Just curious how many write to Cam, Me I write it.
Hand writen
Cam
Little bit of each
Just curious how many write to Cam, Me I write it.
cadfish
http://www.burgiengineers.com/
Most of my programming gets done with Cam. But sometimes i do plain simple programs by hand.
*** KloX ***
I'm lazy, I'm only "sparking" when the EDM is running....
I don't have cam so I hand write it I have one code that is 374 lines and not even an 1/8 done IS IT WORTH IT????
cadfish
http://www.burgiengineers.com/
I ticked little bit of each, but would have prefered another option " Mostly by CAM, slight editing by hand."
My thought too. CAM is great for profiling and doing complex parts. Hand coding also has its place. I use it mainly to drill my locating holes for when I flip the work piece over.Originally Posted by ynneb
For all you guys who do the simpler stuff by hand ... you can easily and cheaply put your manual programming on steroids? ( Sorry ... no offense Mr. Palmiero ).
I invite you to have a gander at KipwareM and KipwareT ... soon to be KipwareEDM and more ... at www.KentechInc.com
I wrote it by hand for the first twenty years, then used APT for the last five.
A lot of people seem to think they need CAM to do even simple things with a CNC machine. Most of the time a pocket calculator, a ten dollar copy of TurboCAD, and a text editor will get the job done pretty quickly.
Software For Metalworking
http://closetolerancesoftware.com
I've been doing small stuff by hand. Round & Square Pockets, surface milling, drilling. Easier to do than dealing with software. Anything more than that, I need CAM. I insert lots of M00's between lines for that first run & cut air the first time too.
CNC was originally designed for hand coding. It's good to know how to do it even if you have a CAM package. Anything more than 20-50 lines I'll let the computer do.
That $10 copy of TurboCAD and something like ACE (free) will do it 10 times (or more) faster.Originally Posted by mrainey
Gerry
UCCNC 2017 Screenset
http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html
Mach3 2010 Screenset
http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html
JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html
(Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)
Some of the posts so far have mentioned simple or simpler programs; how do you define simple? Can we see some examples both of a part drawing and the final code?
I don't have time to do examples from scratch, but for people interested in starting out with CNC programming on the cheap - check out these free programs. You can use a group of simpler tools, in combination with your own creativity, to get a lot done.
Ace Converter (already mentioned) http://www.dakeng.com/ace.zip
Generates toolpaths from DXF files
AutoEditNC http://www.betatechnical.com/misc/Au...all%20V3.0.exe
Editor and programming aid
Also check out the betatechnical website for a good book, with free downloadable chapter.
Discriminator editor and backplotter
http://www.cncedit.com
My own contribution - machining calculations and data.
http://mrainey.freeservers.com/MEConsultant20.html
Software For Metalworking
http://closetolerancesoftware.com
I use cad for almost all coding and if I edit it by hand (which happens on all new programs) I then fix the cad file so that no editing (or so very little) has to be done.
The reason I program even the simplest things in cad is initialy for practice and for memory. I tend to delete old g-code files but the cam I save for ever (barring an accident). And you never know when your little program will turn into a big one, so you might as well have the geometery alrready done. (typing is a ltittle off today, got to eat my wheaty's )
thanks
Michael T.
"If you don't stand for something, chances are, you'll fall for anything!"
I agree wholeheartedly with Michael T.'s methods and reasons. If you have a good cadcam, you'll just like it more if you practice with it on the simple things to the point of getting really fast. If you save the cadcam for only the hard jobs, then that just makes them harder to carry out.
First you get good, then you get fast. Then grouchiness sets in.
(Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)
And even the simplest CAD/CAM is always going to be faster than hand writing the code, as long as you are proficient with the software you're using.Originally Posted by HuFlungDung
Simple can mean different things to different people. But like the previous two posts, I'd recommend doing everything in CAD. You still should know how to read and write g-code, and know it well. But the CAD/CAM route will be faster, and less prone to errors (typos).Some of the posts so far have mentioned simple or simpler programs; how do you define simple?
No. Spend that time learning some CAD/CAM, even if it's A9CAD http://www.a9tech.com and ACE http://www.dakeng.comI don't have cam so I hand write it I have one code that is 374 lines and not even an 1/8 done IS IT WORTH IT????
You'll have a lot more time on your hands once you let the software write the code.
Gerry
UCCNC 2017 Screenset
http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html
Mach3 2010 Screenset
http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html
JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html
(Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)
I do all hand coding using cad drawings as a reference tool. All the parts I have to do are relatively simple, just turned and bored, and threaded on our Lathe. So I don't think we are going to purchase a cam $y$tem (sic)
I just hate having to go to the lathe for backplotting...
Is there a free or cheap backplotter for CNC lathes ??? Everything seems to be
made for CNC mills.
What I do like about hand coding is that I am becoming very familiar with all the codes and canned cycles, and I can control tiny little details...cuz I am a control freak ><;
Discriminator works just fine for lathes. It won't draw the tool, just the toolpath, but you can usually visualize the tool clearances in your mind. I don't see much value in solids for backplotting turning programs, so no loss there.
The program is a free trial that doesn't time out. My all-time favorite free backplotter, even though it's apparently not supported any more.
http://www.cncedit.com
Software For Metalworking
http://closetolerancesoftware.com
to: Mrainey
I tried Discriminator out, I'm not sure I like the backplotting style it uses,
but I really like the editor ! I think I will use that instead of notepad (LOL)
AND... I saw your Thread Data Program ! I think I wanna buy it if I get approval.
later !
You should realy try and get even a cheap cad system for this. Relying on hand programing limits your ability when it comes to the complex stuff and saying that your shop will never do the "hard stuff" (especialy if your a job shop) is a good way to go out of business. Everyone will pass you by! If down the road you decide to take on more complex work your learning curve will be that much harder and your mindset will not be complementery to learning a new cad system.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I do all hand coding using cad drawings as a reference tool. All the parts I have to do are relatively simple, just turned and bored, and threaded on our Lathe. So I don't think we are going to purchase a cam $y$tem (sic)
What I do like about hand coding is that I am becoming very familiar with all the codes and canned cycles, and I can control tiny little details...cuz I am a control freak ><;
And like Hu said just doing the simple stuff will make you much beter when it comes time for the hard stuff.
If it just the money justification, then look at the cheaper systems out there.
who couldnt use more time?No. Spend that time learning some CAD/CAM, even if it's A9CAD http://www.a9tech.com and ACE http://www.dakeng.com
You'll have a lot more time on your hands once you let the software write the code.
and if your excuse is "I like doing it the old way" then your are a "Hobbiest" and don't realy have the mindset for the business end. (gee did I say your just a hobbiest, my appologies, there probably arn't any around these parts anyway! )
thanks
Michael T.
"If you don't stand for something, chances are, you'll fall for anything!"
My new book Machining and CNC Technology 2004 by Michael Fitzpatrick finaly came in the mail with a student version of Mastercam. now i just need to learn the program.
cadfish
http://www.burgiengineers.com/
mannster,
I tried Discriminator out, I'm not sure I like the backplotting style it uses,
but I really like the editor ! I think I will use that instead of notepad (LOL)
AND... I saw your Thread Data Program ! I think I wanna buy it if I get approval.
Whatever works for you.
I'll be releasing a new version of the thread data program in a day or two - adds form tap data, buttress thread data, and some interface improvements.
Mike
Software For Metalworking
http://closetolerancesoftware.com