Messages

6961

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Gertrude Gets Some!

« on: January 31, 2010, 02:56:55 AM »

Hmmmm - Think we should perhaps start a poll on this one - What do you think Guys ?.

Tweakie.

6962

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Routed Teak Tiger.

« on: January 31, 2010, 02:52:06 AM »

Nice ones Gerry.

Tweakie.

6963

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Routed Teak Tiger.

« on: January 29, 2010, 10:50:39 AM »

Update to my previous post ;

I have just replaced one memory card to give me a total of 2GB ram on this computer and now the 1.8 file runs OK with MeshCAM - no problem.

So to correct my statement in the previous post - The limit to the size of file which MC can handle is related to the available ram fitted in the PC and not to the program itself.

My apologies to everyone.

Tweakie.

6964

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Gertrude Gets Some!

« on: January 29, 2010, 06:38:03 AM »

Brilliant work and welcome back Chris.

Tweakie.

6965

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Routed Teak Tiger.

« on: January 29, 2010, 05:39:09 AM »

Hi Gerry,

My PC has 1.5 GB ram which I could increase to 2 GB maximum but as I understand it 32-bit Windows XP can only allocate a maximum of 2 GB of memory to a program. A new PC with Windows 7 and 64-bit OS with greater ram capability may be the way to go but it is still unclear if MeshCAM will support 64-bit operation and then be able to handle larger .stl files.
As I said earlier Jeff's reduced geometry file works just fine with MC and my setup but I do not have the time, suitable software or even the knowledge to reduce the geometry of any .stl file (created by others) I may wish to run.
MeshCAM does have an upper limit to the maximum number of triangles it can handle but the exact limit is unknown - perhaps you could try running MC and the full (1.8 million triangle ) tiger-share file on your computer and see what happens. I think Marcell found this file size a problem also.
The bottom line, I suppose, is DeskProto which has no problems with a 1.8 million file and is the way to go - it is just it's price that is the stumbling block.

Tweakie.

6966

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Routed Teak Tiger.

« on: January 28, 2010, 01:42:15 PM »

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for the info.

Three weeks ago I had not even heard of an .stl file, still not sure how they are created - obviously clever people with top of the range computers like yourself.

Intrestingly the demo version of Desk Proto had no trouble at all with the large tiger file and was extremely quick at creating the toolpath.

I have tried MeshCam again with a few other .stl's downloaded from Danny's CNC4free website but it crashed again with stuff over 300000 triangles. Don't think this is the program for me, shame really because it is extremely well priced. I can hear myself saying you only get what you pay for.

I want to try Visual Mill but I think its cost will be way beyond my budget as is MasterCAM (my laser cutting head has already used up most of my 2010 allowance) but I still must try it anyway. It is early days yet but DeskProto is starting to look better and better.

Best regards,

Tweakie.

6967

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Routed Teak Tiger.

« on: January 28, 2010, 06:41:10 AM »

Hi Jeff,

Your reduced triangle .stl (dare I ask how you did it ?) works just fine with MeshCAM so it appears that MC has an upper limit on the size of .stl files which it will handle.

I have only just started looking at 2.5D machining and don't know too much about it yet, particularly creation of original artwork so I am just downloading other peoples .stl's as and when I find them and looking at ways to convert them to toolpaths. One thing I have learn't, however, is not to buy any software until I have tried it first so the quest will continue.

Many thanks for your help.

Tweakie.

6968

Share Your GCode / Re: Degree Wheel

« on: January 28, 2010, 06:11:31 AM »

Hi Mike,

I took a different route for my, much smaller, scale and used the demo version of 'Front Designer'. This produced two files - one for the engraving and one for the profile cutting - It is pretty easy to use and contains the necessary single line font etc. The down side is that it is a time limited trial software but it works well and is quick.

Tweakie.

6969

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Routed Teak Tiger.

« on: January 28, 2010, 03:28:17 AM »

Thanks Jeff,
Thanks Gerry,
Reply's much appreciated.

Tweakie.

6970

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Routed Teak Tiger.

« on: January 27, 2010, 09:19:11 AM »

Another teak tiger, this time cut across the grain and at a higher federate. Total machine time is now down to 2 hours 5 minutes. Cutting across the grain highlighted the limitations of my spindle front bearing (I know it is due for replacement) which started to resonate at times and put a limit on the maximum federate that could be achieved (800mm).

I did try using MeshCAM but was unable to create the toolpath for this tiger (the .stl file has 1.8 million surfaces) without getting the “not enough memory – try reducing the geometry” error. Not much about this point on the MC forum but it appears that there is a top limit to the specified geometry points / surfaces that MC can accommodate.
Perhaps Gerry of Jeff you could shed some light on this problem please, please.

Tweakie.