Re: Homebrew digitiser

Tracy

I would like to hear more about what you are doing. I have been
following your postings but being new to this arena I'm still
interpreting some of it.

You mentioned in an earlier posting that you were using Delphi to
control your digitiser - is this industry standard or your route?

Almost every posting regarding machine control s/w refers to Gcodes -
where can I get some more information on this and is there some s/w I
can get hold of?

Does this "s/w" run under DOS or WIN?

I also read that you are using TurboCAD - is your digitiser s/w a
plug-in or stand-alone?

I have TurboCAD Pro v7, I am just starting to play with the 3D
feature - how useful is it in creating models that can be
export/ported to a CNC mill?

I appologise for picking your brains like this, everybody has
contributed a lot and been very helpful, but you seem to be the
closest to what I want to achieve and there seems to be some common
ground. I have a background in IT (app develop in VB & sys test) and
would appreciate any information you can help me with.

My private email is pabbott@... if you want to take
this of the group.

regards ...
Paul Abbott

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., tnorris@h... wrote:
> Doug,
>
> Meaning no disrespect, but I'm already doing it. Tonight I just
put
> together my 2nd prototype for Alan Marconett to try, and a bare-
bones
> disc of my software (NO SUPPORT, NO DOCS!). It's about as beta as
> beta-can-get but I think it would be best for someone outside of
> myself to test the probe + software in a real-world environment.
Now
> if he'd just email me his address, it's ready to go!
>
> The cool thing is that the probe won't let him mess up. The
software
> will command an ALL STOP if it gets outside of parameters (and will
> stop even if things go goofy INSIDE params). Alan will also be
> getting my MaxNC (any version) end-of-program hardware shut off. It
> doesn't just kill the spindle motor (1st), it can (optionally) kill
> the power to the entire MaxNC machine. I call that a true End-Of-
> Program command <grin>.
>
> Anyways, it's still in beta so I'll let him give it a whirl and
> report to the group.
>
> Back to my work trying to machine a 3-d half-sphere in UHMW plastic
> (.05" across). <grin>
>
> Tracy Norris
>
>
> >
> > > I am trying to design/build a digitiser - there aren't many
> > > affordable options here in Australia. Has anyone got any info,
> > > designs, tips or know of kits that they would share with me.
I'm
> > > working with an area of approx 500mm x 350mm x 150mm.
> >
> > I'm working on the digitizer probe, and so are some others.
> > They all work the same way (a signal is sent as a "touch probe"
> > contacts the object surface), but the point is moot until some
> > compatable software is added to some existing GCode interpreters.
> >
> > I believe MaxNC software supports digitizing, and Doug Yeager's
> > CNC_Pro has a feed_hold line support.
> >
> > I'd suggest getting to work on your XYZ machine, and in six months
> > when you're done the basic machine, there might be some digitizing
> > options for you to consider at that time.
> >
> > Doug Fortune
> > http://www.cuug.ab.ca/~fortuned/cncKITS_faq.html