GSimple version 1.08 is now out. To download please visit www.gsimple.eu
New version includes:
- Milling parameters individually selectable for every part of the object (drill, thread, pockets, etc) exept engraving
- Text input from DXF files
GSimple is completely free!

New GSimple version 1.09.
What has changed:
1. There is a new path filter
2. G02/G03 uses only I,J and not R
3. Several minor bugs have been fixed.

You can download gsimple (it is completely free) at
http://www.gsimple.eu

By the way, 2004 different users have visited www.gsimple.eu in June. The averege time spend in the website was over 6 minutes(!). 70% of the visitors have downloaded the program (complete or upgrade).

GSimple is using the standart GCode. Version 1.10 will include a small configurable postproccesor. Any information on milling machine codes or G-Code dialects (for example web sites with programming manuals) will be much appreciated.

i ve been following up on gsimple ,i'm always watching for a new version ,
i honestly haven t had much time to play with it ,but from what i ve seen , i like ,

i take it your the software builder ?
just curious as to how far your going to go with it

You are right, I am the software builder. How far I will go? To be honest I don't know. I started GSimple because we needed, at my job, a very simple CAM for very simple milling projects (for example flattening a surface or making a cylindrical pocket). Buying (and most important learning) an expensive, professional CAD-CAM for these tasks was out of question. So I wrote a first, tiny version - actually I constructed a "milling script laguage" and wrote an interpreter to G-Code (by the way the core of the GSimple files is still based on this script laguage). Then it grew and grew and grew.

I would like to make some improvememts, for example
- handle islands
- eliminate the restrictions in the number of objects it can handle
- insert some true 3D capbilities.
but I cannot promise a timetable (GSimple is a hobby, not a professional project).

I downloaded this program but I can't open it. It is a EX~File and windows
does not recognice it and I am sure there is a way to open it but I do not
know how. Maybe somebody can help me with this. I would realy apreciate
it.

The gsimple.ex~ file is an archive -that is a file containing all the others. There is also a file called gsinstal.exe. This is the installation file. Ginstal will extract the files from gsimple.ex~ and guide you through the installation

S.Kontogiannis wrote:
<Ginstal will extract the files from gsimple.ex~>

You don't want to open gsimple.ex~ You want to open gsinstal.exe
http://www.gsimple.eu/download.html

I did the ginstall 8 times and all I get is "install completed" and that is it.
There is a desktop icon which gives me agree- Gsimple.ex~ and Ginstal.

Please take a look at the FAQ page on the web site and the istructions on the download page.

1. Unzip the files in any directory (or the desktop). If you are attempting to execute gsinstal from within WinZip you get nothing
2. Gsinstal will (by default) instal GSimple in the directory c:\Program Files\Gsimple. It will NOT add a shortcut on your desktop. Please look for gsimple.exe in this directory

Thank you for your help. I have been succesful in opening this program.
It looks like something I can use. My problem is that I am quite new to
the computer world and they somewhat mistify me at my age. But I keep
trying.

Yet another version of GSimple now available at www.gsimple.eu (http://www.gsimple.eu). The new version (1.10) includes a configurable postproccesor called GSPOST.EXE.
GSIMPLE will invoke GSPOST automatically if the machine configuration file containes postproccesor commands, but GSPOST may also be used independeltly of GSIMPLE.
GSPOST will "translate" a standart g-code file (sorry, only the conmands used by gsimple) to almost anything compatible. In the web site you will find an example of a g-code to g-code translation file. This is a file doing actually nothing, but it is a good example showing how to configure GSPOST.
There is also a 5-page long introductory note (rtf format).

cool software is it just me i can't import DXF file. import and open is the same thing right.

GSimple has its own file format (extension .gsi). "Import DXF" means importing a 2D drawing which can then be converted to one or more GSimple "objects". What do you mean you can't import DXF files? Does GSimple return an error? Or is it just that you can't see the drawing on the screen? Please try to zoom out your screen as much as possible (with the mouse wheel). I suspect your imported drawing is somewhere out there

i get a no zero x when i try to run a program even after i add
another x point what is wrong?

