CAMBAM - 10Bulls crazy CAD/CAM software project

[10bulls]

Hail fearless bleeding edge beta testers!

I have just uploaded a new version of CAMBAM beta 0.6, available here.

The big new feature in this release is 2.5D profiling machining operations.
Thanks to Terry (MrBean), I've hastily put together a tutorial on how to generate code for an HTD timing belt pulley.
More documentation and tutorials to follow....I may even get brave and try out the gcode its producing!

I fear I've rushed this release through a bit in a bid to get it out before Christmas, but what better way to expose the bugs than show it to the public!

Once again, it is still early days and there is still much development and testing to do.
So please try this software in the understanding that it is very much experimental code and not a polished CAM application.

Cheers!

[10bulls]

Oh! And how could I forget!
...under Tools->Options, try setting RotationMode=Left_Middle.

Now the view can be rotated by clicking the middle and left mouse buttons and dragging. The middle mouse button can then be released while still holding down the left.

To reset the rotation hold down the middle mouse button and double click the left.

There ya go Santini! You can now drink your tea and beta test my software at the same time....no excuses

[MrBean]

I can confirm that one handed rotation is alive and kicking.
Just having a look at the new stuff you've added.
Nice work....

Far out brusselsprout.

That pulley looks very familiar

Terry.

[santiniuk]

3.40am.....Are you sure your committed to this project Andy ?

Well the mouse rotation works a treat. Thanks for adding that feature. (The CAD package I use at work has the same rotation method and I'm so familar with it that its a nightmare when it's not there).

With the features you are now adding to the program it's now taking it to the next level. It's actually going to be useful !

I'm going to be brave and try to generate some code for some plates I need making for my MKII Z axis assembly. Will feedback results.

Keep chipping away, it's coming together.

Cheers

[esmiller]

Well,

I downloaded DotNet 1.1 and CAMBAM Beta 6.0 <?> and installed them both.. no sweat.. perfect installation, and just created a folder on my Desktop for the CAMBAM to run from. Haven't played with DXF much, but the text entry system and the Circle worked beautifully.

NEXT.. I played with what has me drooling.. the HEIGHTMAP for Photos.. this is incredible.. ONLY one problem i see. by default, it appears HEAD-ON, and you can't see the engraving (cutting<?>) until you rotate the view.. could it be set to DEFAULT to say. 15 degress off-center on each axis whenever you do a HeightMap function.. I didn't know initially that you had to rotate it to see it, but that was quickly found to be the issue.. other than that it is probably the first attempt at this sort of program i have ever had the pleasure to test out!

Eddie

[esmiller]

OH yeah... if anybody wants to contribute any suggestion on learning how to script functions similiar to the spirograph idea, i would love to learn how to do it, as I am sure would many others...

Any takers? LOL...

Eddie

[MrBean]

I'm going to let some of CamBams code loose on my machine later today or tomorrow. I'll see what time I've got.

I made a g-code from a photo. The toolpath looks good in Mach2. We'll see how it goes.

This will be my first live CamBam test.

Here's a screen shot...

I'll post the result here when it's done. I may even get some video of it cutting. This software is really comming on since the early betas. Great job 10bulls.

Terry.

[10bulls]

Originally Posted by santiniuk 3.40am.....Are you sure your committed to this project Andy ?

I think I ought to be committed!!

Well the mouse rotation works a treat.

Thanks for the suggestion. I found it a bit awkward at first, but it's grown on me now and I use it as default too. Only problem is, I find myself drinking much more cups of tea than I used to

I'm going to be brave and try to generate some code for some plates I need making for my MKII Z axis assembly. Will feedback results.

I'd be flattered. I'm sure the gcode will work. Well, when I say 'sure' I mean....

Keep chipping away, it's coming together.

Thanks dude, it wouldn't have got this far without you and Terry's feedback early on. I'm looking forward to getting dusty in the garage again rather than spending all spare moments on butt in front of computer!

[10bulls]

Originally Posted by esmiller OH yeah... if anybody wants to contribute any suggestion on learning how to script functions similiar to the spirograph idea, i would love to learn how to do it, as I am sure would many others...

Thanks for taking the time to try it out Eddie!
OK...I tried to resist, but I'm a sucker for a challenge. So I fished out my daughters spirograph and knocked together this little vb script.
It's not the most efficient way to generate spirographs and I'm sure there are others who could make them more ellaborate and swirly.
It did give me an excuse to show one of the other new features in this release...the ability to do real time animations...
Happy spiralling!

BTW: Hidden away on web pages is some documentation on the scripting objects:
http://www.brusselsprout.org/CAMBAM/DOM/index.htm
It's a bit out of date now, but it may help if you get stuck.

[10bulls]

Originally Posted by MrBean I'm going to let some of CamBams code loose on my machine later today or tomorrow.

Don't forget the safety goggles, ballistic trousers, saucepan on head and any other safety devices you can lay your hands on!!!
Nice one Terry! Good Luck! I'm hoping to try cutting a htd pulley soon.

[10bulls]

Whoops...just spotted a bug in the above spirograph vb script, the drawing point recalculation should be...

'// Recalculate the drawing point
DrawPoint.Points(0) = new Point3F(Circle2.Center.X + Radius3 * Math.Cos(-th*(Radius1-Radius2)/Radius2),Circle2.Center.Y + Radius3 * Math.Sin(-th*(Radius1-Radius2)/Radius2),0)

...or is it ?!
...but the gcode should be OK guys,....no really....well, when I say OK what I actually mean is....etc...

[ger21]

Originally Posted by esmiller OH yeah... if anybody wants to contribute any suggestion on learning how to script functions similiar to the spirograph idea, i would love to learn how to do it, as I am sure would many others... Any takers? LOL... Eddie

Here's the vba code for to draw a spirograph in AutoCAD. It puts the points in an array (X,Y, X2,Y2,X3,Y3...). Sorry, no comments.

Circle1R = CInt(Circle1RBox.Value)
Circle2R = CInt(Circle2RBox.Value)
Position = CInt(PositionBox.Value)
Resolution = CInt(ResBox.Value)
NewSize = ScaleBox.Value
Point1(0) = 0: Point1(1) = 0
Point2(0) = XBox.Value
Point2(1) = YBox.Value


Rad1 = Circle1R
Rad2 = Abs(Circle2R)


' Find Greatest Common Denominator
Do While Rad1
If Rad1 < Rad2 Then
tmp = Rad1
Rad1 = Rad2
Rad2 = tmp
End If

Rad1 = Rad1 Mod Rad2
Loop

GCD = Rad2
Revs = Abs(Circle2R / GCD)

pntcnt = Revs * Resolution * 2 + 1

angadd = 360 / Resolution



ReDim pnts(0 To pntcnt) As Double



ang = 0
pi = 3.14159265358979


For x = 0 To pntcnt Step 2

radang = ang * pi / 180
y = x + 1

pnts(x) = (Circle1R + Circle2R) * Cos(radang) - Position * Cos((Circle1R + Circle2R) * (radang / Circle2R))
pnts(y) = (Circle1R + Circle2R) * Sin(radang) - Position * Sin((Circle1R + Circle2R) * (radang / Circle2R))

ang = ang + angadd



Next x


Set PlineObj = ThisDrawing.ModelSpace.AddLightWeightPolyline(pnts)