Re: Still a little unclear

Naughty naughty Dan, one of the problems with this list is that there are those that want to do CNC for $7.95( dont we all) those
that have problems working a computor never mind building CNC and those that are using a self built system every day to make
parts(you and I) and a whole lot in between.
Brian.

Dan Mauch wrote:

> From: "Dan Mauch" <dmauch@...>
>
> 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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