Open-source foam cutting software for XP.

[dpuch]

VERY nice work!

I thought I would mention this software should work well for a wire EDM machine as well. Perhaps adding in options/functions for an EDM would be a good idea.

I have never run a wire EDM, but basic differences I see:

• Wire is usually vertical with coolant running down the wire.
• Wire is moving to keep from wearing it out.

As is it probably would work fine. Wire speed, Wire feed, and power are probably constant or have similar issues as cutting foam. Changing some dialog labels may be nice for the different machine orientation and material cut.

I haven't tried the software yet, so please forgive me is any of this is addressed.

Some other suggestions:

• I noticed a VERY early comment about syncing the 2 end profiles strictly by length. If nothing further has been done, might I suggest automatic sync points at any corners, and a button to turn on/off the display of where they are. You could also then add manually inserting points, and adjusting the automatically inserted ones.
• An idea for an automatic check that is only partly thought thru...

An automatic check to see if the wire crosses any point on either of the end geometry. This assumes the end geometry do not cross each other, or the comparison view arranges them that way. Not easy to explain, and probably harder to code... Think of a simple example of a straight , tapered airfoil. If the wire is not in sync at the trailing edge (one end on the top, and one on the bottom of the airfoil), it cuts into the middle of the trailing edge.

[moreil]

Just released 1.0.25. Just minor bug fixes, except for the more serious bug that John Lindsay found and fixed. (the initial move into the foam was the wrong speed).

Note that this version has _NO_ testing done on it. (My foam cutter is in pieces while I build my mill), so any feedback on it's ability to cut foam would be appreciated.

12-Dec-2006:

1. Bug: (John Lindsay): Found incorrect maximum speed move to start of cut.
2. Internal: Moreil: Moved controls to handle large fonts.

19-Nov-2006:

1. Internal: Hutchcj: Update Application Info
2. Internal: Hutchcj: Resize Machine form to match other forms
3. Internal: Hutchcj: Update MainForm to set minimum size for other forms

[shrthang]

Hello Moriel. Just curious where your project is currently at. I'm very impressed with the work you've done. I'm not sure what you're background is and what your main use for hot wire cutting is, but I've been custom cutting foam for over 10 yrs now. I've done some pretty amazing work to date. You can check it out at www.revolutionaryminds.com.

I'd be very interested in checking out this program you've created and if it does what you've described, I guarantee I'd be able to line up Canada's largest foam manufacturer to consider purchasing is from you. They produce EPS, but they also custom cut the product. They have 8 plants that each have large CNC hot wire machines, but the software is very outdated and tolerences when cutting sharp points has always been a big problem. Having software that could automaticaly adjust temperature would blow them away.

Look forward to hearing back from you.

[rc_flyer]

Good Morning.

As John said, the software keeps getting better and better. Amazing programming in this short of time.

Found 1 minor problem and 1 major problem.

Major: More high speed posoitioning problems. When cutting a tapered wing, such as a fin/rudder sectoin, the high speed out of foam move to get to the tip TE just sits there and buzzes, like the x and y entry moves did before. Cuts great after that, but in the wrong place.

Minor: when using the TE margin, after the cut the program must check the TE margin value twice instead of once, because it goes past the y zero point by the TE margin value.

Request: Would be nice to have the 'serarate block' cut the foam to wing pattern, such as tapered TE or LE or whatever, instead of just square.

Thanks, Don

[venomx999]

Hi, I tried the software last night. It did not detect my controller board and kept popping up the "low frequency" message.

Any remedies?

[venomx999]

btw, how do I get rid of the interupted holding port ???

[m.southern]

Keep up the good work

[argustaurus]

I like what you are doing and would like to learn from you and this project.
Could you let me know what Software is used in this project? Like the one for GUI and the rest on the hard side, Driver development etc. Any sources, references that you may have? Thank you for you helps…
Argustaurus
taurusargus.removethis@hotmail.com

[GAWnCA]

Where can I find this to try out for myself? Can anyone tell me how it compares to other foam cutting software, like Foamworks or GMFC?

[High Seas]

http://sourceforge.net/projects/fcut -- and I heard the server glitch has been fixed at homecnc.

Jim

[GAWnCA]

Thanks Jim, That did work. I guess I'll just have to test each one against each other. Will F-Cut do other things besides wings?

Greg

http://sourceforge.net/projects/fcut -- and I heard the server glitch has been fixed at homecnc.

Jim

[Switcher]

Thanks Jim, That did work. I guess I'll just have to test each one against each other. Will F-Cut do other things besides wings?
Greg

Looks like anything in X & Y.

moreil




It takes input from .dat files. These are basically a text file with a list of (X,Y) co-ordinates to move the wire to.

I'm unsure how you can convert an autocad file to a .dat file but i do belive that it's possible.

.