I need to engrave a line of text around a 1 inch diameter tube, I have been using deskengrave to generate my engraving files , machine is a 4 axis with rotary as the axis, how can I easily generate my gcode files

Does the wizard in mach that generates text engraving files  have a setting to engrave around round surfaces?

Have a look here, my friend, this may help you.

Let me know how it goes as I will be setting one of these up for my Taig at one point-

http://vectric.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2920

Dave

you can make a new mill profile,copy from original,swap Y axis for A axis in ports and pins.move your motor tuning for Y axis to A axis and set as linear.take A axis motor tuning steps per degree
times 360 divide by 3.14 will give you steps per inch and set your new Y axis.

bill

Thanks Dave that works like a champ , I like the new profile ideas also , the wrapper software seems to be working fine for now but I might try your method in the near future also

Great to hear, glad it works for you and thanks for letting me know.

We'll need pics now, of course - 

Dave

Please post a pic when you all get something done as I'm also interested.
RICH

Ill snap a pic tommorow , Its really a neat program. All I am doing is using desk to make a string of text that runs verticaly (could prob do it with the write wizard in mach but havent figured it out) , create the gcode file.

Open it in the wrapper program that budman posted the link to , set the radius of the stock your machining around, choose which axis you want to wrap around the part (either x or y ) and choose convert .  The gcode can be run directly after the conversion .

So far I have only played with stick type font but hopefully after the knob creek maachinegun shoot I can find a little time to play with some other files