Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Cam Axial engine cam track code

Alan,

Yes I use the spreadsheet to reference a formula which calculates the value
of the current cell based on the value of another cell. This formula is
then copied into each cell that is required. The main thing to understand
about spreadsheets are the two types of cell references in formulas. There
is an absolute reference and a relative reference. The absolute reference
will always refer to the same exact cell each time the formula is copied to
a new cell. However, the relative reference will vary as the formula is
copied. So if the formula says to take the cell next to the current one and
multiply by 1.5, it will do this calculation for an entire array of numbers
and put the answer next to the original number.

I will send you a copy of the Excel spreadsheet that I calculated for the
cam follower.

In my spreadsheets I also place axis designators and feedrate values, so I
just copy the cells over to a word processor as UNFORMATTED tab-delimited
text. Then I replace all of the tabs (^t) with spaces (^s). Then I replace
the axis designators with their following spaces to remove those spaces.
This is no longer required for TurboCNC, but I wrote the macro already and
it takes 10 seconds to clean it up.

Daniel J. Statman, Statman Designs
www.statmandesigns.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan Marconett KM6VV" <KM6VV@...>
To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2002 2:38 PM
Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Cam Axial engine cam track code


> Hi John, Dan,
>
> OK I give in. You use an Excel spread sheet to generate coordinate
> pairs (sets) for conversion to Gcode. Do you then export comma
> delimited files (CSV)? And HAND edit them into Gcode? Or do you use a
> program to do the work?
>
> About all I ever do with spread sheets is to print them out. But as of
> late, I keep seeing them more. Just this week my boss (president of the
> small company) wanted a developer schedule in Excel. I got it out
> (just typed in dates into his spread sheet). Next, I'm talking to a
> lecturer (ham buddy) at the Engineering College of UCSC. He's telling
> me that he uses a spread sheet for calculations! So I guess it's time
> to give it a try.
>
> John, I don't see any equations in your spread sheet, and I think I
> recall you saying you entered it by hand? I don't have access to the
> original article(s) in "SIC". What did you work from (raw data)?
>
> Dan, Your Celtic patterns are quite interesting, as I've observed
> before. I believe you said before that you DO use calculations in your
> spreadsheet to generate your patterns. Did you do a sheet for this
> cam? I'd be curious to see it, or a simple ring pattern as I haven't
> written a spread sheet before.
>
> I can write an equation and generate Gcode from it in a 'C' (or other
> language) program, but I was thinking a program to generate Gcode from a
> .CSV file would be just the ticket. I have already done a menu-driven
> DOS program that generates Gcode for cutting timing belt pulleys (and I
> should shortly have a new Sherline 5400 mill that is big enough to hold
> the rotary table, tilting table, etc to cut them).
>
> Or maybe a "Math Cad" type of program would be even better (never could
> afford real MathCam). As far as that goes, a "Windows" program could
> evaluate an equation entered, and generate Gcode from the equation and
> several parameters. My son needs something to do!
>
> I'd appreciate hearing more about how this process works for you guys.
>
> Alan KM6VV
>
>
> John Guenther wrote:
> >
> > I have created a folder, Cam-Axial-60 , in the files section and placed
the
> > spread sheet and a gcode file in this folder. The gcode runs one
iteration
> > of the track based on the coordinates provided in the construction
article
> > in SIC. My rotary table is set up so that the y axis in the published
> > coordinates is the X axis on my setup. The code ran in TurboCNC without
> > problems although from listening to it I am not sure it will cut a
smooth
> > track. Some refinement may be necessary to get a smooth cut. I will
> > attempt to cut it later when I get my current project off the rotary
table.
> > I will probably cut it in wood just to save my round stock.
> >
> > John Guenther
> > Sterling, Virginia
>
>
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