New Autoleveling PCB software

[Daedelus]

Thanks very much for the encouragement and feedback. I appreciate it.
In general, I agree that anything that can automate and reduce the user effort or potential for problems is a good move.

1. Ah yes, I forgot about this. Good spot. The problem is in LinuxCNC the motor does not start when you use M3 until there is a speed set. For some reason the version of PCB-GCODE I have does not add a Speed setting so my motor does not start. I added the S20000 bit for myself really but I meant to make some other arrangement for this. In reality, my own motor has a max. of 7000rpm and theres no speed control so for me it doesnt matter what I set S to. Its either on or off.
2. Good point.
3. Another good point. I was actually adding this a few minutes ago Well I was making a primitive parser for reading GCode files, so that extremities (and other things can be displayed). Actually I was thinking that in some cases you might want to probe and level only a small portion of a board despite the surface in the original file being much larger. So actually you would still need those text boxes. Maybe there could be a pop-up box asking if you want to automatically adjust these settings based on the results from parsing. This would reduced the user effort a bit.

thanks,

[mlmSolutions]

Hi Daedelus,
Thanks for the swift reply.
On point 1. I know what you mean about PCB- Gcode. The first board I did with it resulted in the drill burying itself in the board without the motor running. Actually, the problem is not that you put the S command in the output file but rather it goes in after the real one. If you put it at the top of the Gcode all should be well.

3) I agree that the parameter boxes should stay. One simple solution might be to default the X, Y, X Length and Y Length boxes to 0. If they are zero when the user clicks "Create Leveled Gcode" then use the automatically generated extremities but if none zero, use those values.

Good luck with the parser.

[Daedelus]

Good point with the S command. Seems like the easiest solution for now. Ill do that. Its nice to know other people have had the same problem with PCB-GCode.

On point 3, thats a good idea the more I think about it. I'll probably default them to empty rather than zero though.

ta,

[cncJim]

Thanks for creating this Daedelus! I have not used your application yet but I plan to create some pcbs in the future and I will definitely give your software a try.

One question, do you think it would be possible to use your software to allow me probe a curved wooden surface (covered in foil?) before engraving it? I have a few ideas that this would be ace for!

Thanks again,

Jim

[Daedelus]

Hi Jim,

Yes I think it would be possible but the foil would need to be extremely flat. Almost painted on.

best,

[cncJim]

Great, I was thinking of using some self adhesive foil tape or even spray glueing ordinary foil to the surface, probe, make the cuts and then worry about how I get the foil off! :o)

Thanks,
Jim

[Daedelus]

I just had a thought...

As of this current version, G2 and G3 commands (arcs) are not supported. This is OK for PCB's because commands are usually G1 (linear) but for whatever you have in mind, this may not work yet if your GCode file has any G2 or G3 commands. I do explain this in the website somewhere but I am worried that you may have missed it and it is worth re-mentioning here I think.

I think MadProfessor managed to get round this problem when he converted these G2's and G3's into lots of G1's using CamBam?

This may not be a problem for you but I just thought I'd mention it.

best,