Any Machinists in the House?

[Mudsurfer1234]

Hey guys,

Working on a project in school, drawing up stuff in SolidWorks, and would like to cut it out with our CNC router. The problem is, we have no way of getting a G-code from the SolidWorks part. Normally we do 2D stuff, mainly engraving your name or a simple picture. However, me being curious, I wanted to take advantage of the Z-axis and make somthing 3 dimensional. So I drew up some simple objects in blocks (blue foam) to cut out on the router. But, the program we use now for the 2D g-codes (.NCC) cannot import SolidWorks files.

My teacher said something about a program with "Cam" in the name, so I looked around on the net and found something called "MasterCam." We're looking for a program to take SolidWorks/AutoCAD/Inventor files, and convert them to a machine code that the router can use.

If it helps, the machine is a Forrest Scientific router, nothing impressive, but the school paid for it, so you can't expect much.

So, any good G-code programs out there?


Thanks!
Scott

[Pro1Foam]

FeatureCam!

[luv2flyguy]

I work for Hendrick Motorsports here and we use Haas equipment with the G and M codes but we program everything in Ideals and use mostly 5 axias machines X,Y,Z, A and B however I will see if I can find out something for you, will not make any promises very busy right now.

[paffy]

Maybe you can export the solids as IGES or Parasolid, then import it into your CAM sw (if it supports 3D).

[twindaddy_1]

Scott,

I had a similar problem about 18 years ago while teaching machining with educational 2D Milling Machines (Bridgeports with Anilam Controllers) and whatever the latest version of ACAD was back then. I was able to produce 3d profiles with a 2d machine by changing the reference plane when needed. In 2d the controller is operating with the G17 Preparatory Code which operates the X and Y axis' in conjunction and runs Z independently. If you can change that when needed to G18 (Z and X in conjunction and Y independently) or G19 (Y and Z in conjunction and X independently) you can produce almost any 3d surface. You will need to create your drawing using the same plane reference as you intend to use on your router then postprocess the drawing through whatever software you're using to create the code for the router.

Another trick is to modify the code file itself. Usually this can be done easily with Notepad in Windows. I recommend this program because like some other word editor programs it wont insert hidden data into the file that the controller won't understand. Example, don't use Word. Most "simple" text files will only have a start and end of file marker. Usually a percent sign.

You should also check the file size limit of your controller because this alone may keep you from doing 3d work with it. The 3d files are generally very large in comparison when you fake it out because in essence to create the 3d profile with a ball nose end mill you will have a line of code to produce the XZ move then a line of code to make a Y move over which wil be very small (.020" - .040" depending on the size of the cutter) and this repeated many many times thus creating a very large file. To get around this I would usually break the project into segments where I could to create many smaller files and then I would basicly run one then load the next and run it and so on.

I have never used this process on a CNC Router but the principal is exactly the same as the older 2D CNC Milling Machines.

I haven't looked lately but expand your internet search to SOLIDWORKS CAD/CAM and you may find some decent FREE software that may help you also. Another good one may be to add FORUM to the search string.

Good luck.

Bill

[hipollito]

I would say save it with IGES extension and then import it in other program I use Alias, solid edge and inventor for that....then you just export to the file that the machine will read, maybe you will have to adjust some things but I think thats the easiest way, or export your file to a different type of file.....