in calculating the tool path

[Grumpy Mike]

Thanks but yes you have misunderstood. It is the center of the tools position I am after when it is at the end of the straight bit. It is where the tool path for the straight bit crosses the tool path for the circular bit. Or put it another way it is the difference in the angle between the center and the bit where the straight joins the curve (which I know as that was part of defining the shape) and the angle between the tool center and the center of the hole. These angles are not the same as I first thought.

[Robin Hewitt]

Thanks but yes you have misunderstood. It is the center of the tools position I am after when it is at the end of the straight bit.

Well you just subtract the tool radius from the arc radius and add the tool radius to the line y co-ordinates before you do the pythagorus bit.

I've just been writing code to do much the same thing, decided pythagorus was a lot easier than applying the cosine rule even if it meant rotating the chord into the vertical and then back again :whistling:

Just to make it interesting I also spiral down into draft angles and hemispherical sections which is taxing my brain a bit but I'm getting there. Slowly. The G-Code is a bit whacky, I define the arc centre using I and J but the end co-ordinates are not necessarily on the same radius as the start. Dubiously G-code legal. I had to mod my mill driving code a bit before it would accept a spiral

[Grumpy Mike]

Thanks irving, I worked out what I needed this morning on the drive in to work and I agree with you. I just got the sin and cos swapped over but that don't matter it just rotates it through 90 degrees.
It's good to have confirmation before I try and code it. I am using the free language called Processing, it runs on all platforms.

Do you think there would be any interest if I posted the final result? I am also working on a program to send a G code file to the miller. I wanted to use Replicator G but I can't get that to work reliably on my Mac, despite several email exchanges with the authors.

[irving2008]

Thanks irving, I worked out what I needed this morning on the drive in to work and I agree with you. I just got the sin and cos swapped over but that don't matter it just rotates it through 90 degrees.
It's good to have confirmation before I try and code it. I am using the free language called Processing, it runs on all platforms.

Do you think there would be any interest if I posted the final result? I am also working on a program to send a G code file to the miller. I wanted to use Replicator G but I can't get that to work reliably on my Mac, despite several email exchanges with the authors.

Always interesting to see other people solutions to problems...

[Grumpy Mike]

Thanks routercnc, that is in essence what the solution posted by irving actually is, only the equations have been bashed about already to give the solution. The only difference being that instead of using:-
The equation for a circle (x^2 + y^2 = r^2)
then you use the parametric equation for a circle of :-
x = r SIN(theta)
y = r COS(theta)

[Wobblybootie]

Well, my contribution to this thread will be about as much use as tits on a kipper.

Reading it has seriously damaged my belief that I will ever master the maths involved in rudimentary CNC :sad:. I am beginning to think I should have listened to my old teacher instead of getting stuck into some practical human biology!!

Panic stricken in darkest Dorset!!