Re: CAM generating short lines not G02/G03 curve segments

Hi Alan, This sounds like a job for one of your linear programming
g-code generator routines. (short program in BASIC or c. based on
circle parameters to generate g-code and replace the segment block)
Charles Hixon

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Alan Marconett KM6VV
<KM6VV@a...> wrote:

> Hi Doug,
>
> After you've imported the DXF, can't you just redraw the arcs? If

you

> have the center, radius and endpoints, it should be simple. Looks

like

> a lot are full circles. Use one of the short arcs to get the

radius if

> you need it. I recently imported some DXF files (with Vector)

from

> Orcad capture, and did this to "clean up" the circles I'd drawn

(symbols

> on a schematic).
>
> HTH
>
> Alan KM6VV
>
>
> Doug Fortune wrote:
> >
> > I'm trying to graduate from hand gcoding, some of my projects

are pretty

> > complex (such as the master rod for a 7 cyl 125HP homebuilt

radial engine

> > I'm working on.. see http://www.hciaviation.com/prod-r220-

a.shtml )

> >
> > See the master rod shape near the bottom of

http://www.cnckits.com/

> >
> > I've generated the DXF file (which has a whole bunch of stress-

reducing

> > curvey but strictly portions-of-circles cuts), but I'm having

trouble

> > locating a CAM package which translates the DXF file into

portions-of-

> > circles cuts (ie G02/G03).
> >
> > My cnc mill will follow the G02/G03 within 0.000 10 inch but the

CAM

> > programs I've tried (or had my friends try on my DXF) break the

circles down

> > into linear segments about 5-10 thou long. This just doesn't

seem

> > right! Perhaps I'm looking at the wrong CAM programs!
> >
> > Does anyone have any suggestions (for a better, but affordable

CAM program?).

> >
> > I can program it by hand, probably take me a day or two, but I

thought

> > this would be a good opportunity to settle on a particular CAM
> > program. So far though, no luck.
> >
> > I know of an aftermarket software package called MetaCut

Finish. It will

> > take the already-generated-with-short-lines gcode, analyze that,

and

> > output G02/G03 circular segments http://www.metacut.com/ but

that is

> > an extra step and extra cost I'd like to avoid.
> >
> > regards
> > Doug Fortune
> > http://www.cncKITS.com