Hi,
How to make it work:1) Populate your End Mills/Ball Nose Mills into the Mach4 Tool Table under “View” in Mach4.
2) You must make your G-Code M06 T01 correspond to Tool#1 etc.
3) You must populate Diameter/Corner Radius/Flute/Length/Shoulder Length and if you want Holder Length/Holder Diameter.
a. Tools can only be End Mills and Ball Nose Mills.
b. Corner Radius on a Ball End Mills is half the diameter.
4) To get colors you must Populate Tool Color R/ Tool Color G/ Tool Color B (e.g. ) 150/100/0
5) Other settings are under “Configure” “Plugins” Simulator ModuleWorks. Used to setup Stock Material and Cutter Height.
6) Also under “Diagnostic” Simulator ModuleWorks. Used to save STL after simulation has started to finish.
7) Must set up CV as it simulates the actual machine cut.
Precision in the “Edit Tool Table Field” 4=4 decimal places (see picture)
Positives to this program.1) Relatively low cost.
2) Produce nice out put down to 3mm Ball nose.
3) Can save and import STL files.
4) May suit a lot of users who do simple CNC milling.
Things that need to be done.1) Supply an operating Manual for users.
2) Make the Parameters in the “Simulation Configuration” maintain values entered.
3) Provide an accurate way of setting up the Z Tool Height.
4) Provide a sample G-Code that is exactly the same as the Picture provided on what the program can do on the Mach4 website.
http://www.machsupport.com/3d-cutting-simulator-moduleworks-plugin/5) Provide all the “Simulation Fields” available.
a. There must be more otherwise it would be impossible to replicate the Picture on the website.
6) Improve resolution for smaller cutters especially ball nose.
7) Provide “Simulation Fields” for Tapered cutter D-Bits and Tapered Ball Nose if they exist.
Like to havea. 4 Axis simulations.
b. If tapered ball nose and D-bit “Simulation Fields” do not exist then would like to see them.
Negatives to this program.1) Poor resolution with cutters smaller than 3mm Ball nose.
2) Program uses line flats like STL triangle to make its shape and not Curves.
a. This is particularly noticeable with small cutters (see pictures).
b. This could be addressed if there is some resolution setting in the Module or maybe this Module is a cut down version of ModuleWorks Full Simulator.
c. 12 Year old simulators are far superior down to (e.g) 30D 0.1mm Dia 0.05mm Radius are near perfect in this old simulator but not in ModuleWorks Module. (see pictures).
3) Because of the resolution this program is not suitable for Engraving/Fine Carving/Jewelry.
In summary as this is only a Beta release hopefully a number of items I have highlighted will be addressed, otherwise a good start.
Regards,
Mauri.
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