SolidCam Plasma Cutting Help:

[Lockdown]

Ok my setup first:

CNC Controller:
Burny 3 CNC Controller (This thing is pretty old also)
Type: MNC3-03462-0

Parts:

I'm making are ALL 2D cut with either the plasma or oxy/acyet from 1/8" to 1 1/4" Mild Steel.

Help:

I just installed SolidCAM and doing all my design out of SolidWorks. I'm just begining to understand how to get things to work correctly with SolidCAM but I still just don't know how I should go about doing a plasma cut (I'm thinking using a slot operation or milling the outside?) I need some help and a little bit of a walkthrough on how I should do these parts.

I need to know what system to use (Like FUNCA or whatever) to make this compatible with my current CAM system.

Also how do I get the SolidCAM software to spit out GCode that can be used by my CNC machine?

Here is a old cnc file that is in current use now for parts (THis file was generated in 1998) just as reference for anybody able to get something out of it.

%
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[jake_tb]

The profile operation is the operation you should use to make a cut around the outside of a profile. We use this to operate our CNC profile cutter!
You should start with a standard Fanuc postprocessor and mac file to generate your code. The Fanuc GPP file will need some modification to get your code spitting out just as you like it but it will be easy to do for a simple 2D profile operation!
I can send you a copy of our CNC profile cutter postprocessor for you to try as a starter if you would like. Let me know?

Jake

[Lockdown]

Originally Posted by jake_tb The profile operation is the operation you should use to make a cut around the outside of a profile. We use this to operate our CNC profile cutter! You should start with a standard Fanuc postprocessor and mac file to generate your code. The Fanuc GPP file will need some modification to get your code spitting out just as you like it but it will be easy to do for a simple 2D profile operation! I can send you a copy of our CNC profile cutter postprocessor for you to try as a starter if you would like. Let me know? Jake

YES PLEASE! I'm newly at this and have spent about 2 days figuring out the language and the operation. I'll PM you my email address so you can send it over.

Couple of more questions: Which operation would you use to do a simple 2d plasma cut (I've been doing Profile so far just to see).

Second: What is your tool selection? I can't find Plasma so I've been going with just a simple drillbit (Diameter set at 1/8" inch) as my tool selection.

[gabert]

PM and I can get you a copy of our post.

We use contour with a .1 mill. The trick is to use under leadin and leadout data is to put a distance of .1 so that the program gets a chance to offset prior to the operator entering their kerf.

Regards
GDG