Some Gcode generating programs

I've written a few little (and one not so little) programs to generate Gcode for some common tasks. I'll post them here gradually...

'Mad Professor' requested I make this one about half an hour ago - so here it is:

Attachment 3600

It cuts a grid of holes within specified spacings and limits. Now outputs "hole grid.nc" in the same folder as you run the program from.

Please note I don't tend to bother with error checking! Put sensible numbers in and you should be fine.

[B]Let me know if there's any little program like this you want me to write.

Just tried running your hole program and it failed to start saying salflibc.dll could not be found.

Mike

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Originally Posted by Mike F

Just tried running your hole program and it failed to start saying salflibc.dll could not be found.

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Ahh, thanks for letting me know. Here it is:

Attachment 3599

Unzip and copy it to the same folder as the program or your windows/system32 folder if that doesn't work.

Hi Jonathan,

Thanks for that - that did the trick.

Cheers,

Mike

Looks like a very handy and quick program to use.

But could you also please add, Plunge Rate, and Spindle speed.

Best Regards.

For those Mach3 users not aware Mach3 does have a hell of a lot of wizards built in.

Jonathan not dissing your efforts maybe you would be better writing wizards that are not available built in, no need to waste time reinventing the wheel.

Phil

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Originally Posted by Mad Professor

Looks like a very handy and quick program to use.

But could you also please add, Plunge Rate, and Spindle speed.

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The feed rate it prompts for applies to plunging. I'll add the spindle stuff in a few minutes.

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Originally Posted by M250cnc

Jonathan not dissing your efforts maybe you would be better writing wizards that are not available built in, no need to waste time reinventing the wheel.

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I didn't realise that there was a similar wizard in Mach3 until after I'd written this program!

Can you think of anything that's not already in Mach3 that you would like?

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Originally Posted by Jonathan

I didn't realise that there was a similar wizard in Mach3 until after I'd written this program!

Can you think of anything that's not already in Mach3 that you would like?

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Not me personally I don't use the wizards but thanks for the offer.

If your at a loose end look on the Mach3 forum for any that are wanted, if you can do you will become very popular.

Phil



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Well here's something that's not in the Mach3 wizards...indeed someone charges for a very similar program.

4 axis Gcode generator for XL timing pulleys. Mills the trapezoidal tooth profile using small endmill. A axis is used to rotate pulley allowing the 25 degree angles to be milled for the precise tool profile. Needs 1.3mm or less endmill for XL...I've got a 1mm.

Attachment 3614

Consider this an alpha release. I see no reason for it not to work, the gcode looks fine in mach 3 (be sure to set the A rotations display and the A offset to the radius of your pulley) however I have not tried it on my milling machine yet! Again, no error checking yet!!

I've coded it so that all the dimensions are calculated from the few dimensions that define the trapezium (lots of trigonometry & scribbling)- so I can easily add other pulleys such as metric T series aswell as L, MXL etc...if anyone's interested.

(I know a form tool would be a quiker way of making these, but that's difficult to grind.)

Hi Jonathan,

Have you looked at Gearotic, a program being developed by Art (founder of Mach). He uses similar methods for cutting spur, helical and bevel gears and includes some pulleys too. Take a look http://gearotic.com/, it's a work of art - pun intentional :) There's also an excellent forum.

Mike

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Originally Posted by Mike F

Have you looked at Gearotic, a program being developed by Art (founder of Mach). He uses similar methods for cutting spur, helical and bevel gears and includes some pulleys too. Take a look http://gearotic.com/, it's a work of art - pun intentional :) There's also an excellent forum.

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Yes I've seen that, it does look good. Only problem is it costs money!

I guess I could add gears to this program...start with simple involute spur gears and work up.

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Originally Posted by Jonathan

The feed rate it prompts for applies to plunging. I'll add the spindle
Can you think of anything that's not already in Mach3 that you would like?

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Hi Jonathan,

One change or add on that I am keen to get for mach 3 is the ability to centre text. The current wizard has all kinds of fonts and settings which is great but lacks the ability to centre/resize text to a given size box.

I want to use Mach 3 for more engraving and this is holding me back. Would this be possible?

Dan

hi jonathan.... with regards to your XL pully g-code gen :) i was wondering if you could mod it (you gave the impression you could change it whilst eating a kebab n watching telly :)

iv ground an engraving tool to cut my tooth shape (sincroflex 2.5) and thats cutting well enough to give it a whirl
its a 2.5mm pitch with 0.7mm deapth.... im looking to plunge in to my pully from the top takeing two cuts per slot

i know your a busy dude so no problems if you cant fit it in

mark xxx

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Originally Posted by blackburn mark

hi jonathan.... with regards to your XL pully g-code gen :) i was wondering if you could mod it (you gave the impression you could change it whilst eating a kebab n watching telly :)

iv ground an engraving tool to cut my tooth shape (sincroflex 2.5) and thats cutting well enough to give it a whirl
its a 2.5mm pitch with 0.7mm deapth.... im looking to plunge in to my pully from the top takeing two cuts per slot

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I'll do it now. Hopefully I've understood you...

Here it is (written in the car on the way back from grandparents, had to wait til now to get internet)... send me the Gcode if you want before running it and I'll check its not done anything too silly. Should be ok though...

Attachment 4102

I've included an example Gcode file with the numbers you gave. Let me know how it goes.

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written in the car on the way back from grandparents

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Smart arse !!!!!

nice one jonathan :) ill give it a go and report back as soon as i get the chance :)

I couldn't look it up at the time, so left it so you could enter the distance between the pitch diameter and pulley surface. For T5 you want to enter 0.5mm.

(Source: http://www.sdp-si.com/D265/HTML/D265T016.html )

YeeeeeHaaaaw !!!!

thats a winner jonathan

i guess you have your 4th parrallel to your X axis
i have to edit the g-code for Y axis but its still saving me a shit load of effort :)
cheers man xxxx

Yes I set it up for an A axis not B. I think the easiest way for you to change it is just swap the X and Y pins on the parallel port in mach3. Then your B axis magically becomes an A! I'll look if I can easily get the program to swap.

Glad to hear it's working otherwise. Any pictures?

ill try to get some video up of the next one i cut :)

You can try grz software OR Grab Cad