I know that the safe area tool is to put the 'safe area' where I want when I want. And I use it that way. I just don't want it when I click 'OK'. I want it when I decide to put it, not before.

 

Man, i feel so unloved.

 

I always hated the safe area box popping up every time I save the preferences. But the problem is, it has to update if there is a box already present. So you can't just disable the update. You can make it update, only if the safe area dimensions have been changed. You can try out this mod: viewtopic.php?p=25346

-Kwok

 

This might be a bit out there of a requested feature but it would be nice if it wasnt very hard to implement.

I would like to be able to be generate 3d toolpaths that begin in the center of an object and follow a spiral out from there. This toolpath option solved alot of headaches when cutting out large 3d parts recently.

 

This is not intentional within the pocket tool itself but caused when converting the code with the centerline tool, it sees each line as broken, try to change the pocket lines to a polyline and then it will see it as one continuous line. You will need the bezier spline plug in....When you click on one of the pocket lines they should all turn blue not just the single line that is selected. Also its more the directional cuts that cause the textured lines, this is a common problem and it happens when the bit is going back and forth across each cut in opposing directions, it would be nice to see more fill choices like spiral or even hatch but hatch isnt a continuous line so there is a bit of work involved to make it this way.

Hope this helps
john Attached files

 

This link may be helpful look at Kwoks videos of the centerline problem solution
http://www.phlatforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=102&t=2301

Thanks
John

 

I'd like a checkmark for bullnose bits. the 3d plot works nicely, but toolpath offsets are completely different for rounded end mills, than for the usual flat bottomed ones.

also...
I'd love to be able to 'v carve' a varying depth polyline. right now, everything is defined as a percentage of the stock thickness. perhaps a way to just dump the actual z values in sketchup like a 'manual depth' mode?

scalloping trailing edges, variable chamfers/countersinking, ramping into pocketing ops, and reaming holes with a spiral path, instead of routing out at full plunge. plotting your own trochoidal toolpaths, and height based roughing paths.

i'd fully expect to break my bits testing that out, as its still cheaper than buying vcarve

I know. I ask the world, dont I?

 

Hi there,
We – students from the FHNW, institut for postindustrial design, hyperwerk.ch – just used your Plugin last week during a workshop teached by Anne and Gary (http://atfab.co).
After an odysea with several cams on several systems, i'm excited having found your SketchUcam solution.

Most students are working with Macs. So i tried to figure out installing a native gplot-solution for showing the gcode-path. My question ist:
Will you go any steps further and maybe enable a gplot solution that works natively or at least with an X11/XQuartz window manager?

Another software i found maybe worth for looking at it and maybe work together...
https://github.com/winder/Universal-G-Code-Sender

It would really be a comftable way showing live the gcode simulated.

Thanks again for your really good software!
Kind regards, Claus

 

I have 2 requests although I'm not sure how much work is involved. Ready? First, A checkmark in the parameters window that says "plot Line Depth as Z". in other words, use world coordinates to plot the Z values. Sometimes I need to cut a pocket or make a centerline cut that does not match a percentage depth of the stock. Flush bearing mounts are a good example; 87.5% on 1/2 inch stock.

bear in mind, I know I can make several files that have varying stock settings to accomplish this, but that gets very cluttered in the archival process shuffling around multiple files to make a single part.

If the Z moves traced the curve object in the world coordinates in Sketchup, I could build overlapping geometry to do 3d pocketing, easier waterline contouring, or even threadmilling. Such a setting is good for ramping into parts for faster feeds, integrated lead-in lines to a part, or true 3d milling/Vee engraving. I'm cutting a lot of aluminum as well as some pretty respectable Urethane and PVC blocks. I'm trying to keep my tiny bits from deflecting during a plunge, especially on aluminum where no matter the number of passes, I get oval holes and divots caused by the bit walking on the surface during the initial pass.

Second request; setting a start point on a path. Either through a plunge tool, or something like the tab tool. this would force the direction of a centerline cut instead of the nesting algorithm figuring the direction. The first time I wished for it was when cutting out EVA foam for an iron man helmet, where the triangular tips bent with the bit when it changes direction. Setting an in point on the centerline by cutting one side, rapid to the beginning of the next cut, and cut toward the open end of the piece would keep the part supported till it breaks free.
I'm on a vaccuum table, and foam is pretty tough to hold down, no matter how much suction.

you can't tell I'm a bit of a power user, haha.

