Re: Still a little unclear

There are various menas to get the G code program to the machine.
1. Carry a diskette from the computer that generated the G code to the
computer that has the G code interpreter tha runs the machine.
2. Send the G code tool path by modem to the computer that will run the
machine.
3. Send the program via a network to the machine.
Dan
-----Original Message-----
From: Jonty50@... <Jonty50@...>
To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@onelist.com <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@onelist.com>
Date: Wednesday, May 19, 1999 10:51 PM
Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Still a little unclear

>From: Jonty50@...
>
>In a message dated 5/20/99 1:24:23 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

pencad@...

>writes:
>
><<
> Am I right in assuming that there are many various ways in getting a DXF
> file or whatever format to the machine for processing. From what I
> believe thus far, I can produce with my CAD a file that can be
> translated into code by a CAM program and then at this point I become
> unsure of the "various" means of getting that information to the
> machine. I have downloaded many demo programs from the CAM side of the
> house, and these have helped me to get somewhat comfortable with the g
> and m codings.
> >>
>
>Probably the simplest and cheapest way to get into the CNC/CAM game is to

use

>a program such as "stepster" (freeware) or DeskNC (cheap shareware). Both
>these programs (and others I haven't tried or mentioned) convert the G code
>file into a series of pulses that are sent to the parallel port. These

pulses

>at the port are very weak, the purpose of the driver board which connects

to

>the parallel port is essentially to amplify the pulses to a voltage and
>amperage adequate to run a stepper motor.
>
>You basically tell DeskNC how many pulses in which direction it takes to

move

>your machine one inch in a given axis. In my particular case it takes 4000
>pulses/inch in the X and Y axes and 8000 steps per inch in the Z axis, keep
>in mind that these numbers are determined by the characteristics of the
>motors themselves (how many pulses per revolution) and by the

characteristics

>of the machine to which the motors are connected (how many revolutions of

the

>motor shaft to move one inch). DeskNC then reads the G code file and

converts

>a command for a given move (eg: 1 inch left on the X axis) into the correct
>number of pulses and the direction signal to "make it so"..
>
>The flow of the overall system is rather like this:
>
>(in your computer) CAD program outputs DXF file >>> DXF file converted to
>GCode >>> GCode to DeskNC >>> DeskNC to parallel port pins >>> (now we move
>out of the computer) >>> parallel port pins to driver board/amplifier >>>
>driver board/amp to stepper motors >>> stepper motors to translation
>mechanism in your machine (can be ball screws, belts, gears, steel cable
>wrapped around a drum or what have you.
>
>Hope this helps... I've spent a considerable amount of time puzzling all

this

>out pretty much by myself and wish that I had a forum such as this during

the

>process.
>
>The problem with much of the hobbyist/inexpensive hardware/software is that
>it is often rather sparsely and cryptically documented, assuming a great

deal

>of knowledge of the subject that the beginner (those most likely to be

using

>such wares) usually lacks.
>
>Jon Croad in Atlanta, GA
>
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