Messages

41

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Dimensioning Probe Digitization

« on: June 04, 2010, 11:34:24 PM »

Huh, turns out I bought Accutrans a while ago when I first started getting into this. So I asked them about all this and this was the reply I got:

Change the file extension on your g-code file to ".txt" and in AccuTrans use the
'File -> Open As -> MaxNC Probe" menu command.

AccuTrans is expecting the scan passes to occur at constant Y and the file to start with the G90 code as in this example

G90
M01
G00 Z.2
M03
G00X0.0Y0.0
G01X0.0Y0.0F10.0
Y0.0000Z0.0000
X0.0000Z-0.1599
X0.0146Z-0.1599
X0.0293Z-0.1599

The scan is expected to be for just one side of the object and not a 360 degree scan to do all sides of the object.

Triangles will be created from the point cloud data.

He also added (I use Rhino as my CAD): "If you only want to import the point cloud into Rhino, what file format would you want to use?"

Not really sure what to say to that and if I really want the point cloud per se in Rhino.
I'll give it all a try tomorrow and post the results.-Keith

42

General Mach Discussion / Re: Probe Wizard

« on: June 04, 2010, 11:02:03 AM »

Rick, I went back to '1.84.001' , I think because the newer version didn't have the 'convert DXF' which I tend to use sometimes.-Keith

43

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Dimensioning Probe Digitization

« on: June 04, 2010, 10:26:49 AM »

Thanks for the info Rick. I'll look into that today. I'm using the digitizing 'wizard', that is provided with Mach3 (Art wrote it).

44

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: >DXF translation

« on: January 24, 2010, 11:29:47 AM »

I gave up on generating it with the .dxf translator. Went in and did surgery on the G-code. Starting point (x,y,z), g19(y,z plane) g02(clockwise interpolation) then the destination of both planes and then center of both planes (j=y, k=z).
Looks good but will have to back it into the channel's end because of that tiny mill end. Scary.-Keith

45

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: >DXF translation

« on: January 23, 2010, 04:23:27 PM »

Can't do a box because then the integrity of the groove is interupted at the box bottom (I need to go right down to and follow the arc of the groove).
Yeah, I know all about 1/64ths" breaking. I've got it down though. Haven't broke one in a while. (and man are they expensive!)
I'll try and post the DXF soon. Thanks

46

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: >DXF translation

« on: January 23, 2010, 03:22:07 PM »

Right, should have thought of just editing and looking. I'm good at the 'looking thing'  : )

47

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / >DXF translation

« on: January 23, 2010, 12:56:40 PM »

Hello, I have a round slot I made with a ball nose.  I'd like to flatten one end of this slot. so picture a half circle slot and coming to the end (past the end there is some material) if you stuck a flat ended rod into the slot the flat of the rod would meet the flat of the slot (the ball creates a spherical ending if you just use the ball).
So, I thought I could use a really small mill end (1/64th") to accomplish this 'finishing' of the slot's end. I plotted an arc in CAD that followed what would create this flat. It exists in CAD in the proper orientation (X,Y,Z) but when I import it as a .DXF into Mach3, the 'Z' becomes the 'X' on screen.
Without scratching our heads to figure out why it does that, can anyone tell me if I edited the 'X' coordinates to a 'Z" would the arc maintain integrity? I'm sure that's simple to answer but have a little brain clog at the moment. Thanks,Keith

48

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Dimensioning Probe Digitization

« on: October 18, 2009, 11:32:26 AM »

I'm loving ,finally getting my digitizing probe working for me. Can any tell me if there's a way to take the G-Code file it generates and make it readable in my CAD package (I have Rhino) so that I can dimension the angle and surface results? Or even an alternative to doing it this way. I've just been using the Digitizing Wizard resident in Mach3. Thanks,Keith

49

General Mach Discussion / Re: Digitizing Probe

« on: August 10, 2009, 06:22:38 PM »

Basically a digitizer like that is sort of analogous to having a 3 axis servo loop feedback and you're the motor driving the 3 axis. Probably an optical or resistive sensor sends the changes of position in 3D to a micro and then those coordinates are spit out serially to a USB port interface. If you could get that to work with Mach's digitizing wizard (through much rolling up the sleeves,contortions involving data translation and software writing),you'd sure be 'gilding the lily'. You're device is putting out the coordinates that it takes a probe in a cnc to generate by 'looking' at a spot and determining if the probe contacted anything. By touching the probe you mention to the object you desire to digitize, you are the mill!
I'd look for the manufacturer's link to drivers and software for that digitizer(that's why they call what you're calling a 'probe' a 'digitizer' ;because it's digitizing the points you touch)and I'm sure you'll come up with a program that at least will generate something that can be read in a CAD program and at the least be saved as a .DXF to use to generate G-code. Unless you're going to plot millions of points manually, those types of digitizers were made to manipulate later on in CAD anyway. They are very cool though.-Keith

50

General Mach Discussion / Probe Plug-In. No config/enable line

« on: August 08, 2009, 12:25:47 PM »

I recently got my probe working using the digitizing wizard. I'm on to the probe plug-in. The plug-in installed but under 'config' there is no line to enable the plug-in which I see in the manual. I'm using version R1.84.001. If I need to update this to include the enable plug-in under config, do I have to save all my values I set up and re-type them all? Thanks,Keith