Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Current playing field

Lester

You don't mention Machinekit on your list, ie. LinuxCNC on BeagleboneBlack or Raspbery Pi (not so good) or Pine a64
<http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/news/check-this-out-the-pine-a64-15-super-computer/>
as platforms.
I have not done more than a few items using DXF2gcode, but the 2D ones I did worked fine.

Malcolm

I don't suffer from insanity I enjoy it!
Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin
The writing is on the wall.
Ha-ktovet al ha-kir

--------------------------------------------

On Tue, 1/26/16, Lester Caine lester@... [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Current playing field
To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2016, 1:54 PM

I'm trying to review where we are
today software wise and this seems
like the best place to get a rounded response.

I'm still using TurboCad, vCarve and Mach3 for the quick job
process,
but I have also used USBCNC with the Eding USB boards and
the DXFtogCode
converter in that does a good job of providing gcode.

An alternative for the Taig mill controller is the Toad4
board and
EasyCNC even though it's not designed to feed a parallel
port but just
wiring up the controller it does a more than adequate job
when there is
no parallel port available.

The above package in general requires a windows base, and as
long as
32bit windows is used Mach3 still does it's job, but my
development
environment is Linux based and has been for years, with a
nice XP
machine running the TurboCad and vCarve on the side. So I'm
playing with
the Linux options and trying to decide just where to spend
time.

FreeCAD is a little heavy going, but takes everything from
TurboCad and
works nicely with the 3D model libraries from may of my
normal parts
suppliers and some of the plugins provide some nice
developments, but
CAM is still a little short on support. It's DXF output
drops into
vCarve and USBCNC without a problem, and gives more than
adequate gcode.

Having worked through a list of google results and scanned
sourceforge,
dxf2gcode looks like a developing option, and being cross
platform and
'python' should be easy to integrate into FreeCAD. Has
anybody played
with it or got any comments on it? I'm

While the parallel port was the main link to hardware, the
alternative
of LinuxCNC over Mach3 was a simple choice on OS, but USB
muddies the
water, with current options coming with their own machine
interface
software. I need to review LinuxCNC again, but are there any
other areas
that need reviewed these days?

Just to stir things up a little more :) I'm looking to
replace some PLC
controllers on automated machines, which just need a
sequence of actions
via pneumatic valves, sensors and motors. The sort of thing
that I've
hacked via gcode on Mach3 but now needs a better approach
which LinuxCNC
may be a no-brainer? It's the graphics display which is
putting me off
at the moment but that may just be lack of investigation.

--
Lester Caine - G8HFL
-----------------------------
Contact - http://lsces.co.uk/wiki/?page=contact
L.S.Caine Electronic Services - http://lsces.co.uk
EnquirySolve - http://enquirysolve.com/
Model Engineers Digital Workshop - http://medw.co.uk
Rainbow Digital Media - http://rainbowdigitalmedia.co.uk


------------------------------------
Posted by: Lester Caine <lester@...>
------------------------------------

Addresses:   
FAQ:  http://www.ktmarketing.com/faq.html
FILES: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO/files/
Post Messages: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com


Subscribe:  CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-subscribe@yahoogroups.com 

Unsubscribe:  CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com 

List owner:  CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-owner@yahoogroups.com, 
wanliker@..., timg@...
Moderator:  pentam@...
indigo_red@...
davemucha@... 
[Moderators] 
URL to this group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO

OFF Topic POSTS:  General Machining
If you wish to post on unlimited OT subjects
goto:   aol://5863:126/rec.crafts.metalworking
or go thru Google.com to reach it if you have trouble.
http://www.metalworking.com/news_servers.html

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jobshophomeshop
  I consider this to be a sister site to the CCED
group, as many of the same members are there, for OT
subjects, that are not allowed on the CCED list.

NOTICE: ALL POSTINGS TO THIS GROUP BECOME PUBLIC DOMAIN BY
POSTING THEM.  DON'T POST IF YOU CAN NOT ACCEPT
THIS.....NO EXCEPTIONS........
bill
List Mom
List Owner


------------------------------------

Yahoo Groups Links


    CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com