GcodeOut - Export gcode to Turbocnc

[wjbzone]

I just finished my first version of GcodeOut.fas.

A compiled lisp program to generate CNC gcode files from Autocad (2000 or later). It is set up to post for Turbocnc.

You can modify GcodeOutPost.lsp to generate gcode to other controllers. At least that is my intent.

I also have a lathe version near completion.

I appreciate any feedback.

Bill

Here is the link.
http://www.intergate.com/~wjb1/wjbzo...d/gcodeout.zip

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[balsaman]

What types of Autocad geometry does it recognize? Ploylines, splines, or just lines and arcs?

Eric

[wjbzone]

Eric,
It recognizes polylines and processes each one as you select them. LWpolylines or 3dpolylines.

You select the polyline you want to process, then you have the option of selecting additional polylines. You can also specify a tool change between each selection.

Bill

[balsaman]

Cool, I will try it.

Eric

[wjbzone]

I updated GcodeOut.

When you select a LWpolyline or 3dpolyline, it highlights and labels the start and end.

You are given the option to reverse the direction of the toolpath on each polyline.

The selected polylines remain highlighted. This allows you to see what you have already selected.

(click link on first post in this thread)
Bill

[wjbzone]

GcodeOut link above has been updated.

1.
I fixed a problem with the toolpath when a polyline was reversed.

2.
It now uses the UCS as the origin for your gcode output. (prev version used WCS only).

Bill.

[JFettig]

wow I like that program a lot, is it possible to make a multiple line select and a zdepth thing like this below so it plunges, side cuts, plunges, side cuts back, back and forth etc.

what I got when I tried to post that toolpath was this:

M3
G0 X0.8568 Y0.0000
G1Z-0.6875F10.0
G1 X0.8568 Y-0.0100 Z-0.6875
G1 X1.1875 Y-0.0100 Z-0.6875
G1 X1.1875 Y-0.0200 Z-0.6875
G1 X0.8568 Y-0.0200 Z-0.6875
G1 X0.8568 Y-0.0300 Z-0.6875
G1 X1.1875 Y-0.0300 Z-0.6875
G1 X1.1875 Y-0.0400 Z-0.6875
G1 X0.8568 Y-0.0400 Z-0.6875
G1 X0.8568 Y-0.0500 Z-0.6875
G1 X1.1875 Y-0.0500 Z-0.6875
G1 X1.1875 Y-0.0600 Z-0.6875
G1 X0.8568 Y-0.0600 Z-0.6875
G1 X0.8568 Y-0.0700 Z-0.6875
G1 X1.1875 Y-0.0700 Z-0.6875
G1 X1.1875 Y-0.0750 Z-0.6875
G1 X0.8568 Y-0.0750 Z-0.6875
G0 Z0.3125
M5

looks like the Y and Z arent correct, and it would have to plunge the z instead of making banked cuts(like if it was switched)

This is the kind of program I have been looking for!


Thankyou
Jon

[ger21]

try drawing your toolpath as 1 continuos 3d polyline.

[JFettig]

It is 1 polyline, I drew it in the xy axis and rotatalized it down.

Jon

[wjbzone]

Jon,
Is that a 2d polyine? If you 3D rotate regular (2D) polyline, that can cause some problems. (ie a curve that is not in the xy plane). I would use a 3d polyline, with a lot of short straight line segments, to replace the vertical curve.
Bill

[JFettig]

Alright, Ill have to give it a go, yes its a 2d polyline rotated, I have never used 3dpolyline command so Ill have to experiment. so this will work, thats great, is there a way I can use what I have already and offset them down and connect them without re-drawing them?


Jon

[wjbzone]

Jon,
You can copy the 2d polyline down (in Z direction) multiple times. You will not be able to connect a 2d polyline at different elevations because Autocad requires it to be in one plane. The 3dpoly is best used for that.

If you copy, you can select each one in sequence and it will post one after the other. Note that you can set your return height after each polyline by changing the GcodeoutPost.lsp file. (you have to re-load it after you load gcodeout)

Bill

[JFettig]

The main reason I want to do this is so I dont have to lift the head everytime I plunge deeper for the same slot. what about doing what you said above, and then tracing over with a 3d polyline? Ill have to give that a shot.


Jon

[wjbzone]

That's the way I like to do it.
Bill

[ger21]

The only problem with the 3dpolyline is it can't have arcs in it. Bill, is there an easy way to convert a arc into a 3dpolyline made up of short segments? lisp? I'd trace it too, btw.

[wjbzone]

Gerry,
I use Toolpac from Dotsoft. There are a lot of polyline manipulation functions in it. It will convert an arc to a 3dpoly with the number of points you specify.


Bill

[wjbzone]

An easy way to trace the arc would be to use the "divide" command and specify the number of points. Then just connect the points.
Bill

[ger21]

Originally posted by wjbzone
An easy way to trace the arc would be to use the "divide" command and specify the number of points. Then just connect the points.
Bill

Didn't think of that. And I use DIVIDE all the time, too.

[wjbzone]

This might be handy for converting an arc:

(defun C:arcdivide ()
;converts arc to lines
(setq E (ENTSEL "\nSELECT ARC TO CONVERT TO LINES: "))
(setq numpts (getreal "\nENTER NUMBER OF LINES "))
(setq el (entget (car e)))
(setq arcctr (cdr (assoc 10 el)))
(setq ang1 (cdr (assoc 50 el)))
(setq ang2 (cdr (assoc 51 el)))
(setq arcrad (cdr (assoc 40 el)))
(setq ptstart (polar arcctr ang1 arcrad))
(setq arcang (- ang2 ang1))
(if (< ang2 ang1)
(setq arcang (+ (* 2 pi) arcang))
)
(setq anginc (/ arcang numpts))
(setq nang ang1)
(setq ncount 0)
(while (< ncount numpts)
(setq nang (+ nang anginc))
(setq ptend (polar arcctr nang arcrad))
(command "line" ptstart ptend "")
(setq ptstart ptend)
(setq ncount (+ ncount 1))
)
)