Messages

1

Newfangled Mill Wizard / Things I noticed while using Mill Wizard

« on: March 19, 2013, 01:03:22 PM »

Ron,

Wasn't sure if you got a chance to see this one.

I created an operation 'Keyway Slot'. It is called Keyway Slot on both the 2D Milling drop down menu, and the Mill section of the buttons. It is also called Keyway Slot in the header of the dialog, and also in the comments in the GCode. In the operation list, it is called a linear slot.  I really prefer the name linear slot, and would love to see it stay that way, which of course means changing it in a few other locations.

Under Drill in the drop down menu, there is an operation Circle of Holes. In  the Drill area of the main screen, it is called Bolt Circle. The dialog says Hole Circle, and the operation says Hole Circle. Before you fix that,  I have another request for a change in terminology.  

You have added a huge amount of functionality here, and I think it is awesome and extremely useful. Yay! It turns out that the 'Drill' section is no longer really just Drills. I think you have allowed us to specify patterns of holes done with drills, pockets, and circles. So I think perhaps renaming the 'Drill' category into a 'Hole Pattern' category. Within Hole Pattern, you have a Circular Pattern, a Rectangular Pattern, a Linear Pattern, and a List Pattern.  

I am also eyeballing the Linear Slot function which lets me give a finish pass. I am wishing that in the Hole Pattern 'Circle' and 'Pocket' operations I was able to specify a finish pass value. I would also love to be able to have the ability to select conventional for the roughing pass and climb for the finish pass on all of the milling operations.

I know I ask for much! I think it will make the program that much more awesome to use.

Kevin

2

Newfangled Mill Wizard / Re: Install issue

« on: March 17, 2013, 03:16:08 AM »

Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing my files end up the My Documents directory if you know how to do that!

3

Newfangled Mill Wizard / Re: Parameter Discussion

« on: March 07, 2013, 08:45:13 PM »

Oh no, he has another one!

In the 'Hole Pattern' operations, the code always ramps in a zig-zag. Wouldn't it be cool to be able to specify a helical cut as an option? Think of the lovely surface finish!

Kevin

4

Newfangled Mill Wizard / Re: Parameter Discussion

« on: March 07, 2013, 08:41:58 PM »

Ron,

I am now using 1.0.3

I created an operation 'Keyway Slot'. It is called Keyway Slot on both the 2D Milling drop down menu, and the Mill section of the buttons. It is also called Keyway Slot in the header of the dialog, and also in the comments in the GCode.

In the operation list, it is called a linear slot.  I really prefer the name linear slot, and would love to see it stay that way, which of course means changing it in a few other locations.

Under Drill in the drop down menu, there is an operation Circle of Holes. In  the Drill area of the main screen, it is called Bolt Circle. The dialog says Hole Circle, and the operation says Hole Circle. Before you fix that,  I have another request for a change in terminology. 

You have added a huge amount of functionality here, and I think it is awesome and extremely useful. Yay! It turns out that the 'Drill' section is no longer really just Drills. I think you have allowed us to specify patterns of holes. So I think perhaps renaming the 'Drill' category into a 'Hole Pattern' category. Within Hole Pattern, you have a Circular Pattern, a Rectangular Pattern, a Linear Pattern, and a List Pattern. 

I am also eyeballing the Linear Slot function which lets me give a finish pass. I am wishing that in the Hole Pattern 'Circle' and 'Pocket' operations I was able to specify a finish pass value. I would also love to be able to have the ability to select conventional for the roughing pass and climb for the finish pass on all of the milling operations.

I know I ask for much! I think it will make the program that much more awesome to use.

Kevin

5

Newfangled Mill Wizard / Re: Whoops: Parameters not working

« on: March 04, 2013, 07:41:18 PM »

Ok, I just found a bug. We added Ztop but forgot to add it to the Job string. Its in the internal data struct but not fully added to the code.

thanks

Ok, that was an easy fix. Brian will be updating the installer file tomorrow.

Yay! I will watch for it.

Kevin

6

Newfangled Mill Wizard / Re: Whoops: Parameters not working

« on: March 04, 2013, 05:47:46 PM »

That is NOT what your operations show. (;-)  Both have a Ztop of 0.000.

Just a thought, (;-) TP

You mean this operation? Hence the bug report.

7

Newfangled Mill Wizard / Whoops: Parameters not working

« on: March 04, 2013, 05:19:40 PM »

Ron,

The attached .JOB file shows two operations. I am doing a .625 hole on the top and bottom faces of a 1" sq tube using a line of holes using the circle function. The first hole operation has Ztop of 0, Zdepth of -0.130. The second operation is supposed to have Ztop of -0.875 and a Zdepth of -1.100. The operations list seem fine, but the GCode is not working. Ztop on the second cut is still 0.0 instead of what I specified.