By the way, the plugin works excellently, and it has boosted my maker cred and creativity astronomically. Thank you for the excellent code that is already there! my machine has worked wonders since this plugin came out, which is great, considering my zero budget after building it

 

I read through the whole post, Joe, but I didn't see any question!

But I'd like to comment on your problem with the bit bending. I use A LOT of small size bits. Sometimes only 1/32 and they don't bend because I don't cut aggressively! I use the multi pass with shallow cuts, slow IPMs in the horizontal and vertical travel or, in other words, on all axis'! My holes in hard 3/4" wood are round.

 

Just passing by and thought to myself, as I mentioned to Mark a few days back :

SketchUcam has loads of potential. I sense most people using CNC router/mill like the OX over at OpenBuilds are mostly working 2.5D - very little depth as opposed to what I'm aiming to do with myOX (ex: molds for thermoforming shells/bodies for my r/c monster truck).

Having an open source CAM like SketchUcam is a fantastic way to get people interested in CNC as a hobby, not everyone want to go into mass production of parts or heavy CAD/CAM apps and their price tags. I should be reading the few pages of postings here, but let me do some rambling on with a few thoughts.

So, the 'layering' (order groups and paths) is great. I suspect the join can "import" Gcode files created by any other program (even if not displayed ... or maybe just as a flat traceout for positioning) ? It would need to allow proper sequencing: place imported g-code between which 2 'layers' ?

I love how instead of doing back and forth passes over the entire surface, slightly shifting with each travel, one can just tell it : here's the pocket, do it; here's a drill hole, do it; etc. It is much faster. The only catch is that it will not do true 3D. Which is ok. One could do that with MeshCAM or other software AND join it to a SketchUcam process. For example, if I'm not off my rocker, I can have MeshCAM for converting an image of a 'tree' with raised areas left blank for name 'plates' and then SketchUcam trace paths to fill in these name tags... bingo, I've got a family tree with great details on trunk, branches and even bark (from the converted image) and perfectly written text for names and dates. The best of both worlds ... although I wished SketchUcam could do the image to Gcode conversion on its own.

Here's the kicker, if I can think out loud, where SketchUcam had a simple UI to add tool/head changes, instead of maybe having to tweak Gcode manually, it could be used to really optimize a job - like the family tree example up above. An other example would be for one to do rough pass with a big tool to get rid of a maximum of waste material fast. A subsequent 'layer' would do finer details JUST where needed - some cleaning up, details, etc. In fact, it could be a few 'detail' passes, each with the most appropriate tool (one for lettering, v-grooving, ...) Then, to really think out the box, we could have layers with different heads - do a laser pass for very fine engraving/marking or even get 3D printing head in the action (swap heads instead of just the bit/tool) and build up parts of the project with colours... there would be no limit.

Of course, being able to simulate a 4th axis, like MeshCAM, would be just beyond fantastic.

SketchUcam would need to know the axis of rotation, the number of steps (angle/rotation) Instead of merging G-code files, it would create separate ones for each 'step' for those with out a 4th axis machine. It could do just two steps to machine a two sided project; 4 steps to work each face of a 'cube' about a common axis; and however many steps for complex jobs. Heck, it could allow the user to pick just some of the faces, skipping others (ie. do detail on left, right and top in six or more 'faces', doing nothing for the bottom. If the machine has a 4th axis of some sort, it could actually generate the g-code to control it and output a single file. Otherwise, it would insert a pause and let the user do a manual 4th axis adjustment. In either cases, it would do (just) the next position as opposed to continuous rotations.

Now that would be sweet !

Just too much thinking out loud on my part, don't mind me ...

 

I understand, especially given the price of SketUcam ... not a money maker, eh ? Still a fantastic tool which I'll use at least to complement MeshCAM (will use that one to convert photos and such to G-code). Some manual (and risky) tweaking of code when fusing ... Should be fun.

As for handling tool changes and 4th axis, go the route of the smallest common denominator : manual only ! Those who have a machine with automated tool change and a 4th axis most likely already have the needed software (at great expense probably) to do use the feature (hardware). However, the folks like me - in budget constraints, most likely don't have anything ... not a tool changer, not even a 4th axis. Going with a manual approach by SketchUcam would then be perfect. Just insert code to 'home then do (manual) tool change and home again" (should 'self' realign to correct any 'manual' movement). Same for simulating 4th axis : 'home then do (manual) rotation of work, home again'. Sounds easy enough to implement (especially from me who is not doing the needed programming).

Are you in OpenBuild with your build ? It would be nice to fuse the two sites and expose both 'worlds' to all members of both sites ...