More importantly, I'm thinking of using Autocad to make a drawing and importing to NCPlot. Then generate the Gcode.
First, before you can generate g-code, you need to have a DXF file.
Do you have the DXF file?
.
I'm a new owner of a wire EDM. Very old control. paper tape and a BTR purchased later.
The machine only has G91 mode. All moves relative.
Also, G02 and G03 only do one quadrant per command. It takes four commands to do a circle. Format is the same as Fanuc in G91 mode. One quirk, if X Y I or J are zero; the they must be omitted or read exactly X00 Y00 I00 J00
Otherwise, the Gcode looks very much like a mill (just no Z moves). I have example programs I'd like to plot with NCPlot. More importantly, I'm thinking of using Autocad to make a drawing and importing to NCPlot. Then generate the Gcode.
Can NCPlot do this? How?
Karl
More importantly, I'm thinking of using Autocad to make a drawing and importing to NCPlot. Then generate the Gcode.
First, before you can generate g-code, you need to have a DXF file.
Do you have the DXF file?
.
I'd didn't dwell on that for this query. Sure, that's the easy part. What I need is a way to make Gcode. And I'd like to plot it to verify before running.
Karl
(1) Open NcPlot (latest version)
(2) File
(3) Import DXF File (select your file)
(4) When the DXF file loads a box will pop-up, Select Convert.
(5) Convert All
You now have g-code.
(6) File
(7) Save File AS
(8) Save as type = Text File (*.txt)
You now have a DXF file converted to g-code, saved as .txt file, that should run on most controls, & can be plotted in NcPlot.
.
Yes, you're missing the point of my query.
This Gcode file will be in G90 mode and any G02/03 commands will be for full circles, etc. Not limted to one quadrant per arc.
Karl
Hi Karl,
I can't think of a simple way to do this off the top of my head, but I'll look at it some more. The problem, of course, is that the DXF to G-Code converter doesn't allow you to create multi-quadrant arc commands. It will simply output it as one command. It also will output the motion commands as absolute, as you said. These things will take a little time to get working, but I'll start looking at it.
Thanks,
Scott
Is it not possible to break the circle in Autocad at the quadrant lines before the export of the file?
First you get good, then you get fast. Then grouchiness sets in.
(Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)