(***New File Started***)
(created by NFS Mill, V4)
(New File Started 03/03/13 21:50:20)
(posted for Aluminum )
(Strategy: Equal )
(Rapid height: 0.5000  Clearance height: 0.0100 )
G98 G80 G17 G90 G54 G64

G20 G90
(***New Tool Selected***)
(ToolNum: 11  Diameter: 0.3750  )
(Feed: 24.0000  SFM: 850.0000  Plunge: 12.0000  ChipLoad: 0.0375  )
M9
M5
M06 T11 ()
G43 H11
M03 S5100
M8
(***Line of Holes***)
(Xstart:  0.5000  Ystart: -0.5000  Num: 01  Inc: 0.8750  )
(Angle:  0.0000  Depth: -0.1300  Peck: 0.0625  )
G00 Z0.5000
(***Cut Circle***)
(Xorign: 0.5000  Yorign: -0.5000  Dia: 0.6250  InOut: 00 Dir: 00  )
(Ztop: 0.0000  Zdepth: -0.1300  Zstep: 0.0433 )
(will make  3.0000  cuts of:  0.0433 )

X0.6250 Y-0.5000
Z0.0100
G01 Z0.0000 F12.0
G02 X0.3750 Z-0.0433 I-0.1250
G03 X0.6250 I0.1250
G02 X0.3750 I-0.1250 F24.0
X0.6250 I0.1250
G01 F12.0
G02 X0.3750 Z-0.0867 I-0.1250
[Edited out operations]
G01 F12.0
G02 X0.3750 Z-0.1300 I-0.1250
G03 X0.6250 I0.1250
G02 X0.3750 I-0.1250 F24.0
X0.6250 I0.1250
G00 Z0.5000
(***Line of Holes***)
(Xstart:  0.5000  Ystart: -0.5000  Num: 01  Inc: 0.8750  )
(Angle:  0.0000  Depth: -1.1000  Peck: 0.0625  )
G00 Z0.5000
(***Cut Circle***)
(Xorign: 0.5000  Yorign: -0.5000  Dia: 0.6250  InOut: 00 Dir: 00  )
(Ztop: 0.0000  Zdepth: -1.1000  Zstep: 0.0611 )
X0.6250 Y-0.5000
Z0.0100
G01 Z0.0000 F12.0
G02 X0.3750 Z-0.0611 I-0.1250
G03 X0.6250 I0.1250
G02 X0.3750 I-0.1250 F24.0
X0.6250 I0.1250
G01 F12.0
G02 X0.3750 Z-0.1222 I-0.1250
[edited out operations]
G01 F12.0
G02 X0.3750 Z-1.1000 I-0.1250
G03 X0.6250 I0.1250
G02 X0.3750 I-0.1250 F24.0
X0.6250 I0.1250
G00 Z0.5000
M09
M05
M30 (end of file)

8

Newfangled Mill Wizard / Re: Parameter Discussion

« on: March 02, 2013, 08:41:45 PM »

Ron,

I have been playing with the beta again today. So far I have liked it, and would love it more if:

The operation list on the left side, it would be nice to add a comment or two to some of the operations. Specifically:
 

• Tool Change (#<tool number>:<Diameter>) would be a nice touch, just so I can keep track.
• <User Defined Operation Name> (Operation Type) so I can keep these straight.
• A two character indent on the operation vs the tool change

So it might look like:

Job Settings
Tool Change (#19:0.25)
   Mounting Holes (Hole Line)
   Motor Mount (Bolt Circle)
Tool Change (#4:.201)
   Tap Holes (Hole Line)
   Upper mount holes (Hole Rectangle)
   Lower mount holes (Hole Line)   

Thoughts?
Kevin

9

Newfangled Mill Wizard / Re: Parameter Discussion

« on: February 28, 2013, 12:31:15 PM »

One other quick note. I am able to select multiple operations in the operations list. If I click Delete, it only deletes the first one. Kind of expected to be able to delete all of the selections.

10

Newfangled Mill Wizard / Re: Parameter Discussion

« on: February 28, 2013, 12:21:41 PM »

Ron,

Now that I am playing around with the prototype, nicely done sir! This is going to be a really cool program. Some things I noticed:

Looking at the Gear operation, the picture in the right hand box. The picture and the boxes don't match. There is Depth in the picture, and Tool Depth in the dialog. There is also a Rapid Height in the picture, but no setting for it.

I would like the ability to set the default origin as part of job settings. I am fine being able to change them in the operations, but being able to set them as part of the job settings would be helpful for me not screwing up! The scenario I have in mind is I have a part in my vise, and am using the NW corner (like I always do) for the origin.

The Cut Circle operation shows the origin dynamically. This is an interesting feature, but I was rather confused by it. I would have assumed that circle operations are usually around a point. If I look at the Surface Stock and Rectangle operations, the origin mark is the the starting position. In the Circle, the origin mark is actually the coordinate origin rather than the center of the circle. Perhaps the dialog should use X center and Y center instead of Origin? Either way, the dynamic drawing is a cool idea but still confusing.

The Keyway operation left hand picture, it would be nice to label the start

The Spline dialog drawings either aren't done yet, or are in need of help. They look more appropriate to a keyway.

Looking at the Link operation. I don't understand the result of this operation based on the picture. Maybe it is just me!

Again, this looks great!