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Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!
« on: May 15, 2010, 11:35:36 PM »
Hello,
About 1 month ago, I purchased a Lagun 3-axis mill with mach3 installed. The machine is in
sweet condition and we(my son and I) are slowly learning to use it. I have been a machine
designer since about '85. I started as a toolmaker in '76. Have done alot of VB programming
over the years, and some G-code programming for special machines. My current goal is to
write a VB program to produce g-code for simple drilling operations. Pockets etc., would
also be included, but I intend to use existing wizards for that, and include them as a g-code
subroutine (call the external files as subs). The reason for this program is to make the
machine as easy to operate as a manual mill (if possible). It will have a table for X,Y location
manual entry, along with the hole tags. Then setup operations for the hole tags on other
screens. The output g-code will call macros for each tool# to set the Z offset, w/G31. There
is no presetting of tools. I did search around for the VB API to mach3, but didn't find too
much. The main advise I need right now is whether I'm addressing a valid need, or if
there is a commercial CAM program that would do this at reasonable cost (less than $500).
Thanks for any replies,
John
About 1 month ago, I purchased a Lagun 3-axis mill with mach3 installed. The machine is in
sweet condition and we(my son and I) are slowly learning to use it. I have been a machine
designer since about '85. I started as a toolmaker in '76. Have done alot of VB programming
over the years, and some G-code programming for special machines. My current goal is to
write a VB program to produce g-code for simple drilling operations. Pockets etc., would
also be included, but I intend to use existing wizards for that, and include them as a g-code
subroutine (call the external files as subs). The reason for this program is to make the
machine as easy to operate as a manual mill (if possible). It will have a table for X,Y location
manual entry, along with the hole tags. Then setup operations for the hole tags on other
screens. The output g-code will call macros for each tool# to set the Z offset, w/G31. There
is no presetting of tools. I did search around for the VB API to mach3, but didn't find too
much. The main advise I need right now is whether I'm addressing a valid need, or if
there is a commercial CAM program that would do this at reasonable cost (less than $500).
Thanks for any replies,
John