I am running a HAAS VF1 mill.:confused:

Sorry for the late reply. I was on vacation.
What do you mean "I get no zero x"?
In case you are refering to the line
G28 G91 Z0
at the start of the code:
This line is controlled by the configuration command

PROGSTART G28 G91 Z0

in the configuration file. (accesible through the Setup/Configuration menu selectio). If ypu want to send your machine at program start to the absolute zero you can change this line to

PROGSTART G28 G91 X0 Y0 Z0

Did I guess right? Please let me know.

it would be safer to have g91g28z0 then g91g28x0y0 on a separate line ,first thing that came to mind seeing them together was CRASH:D

You are absolutely right! The command
G28 G91 X0 Y0 Z0 is very dangerous! Thanks

You are absolutely right! The command
G28 G91 X0 Y0 Z0 is very dangerous! Thanks

I tried to open the .exe file on my C drive and there is nothing in it other than "password backup". What did I do wrong? Thanks, Ron

Hi Ron,

Please look at http://www.gsimple.eu/faq.html (Frequently Asked Questions).

To quote it here:

Q: I executed GSinstal but I can't find gsimple.exe?

A: You propably executed (double-clicked) gsinstal.exe from within WinZip, that is without unzipping all the files. There is a file called gsimple.ex~ in the files you have downloaded -this is an "archive" where all the nesessary files have been joined into one. Gsinstal.exe extracts gsimple.exe and all the other files. If it does not find it, it does not extract anything!

I hope this will resolve the problem

Hi,

I have downloaded and installed Gsimple and started to try it out. I like what I see so far. I have not yet used the G-Code from it but I hope to be able to try the code out this weekend on my Taig Mill. I will let you know how it goes.

It is important to read through the documentation on the website to get started. At first I was having some trouble trying to figure some things out but when I went back to the website and read some more I got it to work.

I like how if you place a pocket inside another pocket it starts from the bottom of the first pocket instead of the top of the part.
Keep up the good work!

Thanks,

Frank

Well somethings came up last weekend and I wasn't able to use the G-code from Gsimple yet (hopefully this weekend). But, I am running into a problem. I keep getting an error that says: "Tool with zero radius required". I am trying to place two pockets in a square block. I'm not sure why this error keeps coming up when I try to make G-code. Any suggestions?


Thanks, Frank

In any pocket, two segments (lines or arcs) cannot intersect at an angle smaller than 180 deg. This is not a gsimple restriction, it is a physical restriction. You would need a tool with zero diameter to machine a sharp corner!
Some CAM programs accept pockets with edges smaller that 180 deg and machine them anyway, approaching the edge as close they can.
Gsimple does not. Even worse: if you define such a pocket the g-code will be wrong! The good news is that you can see it easily at animation -the toolpath will have intersections.
GSimple will do just one very elementary check regarding pockets: a pocket with no arc segment is for sure not producable. This is exactly wat the message "Tool with zero radius required" means. To correct it, connect the line segments that intersect at angles less than 180 deg. with arcs having radious at least as large as the radious of the tool you are going to use.

I believe that I understand what you are saying but my pockets didn't have that problem.

I will try to give the details of my part:

Stock block size: length (X) 3.28; width (Y) .76; hight (Z) .910 dims are inches.

Pocket size: length (X) .765; width (Y) .45; depth (Z) .05 all corners R.220
Pocket Location (lower left corner): X .475; Y .25
Pocket copied X 2.04; Y 0.00

I hope I have given enough detail for you to understand my part. Here are a couple of pics that I hope can help:

are the arcs made of short line segments?

sam

I made the pockets with the "Rectangular Pocket" feature so they weren't drawn as segments.

I just tried it myself - no problem! This is a listng of my pocket2.gsi file
Could you please attach (or list as i did) your .gsi file?


$64 65918042
$65 www.gsimple.eu
$66 1.17
$85 VF0
$12
$1 1
$2 noname.cnc
$58 1
$95 1 5.55992 76.00517 329.17920 124
$5 0 -350.000 -300.000 0.000
$96 0.000 0.000 0.000
$29 24.99995
$55 10.00000
$61 0
$67 3.000
$68 5.000
$69 5.000
$70 15.000
$71 25.000
$72 0.200
$74 0.200
$73 0.200
$75 1.250
$76 0.500
$98 127
$21 ON
$92 OFF
$36 OFF 200.000 500 2 50.000
$41 OFF 3.000
$82 OFF 150
$91 OFF
$50 AUTO
$11 1 EM05R4 0 0.00000 0.00000
$11 2 DHCo05 0 0.00000 0.00000
$3 1 83.31200 19.30400 23.11400 0.00000 0.00000 -23.11400 0 0 -1
$4 ST37-2
$28 0.00000 0
$20 2 1 16.51000 11.43000 1.27000 12.06500 6.35000 5.58800 0.00000 0 0 -1 0 0
$20 3 1 16.51000 11.43000 1.27000 63.88100 6.35000 5.58800 0.00000 0 0 -1 0 0

I though it should work. Maybe something happened to one of my program files that is causing it to mess up.

