Faster servo g-code interface! version 1.421

[Dave's_Not_Here]

I am heading out the door to my remote shop and then hitting the road for the Labor Day Weekend. I will respond in more depth when we return.

JMB - Thanks for the info, I will double check the setting when I get back... could be some settings we missed.

As for the preview, here is something I have noticed on Build 420, and 420Q:

If you pause the job to increase feed rate, then hit resume, mechanically everything works well... however, the "progress" slider no longer tracks the completion rate accurately, (in fact it hardly moves) so you never know how far you are in the job. If you have to stop due to a broken bit, you have to guess as to how far along you were to set your resume coordinates... so it is a hit-or-miss at best... sometimes multiple times.

The progress bar needs to recalibrate when you change feed rates in mid program... (like an auto-preprocess based on line location in the g-code?)

The real-time picture might help in that area... might not.

... but cool factor isn't bad either...

[jmb]

Hmm, that sounds like a bug. I submitted it to our bug tracker, and we'll take a look as soon as we can. But just to be sure I understand, you're in the middle of a file, you hit Pause, you increase Feedrate Override, and you press Start. Then the progress bar is no longer accurate (or possibly not even moving?). Is that right?

[Dave's_Not_Here]

Hmm, that sounds like a bug. I submitted it to our bug tracker, and we'll take a look as soon as we can. But just to be sure I understand, you're in the middle of a file, you hit Pause, you increase Feedrate Override, and you press Start. Then the progress bar is no longer accurate (or possibly not even moving?). Is that right?

... I am walking out the door for the weekend...

But, yes, you have it correct.

Have a great and safe Labor Day Weekend, all!

Dave

[Pplug]

Yes! There is a practical reason. I use lots of scrap pieces from other projects that are irregularly shaped to mill jobs out on my small mill with Mach3. With the table preview I can guarantee that the job will fit on the scrap piece and I can work out where to put holes for screws (clamping). This can add up to substantial savings on materials and mistakes. Now that I have lots of scrap hanging around the shop it is my most desired feature (and probably the hardest to implement).

[Montabelli]

Pplug,
what do you use to generate your geometry and g-code? I always use my drawings to get a fix on fit and location.

[Pplug]

Recently, I have been using artcam exclusively. I don't sketch or use physical drawings for templates. I do most of it in my head. Artcam is very flexible when it comes to design and toolpath creation. I've done some comparisons over the years with different cam programs and, until aspire came along, artcam was the quickest and most intuitive for 2.5 dimensional work. Of course ... YMMV

[advt001]

Pplug, can you tell me how hard ArtCam was to learn? I have been using MasterCam exclusively since the dos days V3. I bought Cut3D about a year ago but have only used it on my Fadal.I am anxious to get my router back together so I can try it there.I hope you all have an awesome LaborDay weekend.
Scott

[Pplug]

The school I work for bought mastercam just before I was hired. The techno rep gave us little to no instruction on it. I sat down with the manual for an afternoon. I did not want to figure mastercam out! It was way too complex for our needs.

If you can figure out mastercam than artcam is a breeze. I learned the basics of artcam after watching some video tutorials online. I was designing and carving complex reliefs on my cnc machine in a couple of hours. That afternoon I decided to start a small sign business! http://www.glenspeymillworks.com A year or two later aspire was released. If I had a choice at the time, I would have chosen aspire, but as it was I was able to get a second hand version of artcam on the cheap.

Artcam= easy!