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You tool guys miss all the subtlety of software .. alas!!!
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I stmbled upon this site, from a post in the OneCNC Forum, because there was a free app that converted bitmap to g-code... Well, there happens to be some cool ideas for home-made linear guides, stepper drives and such.
Here is his take on the drawer slide router:
wooden hobby cnc engraving machine
No dimensions or drawings, but pretty easy to see what he is doing..
You tool guys miss all the subtlety of software .. alas!!!
Originally Posted by louieatienza
What tha??? You can't tease us with this free app and not post a link to it. Come on, where's it at?
http://paul-flores.com/
He did a good job on the build. He has some good tricks.
It's the second program (halfway down the page) Majosoft's Hobby SiteWhat tha??? You can't tease us with this free app and not post a link to it. Come on, where's it at?
A machine is only as accurate as the tools used to build it. "CNC = Computer Numeric Control - or on some days - CNC = Can Not Control" Imagineering
LOL! I wish I had your intestinal fortitude to learn CNC Toolkit; there's nothing subtle about that!You tool guys miss all the subtlety of software .. alas!!!
The web translator helps in some areas of the site... Check out some of the posted builds there, some super cool machines, especially in the bottom of the second section!
Hey AssassinXCV, you know we use the most inaccurate tools sometimes to build our CNC's, and we use those semi-accurate CNC's to make even more accurate CNC's! So you CAN make a machine more accurate than the tools you use to make it, if you 'engineer' it right!
i never said anything about a person not being accurate enough using inaccurate tools; but i'd love to be able to just throw hand drills at my plywood and have the holes positioned perfectly, maybe throw a circular saw too.
On topic: I had some issue loading the g-code files. I tried just opening the .Din file in both EMC2 and Mach3demo, and was unsuccessfull
A machine is only as accurate as the tools used to build it. "CNC = Computer Numeric Control - or on some days - CNC = Can Not Control" Imagineering
LOL I was referring jokingly to your post 'signature...'i never said anything about a person not being accurate; but i'd love to be able to just throw hand drills at my plywood and have the holes positioned perfectly, maybe throw a circular saw too.
On topic: I had some issue loading the g-code files. I tried just opening the .Din file in both EMC2 and Mach3demo, and was unsuccessfull
BTW I found out that the download for that program might be corrupt, and there's another download that will output the correct code. But it's in my home computer, so I'll post the link when I get back...
I know that, i was just saying that my siggy isnt too precise... :S
Anyways, lastnight when i downloaded the bmp2g-code, the download worked, and there was g-code in the file. Just that Mach3 and EMC2 didnt seem to like it. Also, when ever i run the program, it tries to configure AutoCADD Architecture; i always cancel it cause i dont want stuff to be changed.
A machine is only as accurate as the tools used to build it. "CNC = Computer Numeric Control - or on some days - CNC = Can Not Control" Imagineering
Try taking small bits at a time .. really.
Look at Chapter 3 - Vectroization of Yohudi's eBook since you brought up converting bitmaps to g-code [which cannot be done directly]. I read through it twice [with two different color highlighters, and a black and red pen to underline], then sat down on Sunday and worked through all the "Tasks". Was I successful the first time though the Tasks? .. in my mind .. kinda! The second time I got it better, third time I made hardly any mistakes, though it still was slow going.
In general, for all the chapters, I suggest the following:
1. Print out the chapter[s] you are going to work with, as you do need to make notes on the page.
2. There are TWO distinct portions to each chapter
a: Fundamentals; and b. Tasks. Fundamentals are broad statements about the process, while Tasks use a specific piece of software to lead you through the process presented in the Fundamentals portion of the chapter. It will behoove you to read through the Fundamentals section two or three times before reading the Tasks section.
3. When you take notes, use only one side of each piece of paper. Really! It is easier to keep track of what you are doing if you do not have to flip pieces of paper over. Number each page thusly: "1 of __"; where __ will be the total number of pages. Put dates by questions you have as you read each chapter and on your notes.
4. Put everything in a three-ring binder immediately; that is, punch holes, don't just slip it in. No, you are not that organized! [Just ask your wife!]
5. As you encounter new words/concepts in each chapter, PRINT [print as in not script (long-hand) writing] them out on a separate piece of paper. I PRINTED [by hand] the definitions out, then tore the pages apart, and rearranged them in alphabetical order. Leave plenty of black space as you will be making notes to yourself [as well as talking to yourself] while working through the "Tasks".
You will find that after you have PRINTED [by hand] out the words/concepts definitions it will be easier to read the chapter the second time. When I read through the chapter the second time, I "improved" the definitions because I was able to see subtleties in the chapter narrative about the word/concept that I missed the first time.
While you will no doubt have a general idea what a word/concept in a chapter may mean, in terms of CNC Tool Kit, these words/concepts have VERY SPECIFIC meanings within that chapter. Do not assume the words/concepts are what you think they are, PRINT [by hand] them out. As you PRINT the definitions out, avoid pronouns [it, they, those,...] as these will not leave a SPECIFIC idea in your mind. Do not be ambiguous in what you PRINT. And yes this may seem slow, though not as slow as trying to decipher your slopping writing!!! Not to insult anyone's writing, but I found as soon as I started printing my reading slowed and my comprehension went up, not sped up, just up, which is good in terms of what you will be reading.
6. Read the chapters more than once, or twice, or three times. There is little fluff in the material, so it is what I term "dense" writing.
7. If something is important, it appears more that once, though may be phrased slightly different, as the situation the concept is applied to is slightly different. By reading a chapter a number of times, and focusing on the Fundamentals, BEFORE doing the Tasks, you will find that when you do the Tasks, there will be numerous "AH HA" moments.
About Chapter 3:
1. Important words/concepts:
a. Raster or bitmap
b. Vectors
c. Pixels
d. Vectroization
e. Centerline detect
f. Edge-detect detect
g. Lines
h. Polylines
i. Nodes
j. Intaglio
k. Thinning
l. Displacement techniques
m. Mesh Displacement
n. Pictorial fonts
o. True-Type fonts [TTF]
p. Postscript fonts
q. Scaling
2. There are ONLY two pieces of software to focus on in Chapter 3.
a. HyCAD
b. WinTopo
Download and install both before starting to read chapter.
Do not bother reading about InkScape or gmax at this point.
3. Before starting on the Tasks sections on HyCAD and WinTopo, thoroughly go through the drop down menus, look at each item in each drop down menu carefully. Click on what you can and see what happens.
4. You will use BOTH HyCAD and WinTopo to do a good job vectorizing a raster image.
5. As you read about HyCAD and WinTopo, write [PRINT!!!] down what is pointed out about their strengths and weakness. Use a separate piece of paper for each piece of software.
6. Also, and this is very important, look for, and understand, the inter-relationships between the two pieces of software. Some are delineated in the chapter, though these will not become immediately clear until the Tasks have been worked though a couple/three times.
CNC Tool Kit is a creative persons dream!!! After reading all eight chapters the first time I came to the conclusion that CNC Tool Kit will allow me to realized all the ideas I have floating around in my head.
And keep these in mind:
1. Switching one's primary mind set from tool pushing to software use and designing is not an easy jump. But it is an exciting one and you all will be very pleased when you finally see the results.
2. The more you learn about and the more you use CNC Tool Kit the more value and fun you will obtain from all your effort you have put into making your CNC machine.
I believe what you want to do is take the .din file that's created and backplot it in you CAM software, then creatr the g-code.... I haven't tried that yet however...
zool, if I wasn't engaged, I'd have asked you if your wife has a sister, because I can't see my future wife letting me devote my time in that fashion! Of course, I WANT to... but alas...
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