autocad drawings I’ve got. This is on the trial professional version, which expires every 15 minutes. I don’t think the freeware version has this facility, but it’s only £30 or do to buy outright, so I will do that I think,

Cheers.

Good to know it works to your satisfaction.

I ended-up buying the QCAD/CAM license for just under £100, but haven’t really put the CAM side through its paces.

**LINK** : https://qcad.org/en/92-qcad-cam

… at first sight, it looks quite promising though.

https://qcad.org/en/tutorial-nesting

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 06/01/2022 00:02:43

Michael;

I too have upgraded my old QCAD license to the latest, with the CAD side purchased as well.

However, I'm so used to my (licensed) CamBam CAM program that I'm still using that.

I have a Mac Mini computer with the new M1 chip, and what I do is I run Linux in a Virtual Machine, which contains CamBam. It works really well. I think it's faster than my older Intel based desktop.

The only small niggle is that I currently have 1 directory shared between the MacOS system and the VM. Not the full directory structure, but that's ok and I can likely modify that later if I wish.

I'm not sure about QCAM; will keep playing with it, but CamBam is incredible. Something to keep in mind for you should you find QCAM lacking.

(the VM manager is "UTM", I used a Linux M1 build from the UTM people, and the Raspberry PI version of CamBam)

FYI for what it's worth.

Edited By John Alexander Stewart on 06/01/2022 02:42:22

Many thanks for the interesting post, John

My new M1 Mac Mini is due to arrive on Tuesday, so that’s worth bearing in mind.

MichaelG.

Michael; I can give you my instructions file if you want to give this CamBam VM integrated approach a try. It's my notes for myself, but may give you a hand.

We are a macOS/Linux/IOS household, and while I do have Win10 I can boot to run Alibre Atom3D, I don't bother, as QCAD and CamBam does it all very well for me and my projects. I do have Win10 because one of my clients wanted a program to run on both Linux and Windows; all 3D machine-generated graphics, so I had to deliver for both. No updates required for quite a while now, so Win10 just sits off to one side, unplugged and unused. Maybe I'll try it as a VM too.

When I started out, I used dxf2gcode but it's been years since I tried it. Maybe it's more complete? CamBam works well for me.

I think I read somewhere that one can create 1,000 lines of GCODE with CamBam for Linux, without needing to purchase a license. (the Windows version is something like 40 tries). That way, you can try all of this out without forking over money first.

John.

I love CamBam, highly recommended.

This is true, but it should be mentioned that scripts and plugins will be disabled in the free version. But it's still great software.