Need Help!- How Do I get the G-CODE for a 3D SOLID IN BobCAD-CAM Version 21?

[huskerdude88]

Hey Guys;

My name is Salam Al-Omaishi and I am an undergrad interning at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. The school recently purchased a "Mach 3 mill 4 axis Table" along with the BobCAD-CAM software. I have been in charge of a mini project here utilizing the BobCAD-CAM software. Now I have zero experience in machining so i've been looking at Training Professor Video Series and have figured out how to build the part that i want machined on CAD. However, I seem to run into trouble when I try to get the GCODE for it. I highlight the whole part, which is attatched to the thread, and then I hit CUT ALL on the NC portion of the program. This is producing a GCODE however the GCODE is wrong. Then i go back and hit CUT AUTO on the NC portion of the program and it produces the SAME WRONG G CODE. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-Salam Al-Omaishi

P.S. The units used were mm.

[BurrMan]

Are you selecting a post processor that will be compatible with Mach 3 software controller?

[BurrMan]

I just called my brother to ask what we used to post with in V21. He remembered we started with the haas, as it was the most generic. He said we always had to manipulate the code a bit. But we seem to remember possibly getting something from Chris at BobCad or the guy from who we purchased the mill (Microproto systems). I'll check a bit more later but wont be able to respond today. If we find that we had a custom one that worked better with Mach3 we will share it with you.

Burr

[The One]

OK, first thing first you need to make sure that you have downloaded the post processor for your machine. There is a post on the bobcad site for the Mach3 at www.bobcadsupport.com, just follow the links for Post Processors.

For your Part, is this all profiling or are you drilling some holes as well? The method you are going to use determines the steps that you will have to follow.

Regards

[huskerdude88]

Hi you all;

Thank you for the responses. Yes I have already downloaded the post-processor from BOBCAD for the micro-mill 4 axis produced by micro-proto systems. I DO have holes in my 3D object. I created a sketch of the "base" drawing. Then i made that a "surface" then i extruded that surface. Then i attatched circles on that surface. Made those circles a "surface" than i extruded those surfaces. Then i did a Boolean difference between the first extrusion and the second extrusion to produce my holes in the object that i wanted. Any help would be greatly appreciated especially if I can get a post-processor that can work on this micro-proto system from Burrman. Thanks a Bunch.

-Salam Al-Omaishi

[BurrMan]

So you do have a "Micro Proto Systems" Mini Mill??? If you do, you also want to contact Kurt at Micro Proto Systems to get a "Mach 3" profile for your Mach 3 software. Install that in the mach 3 folder and use the mach 3 loader to launch that profile when you launch mach 3. The mach3-mill.millpst from the bobcad site is a very good post. only small tweaks to suit your maching setup like how you want it to end or such.

The profile from kurt is what you need.

http://www.microproto.com/

[huskerdude88]

Hey Burrman;

I have a Micromill DSLS 3000 from Microproto systems. It also has a four axis feature. Now when i got the mill they gave me a CD called "Micromill 2000/3000 Desktop CNC Machining System." Long story short i had to transfer a bunch of files from the CD to the Mach 3 folder. Is that the Mach 3 profile that you are referring too? or is that something completely different? Once I get that profile that only "effects" the Mach 3 software right not BOBCAD? As of right now I'm not really concerned with the "mill" side yet. I'm more concerned with being able to run a simulation of GCODE on BOBCAD that correctly defines my solid given ANY post processor. I feel like if I can do that first then it becomes a matter of finding the right post-processor for your machine to define your G-CODE. I guess what i'm saying is how do you CORRECTLY generate the toolpath for the solid. I mean I have the solid i just don't know how to generate the toolpath correctly under that function. I guess part of my problem is when i open that part of the program I don't understand what the information is asking for. I feel like another problem is i don't know how to define a "Start point" when i do generate a toolpath. Thus far ive tried all three toolpaths on the "bending" part fwith the "CUT ALL" function and produced a basic hollowed out square. Thanks for your help

-Salam Al-Omaishi

[BurrMan]

Hi Salam,
I understand now. You are correct.

I really cant be much help at the moment with V21 as I dont know that version. My brother used to use it, so if I get over there, I'll see if we can walk through a small process to post some code ( its been a couple years ). If I get something useful, I'll post the process and some pics to see if that can help you get going. It may be a couple days. We usually get together on sundays or mondays.

Check back to see if we come up with anything. Good luck and keep plugging away.

Maybe someone else can chime in sooner with some help for you.

Burr

[moldmker]

Originally Posted by huskerdude88 Hi you all; Thank you for the responses. Yes I have already downloaded the post-processor from BOBCAD for the micro-mill 4 axis produced by micro-proto systems. I DO have holes in my 3D object. I created a sketch of the "base" drawing. Then i made that a "surface" then i extruded that surface. Then i attatched circles on that surface. Made those circles a "surface" than i extruded those surfaces. Then i did a Boolean difference between the first extrusion and the second extrusion to produce my holes in the object that i wanted. Any help would be greatly appreciated especially if I can get a post-processor that can work on this micro-proto system from Burrman. Thanks a Bunch. -Salam Al-Omaishi

Can you post a zipped .cad of the above?
DXF files do not contain surface or solid info.
moldmker

[judleroy]

Okay I think what your saying is you need a good toolpath. If thats the case try this. Select your solid if theres more than one Under the solids menu go to stitching... Stitch surfaces to solid and select that. That should make all solids and surfaces a single object. Then select the object and under the solids menu go to generate tool path and select planer. Then Check ignore through holes (just drill them with a drill bit). Tool Diameter is how big your tool is (.125,
.25,or whatever). Cutter type is depending on what you have to cut with Flat, ball or bull pick the one you want to use. Toolpath represents tool tip. Stepover distance should be bigger on a roughing cut Say half the diameter of the tool and small on a finishing cut say .005. For tolerance try .001 and for minimum line length pick .001. Hit next then use full part and use full part again.
Hit generate and it should give you a preselected toolpath after its done calculating the toolpath. Dont click in the drawing area or youll deselect the toolpath. Go to special/nc-cam menu and insert nc. Pick a post processer for the machine and then go to tool depth settings icon. Rapid plane should be above your tallest fixture something like 2 0r 3 inches above your part. for material top pick
.25 for starters you can get closer as your more comfortable. For automatic roughing pick enable and then for max depth each cut type in half the tool diameter. Under feed pick according to what your tool and material are (a whole different subject) or for staters Type in F50.0 for normal and F5.0 for plunge. Then Hit ok and pick cut auto to create g-code. For this toolpath the top of the part should be touched off as zero. Make sure the material is thicker than your deepest cut. The toolpath will cut negative into the part.