Here is the info in my file:


$64 65918042
$65 www.gsimple.eu
$66 1.16
$85 VF0
$12
$1 2
$2 noname.cnc
$58 1
$95 0 3.79750 408.27187 374.24147 124
$5 0 -350.000 -300.000 0.000
$96 0.000 0.000 0.000
$29 2.54000
$55 10.00000
$61 0
$67 2.540
$68 5.000
$69 5.000
$70 15.000
$71 25.000
$72 0.200
$74 0.200
$73 0.200
$75 1.250
$76 0.500
$98 127
$21 ON
$92 ON
$36 OFF 200.000 500 2 50.000
$41 OFF 3.000
$82 OFF 150
$91 OFF
$50 AUTO
$11 1 1/4_ROUGH_EM 0 0.00000 0.00000
$11 2 3/8_TiN_3FL_ 0 0.00000 0.00000
$3 1 83.31200 19.30400 23.11400 0.00000 0.00000 -23.11400 0 0 -1
$4 FORTAL_ALUM.
$28 0.00000 0
$27 4 1 0.00000 0.00000 1.52400 0.00000 0 0 -1 0 0
$17
$20 11 1 19.43100 11.43000 12.70000 51.81600 6.35000 5.58800 0.00000 1 0 -1 0 0
$20 10 1 19.43100 11.43000 12.70000 12.06500 6.35000 5.08000 0.00000 1 0 -1 0 0


Thanks for the help. And let me know if you need anything else.
-Frank

There is a pocket with no content in your file!
The offending lines are the following

$27 4 1 0.00000 0.00000 1.52400 0.00000 0 0 -1 0 0
$17

The first means:
START POCKET WITH ID=4 AND PID=1 AT X=0 Y=0 DEPTH=1.524 ...
The second means:
END

Normally there should be a whole list (at least 2) of lines and arcs which define the pocket. But there is nothing there!

If you delete these lines (or make them into a comment by precceding them
with the # character) the file will be ok.

I am very sorry for the bug. I suspect you started at some time drawing a pocket and then aborted it, or drew a pocket and deleted all its elements or ...
I will check for the bug and try to fix it.

You are right I tried to draw a pocket with the irregular pocket command and then ended up deleting it.
I did paste the file info that you listed inside my file and it worked.

Thanks for taking the time to go over this problem.

-Frank

How does Gsimple handle tool changes in its G-Code?

Right now the part that I am getting ready to cut has some milling and drilling that needs to be done; so I am going to create separate files (one for each tool needed). But if I were to do all of the operations in one file what would happen when I needed to change tools? My mill doesn't have a auto tool-changer. It doesn't even have the spindle connected to the CNC controller.

You can make GSimple stop (issue a M00 command) at tool chabge through the G-Code/Make Option dialog (see attached picture).
You can also make "Stop-At-Tool-Change" the default setting for your machine by making a configuration file for it containing the configuration command
TOOLCHANGE MANUAL

Gsimple will produce a file containing all the nessesary tool changes. For example if you define a pocket in a pocket and the tool you have supplied is not able of plunging, gsimple will look for an appropriate drill and then

Select the drill
Predrill a hole for end mill insertion
Select the end mill
Make the first pocket
Select the drill
Predril a hole in the first pocket for end mill insertion
Select the end mill
Make the second pocket

If you select "Stop-at-tool-change" a M00 will be inserted before each tool change.

Thank you Gsimple looks really cool, looking forward to checking it out.
It seems to be exactly what I've been looking for a simple g code gen for simple parts you rock

Thanks again

Well, I had some success using the Gcode from Gsimple, last weekend. Although I did run into a few snags (probably they are some fault of my own and not gsimple though).

I was trying to make G-Code for another revision of the part I was making and I couldn't get it to work Gsimple kept giving me errors. I will list a picture of the part so maybe it will help in answering my questions.

