Machsupport Forum
G-Code, CAD, and CAM => G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions => Topic started by: toothandnail on September 28, 2012, 06:36:58 PM
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Just getting started in cnc , have some cad , STL , files that need to be translated to G code , I tried most of the links , the only one that seems to be close is Alibre , but I have to buy it to get the finale translation .
Don't want to spend $$$ for a program that I don't know what I want . I don't even know what , I want/need yet.
Seems I can get some to kinda work , but they say something like 50+ hours cutting time , for a simple oval with 2 holes in it.
The more I look at , the more it seems I'm going in circles ???
Anybody wana run it through your cam ? ? ?
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GUESS NOT CAN'T UPLOAD AN STL :'(
What next ?
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Hi,
when you attach the file, I will see what i can do for you.
Alex
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Hi,
when you attach the file, I will see what i can do for you.
Alex
Thanks , but how do I attach an stl file ?
When I try , I get an error message saying "file not allowed"
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Only way I can think of is email it to somebody for translation.
Here's a pic of what I made , I'm wanting to cnc the end cap , instead of cutting/fitting by hand
(http://imageshack.us/a/img441/1659/201209271220561.jpg)
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Just getting started in cnc , have some cad , STL , files that need to be translated to G code
Freemill
Seems I can get some to kinda work , but they say something like 50+ hours cutting time , for a simple oval with 2 holes in it.
The more I look at , the more it seems I'm going in circles ???
For simple parts, using an stl file and 3D CAM program can be extremely inefficient. I can't see your part, but in a lot of cases a simple 2D drawing and 2.5D CAM program (even LazyCAM) would be a much better choice. What might take 100,000 lines of code to machine your .stl file might be done in 10 lines of code or less with a 2D drawing.
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Thanks , I edited my previous post to include a pic ,only took a couple of hours to figure out the slots on the tube (using the wizard) , about an hour for drawing the end cap , 5-6 hours trying to convert CAD to CAM to G code.
I had the mill less than a week.
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Hi,
rename the file from somethig like endcap.STL to endcap.STL.tap ;)
If you have a drawing of the cap I can code it by hand. ;D
Alex
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Ok , thanks , I'll have to do that tomorrow morning , my son took the laptop with those files/drawings home with him. No internet access where he's at.
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We MAY have it figured out , still getting some errors. We'll see what happens
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:)
Alex
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Nope , STILL haveing problems.
How do I change/add to an stl file to be able to post it here?
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Hi,
if the file is less than 2MB, then you can email it to me.
Alex
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Nope , STILL haveing problems.
How do I change/add to an stl file to be able to post it here?
you could put it in a zip file.
John
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SUCCESS !
SUCCESS !
THANKS for at least not ignoring the newbie , and the offers of help ;D
FINALLY got it to work
Dolpin - partmaster CAD - Lazycam - G code - Mach3
Took quite a while to finally get dolpin to draw it without errors
Can draw the part from scratch in 2min 40 seconds now :-*
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:) Glad you got it sorted.
Brett
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Graet ! :D
Alex