Re: emc (TOME)

Jon Anderson wrote:

> Something I would love to see, would be a PC or Linux based program that
> duplicated the fill-in-the-blanks approach of Proto-Trak and such, and
> generate standard G-code.

We're converting the EMC GUI from the hideous X Toolkit-based version
(xemc.cc) to Tcl/Tk since it's much easier to extend and modify and
easier to port. This originated with a Tcl interface to allow us to do
automated testing via scripts, e.g.,

emc_estop off
emc_machine on
emc_home 0
emc_home 1
emc_home 2
emc_mode auto
emc_open programs/cds.ngc
emc_run
...

Tk extends the Tcl scripting language with buttons, menus, and other
widgets. It also looks like an extremely easy way to integrate
conversational programming, the fill-in-the-blanks approach Jon
mentioned. Tk canvases can be used for graphical assist, so you can pop
up a conversational window at the GUI, draw regions for pockets, etc.,
select tool, stepover, type of milling, etc. and have it generate G
codes. This is a way to simplify programming of machining operations.
The scripts could be saved and reloaded so you wouldn't be left with
only a bunch of G codes at the end.

The first thing I'd do is simplify the programming of cutter
compensation.

My question is, what should this conversational or fill-in-the-blanks
interface look like? Jon mentioned Proto-Trak. Can someone (Jon)
describe this in some detail? What would be the ideal way to do this?

Tk runs on both Linux and Windows so the program could be used either
place.

--Fred