If you look at the center of the part there are two bulges stacked on top of each other along with a bulge on each side that goes to the same total depth. Do the stacked bulges create a problem in Gsimple or should I be able to do that? It lets me put them in but then it gives me errors when I go to make g-code.

Also the two end bulges, can I make something like that with gsimple (where the one end is round and the other end is flat?

for your reference I am starting out with my block milled to the part size before I start out.

Thanks for the help.

GSimple can definitely make this part! Just look a the attached picture. The dimensions are of caurse wrong, I just made a similar part resembling the one on your picture.

In Gsimple you must draw your object in "levels" (or "layers"). All bulges residing on one level share the same height. I have split the two bulges on the sides into two parts.

Gsimple recognises the z-position of an object trough its "parent" object. The parent object is the one on which it is placed (attached to use the g-simple dialect). The parent object of the upper part of the side bulges is its lower part. The parent object of the lower part is the block etc.

I have attached my .gsi as d4_upper.txt.

Thank You for the reply and the help! I knew I must have been doing something wrong! I have noticed though that any time I double click on any object to edit them some of the information changes from what I originally entered. Like if I create a bulge with a sepicified corner radius and then re-open that bulge it changes the radius to a very small number. I'm not sure if I have something set wrong or if there is a bug. thanks for all the help you've been!

-Frank

It is some kind of a bug. Internally GSimple works always in mm mode. Numbers entered in inch mode are converted to mm and then reconverted back to inch whenever you open a dialog. This conversion and reconversion creates these deviations. In some cases (for exmple drills) it did produce problems (the hole diameter did not match the drill diameter although let' say they were both set at 1/2"). I have tried to fix these problems - if there are still some present, please inform me to fix them in the next versions.

GSimple looks very impressive!

Does it have the ability to import an existing (manually written) G-Code file?

I've got tons of small simple parts in hand written g-code that I'd like to get into GSimple for modification.

Thanks,

John

Is GSimple able to import a hand written g-code?

It depends on what you mean by "import".

1. Import for animation? This may be done quit easily (with a small trick):

A) Create a new project
B) Define the block (stock)
C) Select G-Code/Make. A G-Code file doing nothing(!) will be produced


%
O1
(G-Simple, Version 1.17)
(User : S.Kontogiannis)
(Created: Sat Oct 20 17:59:43 2007)
G28 G91 Z0
G54 G90 G98 G21
M09
G28 G91 Z0
G28 G91 Y0
G90
M30
%

D) Select G-Code/View-Edit. This will open the gcode file with the notepad.
E) Replace the produced by gsimple code (the one that is not doing anything) with your code. (save the file on exit)
F) Run the code on screen

Please note that GSimple will be able to run properly a program only if it uses the subset of G-Codes that GSimple is using (look at the end of the help file for a list).

2. Import for editing. This is not possible. This would require the ability from GSimple to "recontsruct" your object from the supplied gcode and gsimple cannot do that. I am sorry for the disappointment.

I am working at the moment on a new version (2.00) with major changes over the existing version. In the new version the splitting of the object into "levels" (layers) will be done by the program and not the user (this is now the case). Islands will also be supported and the object storage space will be greatly increased. G-Code import (for animation) will be made much easier.

The new version will be ready (as far as I can predict) in a couple of months. Meanwhile, the only change I will make in the existing version is debugging (although it seems that there are not so many bugs around).

Sotiris

Is or will it be possible to select climb/conventional milling?
All the samples I have looked at are conventional.

Is or will it be possible to select climb/conventional milling?

Climb milling is at the moment possible only in cylindrical pockets milled with a face mill. In all other cases conventional milling is used.
The new version will also use conventional milling -at least in the first stages.
Sorry for the disappointment.

Sotiris

I've been using gsimple for a few months for engraving text. It's a great tool to easily and quickly do this. Is there an easy way to import a complex DXF and then engrave it. This would be a GREAT feature.

You can easily engrave a complex drawing with GSimple -with some limitation.

Required steps:
---------------
1) Import the dxf file
2) Select the lines, arcs and circles you want to engrave (see below)
3) Select from the Menu Compose/Engraving. Supply the desired data (width and depth) and click OK
4) Attach appropriate tool on the toolholder
5) Make the G-code

To select multiple objects. There are three methods:

Method A)
Left click on the object (in our case line, arc or circle) with the SHIFT key pressed down. If the SHIFT key is not pressed, clicking on any object will automatically deselect all other, already selected, objects. To deselect a selected object click on it with the CTRL key pressed.

