Communicating with Gerber Saber 408

Hi Everyone,

I've been tasked with bringing our old Gerber 408 into the modern age by converting it to accept G-Code posted from Mastercam 2017 but I've hit a snag. From my understanding, the Gerber normally functions as a plotter/printer, not a typical CNC router. I've gotten as far as posting a test program with a Gerber post supplied by our Mastercam dealer, but cannot send the program over to the Gerber. We uses CISCOEdit to send all out G-Code to our other machine, a 1999 Anderson EXXACT DUO, but I don't think it's possible to do it in the same manner for the Gerber. CISCOEdit transmits one line at a time, but I believe the file needs to be send as a whole entity for the Gerber to receive it. I'm currently connected via Serial port although I can't say with confidence if my settings are correct.

Any guidance would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Tanner.

Just going to update this in case anybody else runs into the same problem I was having.

CIMCOEdit will transmit to the Gerber, it was just a matter of getting the settings right.

Stop bits: 1
Parity: Even
Baud: 9600
Data bits: 8

Here's some sample code for anyone that tries to get a post working. This code cuts a perfect circle, a rectangle with square corners, and a square with a radius. It works decently well, although it does dwell momentarily at the beginning of the circle.

Code:

---

%
(NEW MCAM GERBER TEST.NC)
(TOOL -  1 |  1/2 STRAIGHT BIT            | DIA. - 0.5000)
G20
G00 G90
T1 M06
G00 G90 X3.9479 Y11.2037 S18000 M03
Z2.75
Z.85
G01 Z.75 F100
X4.0351 Y10.2075 Z0. F200
G02 X4.037 Y10.1639 I-.4981 J-.0436
G03 X7.287 Y6.9139 I3.25 J0.
X10.537 Y10.1639 I0. J3.25
X7.287 Y13.4139 I-3.25 J0.
X4.037 Y10.1639 I0. J-3.25
G02 X4.0351 Y10.1204 I-.5 J0.
G01 X3.9479 Y9.1242 Z.75
G00 Z2.
Z2.75
X19.6236 Y13.4759
Z.85
G01 Z.75 F100
X18.6275 Y13.3887 Z0. F200
G02 X18.5839 Y13.3868 I-.0436 J.4981
G01 X14.5705
G03 X14.3205 Y13.1368 I0. J-.25
G01 Y7.3397
G03 X14.5705 Y7.0897 I.25 J0.
G01 X22.5973
G03 X22.8473 Y7.3397 I0. J.25
G01 Y13.1368
G03 X22.5973 Y13.3868 I-.25 J0.
G01 X18.5839
G02 X18.5403 Y13.3887 I0. J.5
G01 X17.5441 Y13.4759 Z.75
G00 Z2.
Z2.75
X33.0287 Y14.422
Z.85
G01 Z.75 F100
X32.0325 Y14.3348 Z0. F200
G02 X31.9889 Y14.3329 I-.0436 J.4981
G01 X29.9889
G03 X28.7389 Y13.0829 I0. J-1.25
G01 Y9.0829
G03 X29.9889 Y7.8329 I1.25 J0.
G01 X33.9889
G03 X35.2389 Y9.0829 I0. J1.25
G01 Y13.0829
G03 X33.9889 Y14.3329 I-1.25 J0.
G01 X31.9889
G02 X31.9454 Y14.3348 I0. J.5
G01 X30.9492 Y14.422 Z.75
G00 Z2.75
M05
M30
%

---

Hey Tanner
What post processor are you using to get g-code?
regards
Marcus