Machsupport Forum

General CNC Chat => Share Your GCode => Topic started by: josh on July 20, 2008, 01:47:19 AM

Title: machining a face
Post by: josh on July 20, 2008, 01:47:19 AM
has any one cut a face on a pc of aluminum or wood
if so can you share that file or just the geomatry I would like to attempt it.
thanks
Title: Re: machining a face
Post by: Chaoticone on July 20, 2008, 12:57:06 PM
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,3639.0.html

Have a look at that thread. It is a coin Art made. Hope that helps.

Brett
Title: Re: machining a face
Post by: ger21 on July 20, 2008, 01:49:14 PM
This might help you out.



http://vectric.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3370
Title: Re: machining a face
Post by: josh on July 20, 2008, 02:21:19 PM
I checked it out on vectric forum which is what I want to do
but I think its a little over my head. i am using mastercam x
and I figure I can just download the geomatry and I would do
the toolpath myself then I would generate the g-code and
then I would cut it out. At least the the way I would think to do it.
if anyone has any sudggestion on how to transfer the geomatry  over to mastercam x
I would appreciated.
thanks for the info.
Title: Re: machining a face
Post by: Sam on July 20, 2008, 08:40:19 PM
So, what your asking for is a 3d model of a face that you can import into disastercam? If you feel the method on vectric was over your head, I'm afraid you might just find out that MC is far from friendly. My experiences with it always is, anyhow. It seems to be very finicky with imported models. My best results importing have been with nurbs models, which happens to be the way most models are NOT created. They instead are usually made using a polygonal mesh. I have played with the fully functional trial version of MESHCAM, and was impressed. It might do what you want, with a whole lot less headache. Download a model, open it, make your toolpaths, go machine it. If you know a reliable way of importing surfaces from a poly model easily with MC, I'm all ears. Please, do tell.
 Now, on the other hand, if your trying to use Mastercam Art, and using a picture or a clipart image of a face, that's a different method and can of worms altogether. Good luck on your quest.
Title: Re: machining a face
Post by: josh on July 20, 2008, 10:13:33 PM
disatercam?
 I think once you play around with MC-X it is pretty simple or maybe its because thats the only cam system i have hade
some experience with.
but yes you are right i wanted a 3d model that was maybe drawn out it solidworks then I can just
imported over to MC-X and than i would just start doing some surfacing machining.
I think thats how it would work.
thanks
Title: Re: machining a face
Post by: Sam on July 21, 2008, 03:59:04 PM
Solidworks is a nurbs modeling tool, as is Rhino. They should import into MC quiet easily. You might have better luck finding Rhino models than Solidworks models. Don't get me wrong, MC is a powerful CAM program, but it falls way short in the design or cad portion, in my personal opinion. Here is a link to a head made in Rhino. Maybe you can do something with it. http://www.flexicad.com/download.php?lang=de&misc=1300
Title: Re: machining a face
Post by: zarzul on July 22, 2008, 11:33:19 AM
I am trying to do the same thing, but here is how I am going about it.   

I am using a sample model that comes with Meshcam (a freeware program from Italy).
I cut out the part I want to machine and save it as a .stl , using the Meshcam program.
I use Freemill (by Visual Mill folks) to generate the gcode from the .stl file,  you can get the correct postprocessor from visual mill's post processors downloads.
Then open it in Mach3.

Fairly simple - but I am still working at it, having a little trouble with the size of the sample model,  I can scale it in Mach3 but the large scale changes also correlate over to the axis movement speeds so it is really slow.

Arnie
Title: Re: machining a face
Post by: ger21 on July 22, 2008, 01:42:01 PM
There's a commercial program called MeshCAM. www.meshcam.com

Do you have a link to your "free" MeshCAM?
Title: Re: machining a face
Post by: zarzul on July 23, 2008, 01:39:44 PM
My mistake,  it is Meshlab,  do a search in the forums,  that is where I found it.
Title: Re: machining a face
Post by: zarzul on July 23, 2008, 01:44:24 PM
here is the link to the message with link to the web page

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,4948.msg35389.html#msg35389
Title: Re: machining a face
Post by: machininginc on July 17, 2009, 04:42:00 PM
how do I import from Gibbs cam into mach 3 is this possible
Title: Re: machining a face
Post by: Sam on July 19, 2009, 01:18:07 AM
Mach will not import models, or sketches, if that's what your asking. It will, however take the G-code created in Gibbs. Usually, G-code created for fanuc controls will work fine.
Title: Re: machining a face
Post by: Chris.Botha on July 19, 2009, 10:01:21 PM
here is a head for you. one of the free models on turbosquid.

import obj into rhino, use MESHTONURB command to convert to nurbs surface and mastercam will play nice with you. didnt bother to take time to add eyeballs etc. about 1500 models on turbosquid, more than half under $10, i always try there first if i get stuck.

hmm google facegen as well

Title: Re: machining a face
Post by: raccawasaki on January 02, 2010, 11:40:49 PM
Hello,

download the program "Image to g-code" (30 day trial) and use a color or black/white picture.

Insert the right size and height and you have your g-code  :D
Title: Re: machining a face
Post by: A1CNC on January 03, 2010, 08:38:01 AM
A program I have used to machine stl files that works great is DeskProto. They have a free trial period as well. The full version has alot of gret features.

http://www.deskproto.com/

Might be worth a look,
Eric
Title: Re: machining a face
Post by: raccawasaki on January 03, 2010, 03:29:33 PM
Thanks eric.. I will give it  a look  :)
Title: Re: machining a face
Post by: hharley on August 02, 2010, 03:55:28 PM
even with the machine hooked up i had to turn on  . The ative low. Then On motor outputs  i reset number and also had to enable A B C . Now the macchine motors do what i want them to.   2nd question will be with Estop abled on active low . will I be able to set limits ?