Method B)
Right click on the object. This action will open up a pop-down menu. Select "Select" from the menu.

Method C)
After selecting a line or arc with method A or B, right click on any connected line or arc and then use "Auto Select" instead of "Select". This action will select all connected elements. The auto selection will stop if there is no other connected element or if there is a crossroad (3 or more elements connected on the same spot). Method C can save you a lot of clicking (which is sometimes anyway impossible)

Limitations
----------

1. The current version cannot handle more that 1024 drawing elements. If your dxf file containes more they will be discarded with the message "Too many drawing elements". In this case you can split up your file in two (or more) parts and compile them with gsimple separately.

2. The current version will not handle multy-pass engravings.

Thanks, I didn't know if you would still be paying attention to this thread.

I'm having some trouble here. I've gotten this to work a few times, but often when I have selected the elements and go to Menu Compose/Engraving that is not in bold print as a viable choice. Any Idea what I am doing wrong? I really like this software for this use, thanks for writing it.




You can easily engrave a complex drawing with GSimple -with some limitation.

Required steps:
---------------
1) Import the dxf file
2) Select the lines, arcs and circles you want to engrave (see below)
3) Select from the Menu Compose/Engraving. Supply the desired data (width and depth) and click OK
4) Attach appropriate tool on the toolholder
5) Make the G-code

To select multiple objects. There are three methods:

Method A)
Left click on the object (in our case line, arc or circle) with the SHIFT key pressed down. If the SHIFT key is not pressed, clicking on any object will automatically deselect all other, already selected, objects. To deselect a selected object click on it with the CTRL key pressed.

Method B)
Right click on the object. This action will open up a pop-down menu. Select "Select" from the menu.

Method C)
After selecting a line or arc with method A or B, right click on any connected line or arc and then use "Auto Select" instead of "Select". This action will select all connected elements. The auto selection will stop if there is no other connected element or if there is a crossroad (3 or more elements connected on the same spot). Method C can save you a lot of clicking (which is sometimes anyway impossible)

Limitations
----------

1. The current version cannot handle more that 1024 drawing elements. If your dxf file containes more they will be discarded with the message "Too many drawing elements". In this case you can split up your file in two (or more) parts and compile them with gsimple separately.

2. The current version will not handle multy-pass engravings.

Sorry, my mistake. GSimple needs to know what you are going to engrave! In order to be able to convert (compose) anything you must have selected the object which is going to be engraved AS PARENT. There are three object types which may be selected as parent:

The block (stock)
A bulge (a bulge is the oposite of a pocket)
A pocket.

Drills, threads, longholes an engravings cannot be selected as parent. In other words you cannot attach a pocket on a drill or an engraving.

Only one object may be selected at a time as parent. The current parent object is colored red. To select an appropriate object as parent:

Method A) Left click on it. This is the same you are doing in order to select an object. Gsimple selects AS PARENT the first selected object

Method B) Right click on it and select it AS PARENT with the appropriate menu selection.

Please note that GSimple will refuse to compile a project if you have not defined a block. If you just want to do some engravings you will have to select the block as parent. But you can also make an engraving in the bottom of a pocket -even if it is located on top of a bulge or another pocket etc.

Yeah, I figured that out after a while. Thanks for all your help on this! I hope if I ask a few more questions you won't mind. You've been a huge help.

I am trying to machine the outside of an engraving now, like a bas relief. I've gotten two problems.

1. When picking the outside and then going to "bulge", I get the message "element 1 and 2 not connected" or somesuch. I can't find anything not connected. Is there an easy way to find the breaks?

2. I'll have to set up a small tool to get into small radii and I'll get a message like "speed Fz out of range". If I can make it work anyway, I can edit the feed or speed later.

1. Elements not connected: you have to select the elements one by one in a counterclockwise order. The autoselect feature should leave no gaps -it will stop if there is a gap. If it gets through but then you still get this error message -well this needs some investigation. In this case, could you please send be the .gsi file?

2. The "speed Fz out of range" message means that the tool you have selected has zero plunging feed for the selected material.

You can correct this by editing the tool library data (Select "Tools/Endimll/Rough" from the main menu, select the tool, Press the button Mat.Data, Select the Material Group and then press edit). There is an example in the web of how to set up a new tool -editing is similar.

