Thread: Problem creating g-code

Hi, I picked up a book, Getting Started with CNC from the Make series, and found it interesting reading. I'm completely new to this and stating from this book, so if I'm wrong SORRY. According to the book, MakerCAM isn't perfect - it has design limitations that may cause some people to outgrow its functionality at some point.
Webgcode. The writers favorite free and open G-code visualiser is Nicolas Raynaud's Webgcode (g-code simulator).
PM me your address and I'll post it off to you to read if you'd like it, and hopefully it'll help.
What machine did you get?
Kryn

Thanks Kryn for your rply.
I didn't realize that you were really that into CNC, I new you were considering for the future. Yeah! I'm new to it also but I 'm getting frustrated with the lack of information outside YT. The Makercam.com is a web based gcode generator, but from the sample SVG files I put to it, it appeared to add non-existent tool paths, and many of them. The link you provided was only for a simulator and not a generator. Thanks for the offer of the book. I'll email you tomorrow and put you in the picture.

Sorry about that, I thought it might have been of some help to you. Got the book to TRY to understand it a bit more. I get the gist of it but trying to read and understand without a unit in front of me is a bit harder, prefer to be shown and instructed on a subject. I suppose there are quite a few others out there like me.
Kryn

I use Cut2D and I find it works really well. It was reasonably priced, as well.
I was brand new to CNC and managed to fumble my way through. I had no problems generating G Codes.
I was using DXF files. Not sure if it is compatible with SVG files or not....?

Try trial trial versions and see if you like it before you buy.
Steve

Originally Posted by Sterob

I use Cut2D and I find it works really well. It was reasonably priced, as well.
I was brand new to CNC and managed to fumble my way through. I had no problems generating G Codes.
I was using DXF files. Not sure if it is compatible with SVG files or not....?

Try trial trial versions and see if you like it before you buy.
Steve

Thanks Steve for the reply.
Inkscape can save as DXF so not a problem there. I have had a play tonight with Cut2D Trial version and it is actually pretty good for 2D drawing that I need and as you have confirmed it has no problems generating g-code. It has great possibilities.

Good stuff.
Hope it works out for you.

Steve

Hello Mulgabill

You may want to try exporting the file from Inkscape as a DXF. This format is pretty much industry standard.

Try here for installation instructions https://www.bigbluesaw.com/saw/big-b...-inkscape.html

If you still cannot get anywhere with it, then get in touch with me again and I will have a look at the file for you.

Originally Posted by Bob Willson

Hello Mulgabill

You may want to try exporting the file from Inkscape as a DXF. This format is pretty much industry standard.

Try here for installation instructions https://www.bigbluesaw.com/saw/big-b...-inkscape.html

If you still cannot get anywhere with it, then get in touch with me again and I will have a look at the file for you.

Thank-you Bob!
You won't believe this, but that is exactly what I'm doing at this moment, but will have to defer it until later tonight or tomorrow. I am also going to try Artcam, as it is free!!
Thanks for your offer to have a look at the file for me. It is appreciated.
I will let you know the outcome!

Hi guys
I just move on to Fusion360 For my cad ,cam and 3d printing.
Lot's of tutorials out there for it. Once you get the flow of the program it's very quick to make things
And if you're a hobbyist it's free
Just my 2 cents worth....
Russell

Hi Russel

I downloaded and tried out Fusion360 a few weeks ago. I found it to be one of the most frustrating programs that I have ever used.
A friend wanted me to look at his designs that he had done in Fusion. And he then wanted me to cut the parts out on the CNC. We have both found It almost impossible to get a DXF from a Fusion design.
It may well be because I am so old and my mind is no longer agile enough to understand simple concepts.
Even the tutorials flummoxed me. Nothing within this program seems to work as other programs have in the past.
Even when I have designed something really simple I can't find the files of it anywhere.
I did finally mange to get a DXF. I had to take a screen shot of the item, save it as a jpg. and then trace it in Aspire and resize to correct size.
Damn that was hard.

Hi Bob
Sorry it did not work out for you, but horses for courses
It has done away with a lot of the old way of doing thing which when you get it makes for a better way, eg;You were trying to generate some gcode from a fusion design and you trying to make DXF file and such, (been they done that,) just use the cam in fusion to create your gcode. Job done. I find it makes very sensible gcode. I was using Rhino with rhino cam and fusion is very different, but like when I learnt rhino the learning curve was pretty steep then to.
Re the tutorials best to use there ones which take you through a structured pathway.
Russell

Mulgabill
Could you please advise what you actually want to do with the DXF drawing ?

If you can put the DXF up here, I could have a go at creating a Gcode for you but, you would have to give a lot more info

I use Bobcad, which is suitable for Mach3
Regards
Kel

Originally Posted by nivlek

Mulgabill
Could you please advise what you actually want to do with the DXF drawing ?

If you can put the DXF up here, I could have a go at creating a Gcode for you but, you would have to give a lot more info

I use Bobcad, which is suitable for Mach3
Regards
Kel

Thanks for your reply Kel,
The issue I had was that I used Inkscape to create a SVG file and then used Makercam.com to create a .nc/.tap g-code, which when opened in Mach3 just didn't look or behave right. It was missing vectors and toolpaths.
To update further, after receiving a suggestion from Bob Willson to use .DXF files, I then went further and used Autodeck Artcam Free version to create the toolpaths and the resultant .tape files work a treat.

Great to hear that you're sorted out.
Kryn