Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Recommen .. writing G-Code in Excel

HI Tom, Dave,

I was able to export epitrochoid (for Wankel engines) data in CSV from a
recently posted XLS file on one of the "engines" groups. A little work
with a text editor to remove the unwanted columns and adding some
standard settings gave me a Gcode file I could import to Vector CAD/CAM.
I added Xs and Ys with the editor as well. Block copy/paste works well.

From there I could scale it and generate an offset for a tool, and
generate another Gcode file that I could cut with.

The formulas for generating the X and Y coordinates were readily
available in the cells:

line 1 X =(B2*COS(3*RADIANS(A2)))+(C2*COS(RADIANS(A2)))

line 1 Y =(B2*SIN(3*RADIANS(A2)))+(C2*SIN(RADIANS(A2)))

line 2 X =(B3*COS(3*RADIANS(A3)))+(C3*COS(RADIANS(A3)))

. . .

I'd also be inclined to use the formulas in a simple 'C' program (or any
language), and then generate Gcode directly, if I wanted to further
study the shapes. But cut and paste works pretty good for a quick look.

Importing into a CAD/CAM program lets one do the offset tool path,
although with a little thinking, could also be incorporated into a program.

A simple format (PRINT) statement in the program adds the X and Y words
to the text generated.

Another way to do it would be to write a "filter" type program that
would accept CSV (or whatever you like) and generate Gcode for you.

I like line numbers, and always generate them, but they're not necessary.

The epitrochoid spread sheet also had a graphic of the data (I haven't
figured out that one yet) that was neat way to "chart" the data.

ExpressPCB data files were unreadable when I last looked at them, have
they changed? Were you able to export useable date from their files?

I played with a French program to layout PCBs, but found that I could
use Eagle, and generate Gerber files, or even isolation files.

Alan KM6VV


Tom Hubin wrote:

> Hello Dave,
>
>
>>I used excel to write points for a pcb when I had it in expressPCB (a
>>proprietary format that does not output a useable file)
>>
>>What I did was to create columns for each axis
>>
>>A B C D E
>>
>>G00 x 1.123 y 0.234
>>G00 x 1.555 y 1.254
>>
>>That makes it easire to see your numbers and you can chart them to
>>see if they are in some sequence you expect.
>>
>>Line numbering also is easy.
>>
>>To export the data, you can highlight the area of your work and then
>>copy it to the clipboard.
>
>
> You can also export the file directly from Excel as a text file. Some of
> the text export file types embed characters that TurboCnc does not like.
> One of the text export file types does work fine with TurboCnc but I
> don't recall which one. There are only a few export text file types so
> try each to find the one that TurboCnc is happy with.
>
> <SNIP>
>
> Tom Hubin
> thubin@...
>