1. Elements not connected: you have to select the elements one by one in a counterclockwise order. The autoselect feature should leave no gaps -it will stop if there is a gap. If it gets through but then you still get this error message -well this needs some investigation. In this case, could you please send be the .gsi file?

2. The "speed Fz out of range" message means that the tool you have selected has zero plunging feed for the selected material.

You can correct this by editing the tool library data (Select "Tools/Endimll/Rough" from the main menu, select the tool, Press the button Mat.Data, Select the Material Group and then press edit). There is an example in the web of how to set up a new tool -editing is similar.


Thanks again for all the help you have been to me. I tried the outside of a dxf again and got the same error "elements 14 and 15 not connected", here is the .gsi.

I had to rename it test.txt from test.gsi to get it to upload.

I checked the drawind a little bit. There are indeed unconnected parts. I edited the outer lines by filling the gaps with very small lines -and here is the result. (I have changed the block height and the view options to get the nice view I have attached).

Just two comments:

1. I suspect the drawing is from a scanned picture. This method produces allmost always unconnected elements, since the scanning accuracy is low.

2. I have converted the outer drawing into a bulge. But this is not a producable shape! In order to be producable any shape is not allowed to have elements intersecting at angles smaller than 180 deg. You would need a tool with zero diameter in order to be able to produce such a part and clearly such a tool can not exist.

Some cad-cams are able to overcome this problem by chamfering automatically (with a radious equal to the tool radious) these sharp corners. GSimple is not (yet) so clever. It will simply damage your part -ie the shape will not look exactly as drawn.

Engraving text!
I am trying to include the Swedish characters ÅÄÖåäö without success. To make changes in the configuration file, romansfont.cfg, have so far resulted in an error message (syntax error). Can somebody please help me.
Thanks Sten

Hi StenJ,

could you just post the lines you have added to define, lets say Å? Then, I suppose I will be able to help you!

Hi S. Kontogiannis,
First, thanks for the fast replay.
This is the part of romansfont.cfg I tested without success. It was the character Ä I started to work with, but I did not really understod the structure of the configuration file.
CHARACTER Å 10
JUMPTO 0 0
LINETO 4 12
LINETO 8 0
JUMPTO 2 5
LINETO 6 5
JUMPTO 4 11
CWTO 2 12 1.0
CWTO 2 10 1.0
END

CHARACTER Ä 10
JUMPTO 0 0
LINETO 4 10
LINETO 8 0
JUMPTO 2 5
LINETO 6 5
JUMPTO 2 11
CWTO 2 12 0.5
CWTO 2 10 0.5
JUMTO 6 11
CWTO 6 12 0.5
CWTO 6 10 0.5
END

CHARACTER Ö 10
JUMPTO 1 2.1066
CWTO 1 9.8949 8.0823
CWTO 8.047 9.8949 4
CWTO 8.047 2.1066 8.0823
CWTO 1 2.1066 4
JUMPTO 2 11
CWTO 2 12 0.5
CWTO 2 10 0.5
JUMTO 6 11
CWTO 6 12 0.5
CWTO 6 10 0.5
END

I know that I have mixed things up. Thanks in advance.
Sten

I added the character Å definintion in my file -and I did not get any "Syntax Error" at load time. My only guess is that you have saved your file in unicode -gsimple accepts only plain text (ascii) files.

I did get an error message when I tried to use the character (write a text containing it). The error was in the CWTO definitions, in the lines

JUMPTO 4 11
CWTO 2 12 1.0
CWTO 2 10 1.0

The line CWTO 2 12 1.0 means "go from point X4.0, Y11.0 to point X2.0 Y12.0 with a Clockwise arc of radius 1.0". The quivalent g-code syntax would be

G00 X4.0 Y11.0
G02 X2.0 Y12.0 R1.0

Clearly, this is not possible (there is no such arc)


This is a corrected version of character Å

CHARACTER Å 10
JUMPTO 0 0
LINETO 4 12
LINETO 8 0
JUMPTO 2 5
LINETO 6 5
JUMPTO 4 12
CWTO 4 14 1.0
CWTO 4 12 1.0
END

If you correct the other characters (I just checked this one, sorry) and save your file as ascii (simple) text, I think it will work.

Thank You,
I now understand the configuration file for text better. Following your advice I have made the part of the file also for Ä and Ö:
CHARACTER Ä 10
JUMPTO 0 0
LINETO 4 12
LINETO 8 0
JUMPTO 2 5
LINETO 6 5
JUMPTO 2 12.5
CWTO 2 13.5 0.5
CWTO 2 12.5 0.5
JUMPTO 6 12.5
CWTO 6 13.5 0.5
CWTO 6 12.5 0.5
END

CHARACTER Ö 10
JUMPTO 1 2.1066
CWTO 1 8.8949 7.0823
CWTO 7.047 8.8949 4
CWTO 7.047 2.1066 7.0823
CWTO 1 2.1066 4
JUMPTO 2 12.5
CWTO 2 13.5 0.5
CWTO 2 12.5 0.5
JUMPTO 6 12.5
CWTO 6 13.5 0.5
CWTO 6 12.5 0.5
END

THank you

I checked the drawind a little bit. There are indeed unconnected parts. I edited the outer lines by filling the gaps with very small lines -and here is the result. (I have changed the block height and the view options to get the nice view I have attached).

Just two comments:

1. I suspect the drawing is from a scanned picture. This method produces allmost always unconnected elements, since the scanning accuracy is low.

2. I have converted the outer drawing into a bulge. But this is not a producable shape! In order to be producable any shape is not allowed to have elements intersecting at angles smaller than 180 deg. You would need a tool with zero diameter in order to be able to produce such a part and clearly such a tool can not exist.

Some cad-cams are able to overcome this problem by chamfering automatically (with a radious equal to the tool radious) these sharp corners. GSimple is not (yet) so clever. It will simply damage your part -ie the shape will not look exactly as drawn.


I haven't been on in a while as my computer crashed and I had to get the old mule going again. Way past time to upgrade and not financially wise to do so now.

What I want to know is how did you find the breaks?! I looked and looked in autocad and gsimple both.

Things are pretty weird at work at present, but I downloaded the file and may try it with a .062" tool as I planned. It would take forever to cut, but would it look too bad you think?

I am new in cad design (but i understand and use Gcode and Mach3 since a few months) and try to understand Gsimple in order to go one step further. I took your first example (ex1.gsi) and tried to drill a hole. Clicking to the "drill" icone I am asked to select an object first. How can I do it? I have been able to draw a circle in the corner, but how can i get it become a hole? I have printed the "features" document but found nowhere the way to select an object. What is an object?

"Clicking to the "drill" icone I am asked to select an object first. How can I do it? I have been able to draw a circle in the corner, but how can i get it become a hole? I have printed the "features" document but found nowhere the way to select an object. What is an object?"

You must select the block "as parent". To select an object you have just to click with the mouse anywhere on it. If you click on the block it will be coloured red. This means it is selected "as parent".

What does "selecting an object as parent" mean? Gsimple must know what you are going to drill. In this example where you just have a block and no other "object" it does not seem to make any sence. But consider a more complex object: a block with a pocket inside and a drill in the bottom of the pocket. Placing the drill just in the right position is not enough for gsimple: unfortunatelly it is not "clever" enough to unerstand that you are requesting from it to:
a) make the pocket
b) drill a hole in the bottom of it
and not do the opposite -drill a hole on top of the block and then make a pocket

The "parent object" is the one on which the drill (or pocket or thread or bulge etc) is placed.

Please observe the two images I have attached. In the first the drill rests on the block. In the second on the pocket.

Hi,
I want to simply cut out some shapes from a metal sheet.I think its called
Profiling.Can i do this in Gsimple.Im new to this CNC game.Ive looked thru
the program and docs.I can only see Pocketing,Drilling Engraving.But nothing
to cut out from a sheet of material.
Any Help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Les

When is the next update to be out?

Version 2.04 will be out in about a couple of weeks. The major improvement over the last version is the inch mode -it has been redisigned and the old problems (small deviations in the data) have been eliminated. Version 2.04 is currently in the debug state.

At last the new version is out and can be downloaded at http://www.gsimple.eu

The installation method has been changed completely and there is also a new users manual which is (almost) complete.

Hello to any g-simple users. I am looking to see if anyone has set up g-simple with a bridgeport set with sx15. I am looking for a config file or how to set up the config file for a bridgeport. Thank you in advance.

When will there be another update?
I still use 2.03 the later ones had problems in INCH mode.

Hi Sotiris: I am learning how to use your program and I have to say it is great. Congratulations!!! Gsimple works very well creating the g-code in my pieces. I will try to cut some of them soon. I will be reporting my adventure. Thanks a lot!!!!