[yohudi]

Danny,
After installing freemill on a laptop I have I'm having a bit better luck. At least I can post the part, now if I can only get it to give me enough detail in the hands......

Thanks again!

Hi there,

great news... and glad you stuck with it.... I think your problem with getting it to post before will be down to the default txt editor on the previous system.

re: detail in the model.

settings I used when I ran the model were tool diameter of 3mm and corner radius of 1.5mm, This describes a 3 mm ball nose as far as FREEmill is concerned... 15% stepover = 0.45 mm

If you "generate" at those settings... then "simulate" you should see the same kind of result as in the image I put up.. then just "Post" using the "general" post processor.

Well done.. and hope it works out for you.. if it does it gets you into 2.5D / 3D carving for zero cost...

All the best

Danny

[gravy]

Hi there,

great news... and glad you stuck with it.... I think your problem with getting it to post before will be down to the default txt editor on the previous system.

re: detail in the model.

settings I used when I ran the model were tool diameter of 3mm and corner radius of 1.5mm, This describes a 3 mm ball nose as far as FREEmill is concerned... 15% stepover = 0.45 mm

If you "generate" at those settings... then "simulate" you should see the same kind of result as in the image I put up.. then just "Post" using the "general" post processor.

Well done.. and hope it works out for you.. if it does it gets you into 2.5D / 3D carving for zero cost...

All the best

Danny

Well, I signed up for the spam and got freemill. It looked good so far, but I was a bit disappointed with no DXF import. Is there a good way to convert DXF's to any of the filetypes it uses?

[yohudi]

Well, I signed up for the spam and got freemill. It looked good so far, but I was a bit disappointed with no DXF import. Is there a good way to convert DXF's to any of the filetypes it uses?

Hi there,

well to be honest I can't say that I've had that much spam from mecsoft in relation to FREEMill.. so I don't think you'll have that much of a problem with it..

re .DXF to .STL.. this is easily acheived with a FREE and non-expiring version of 3D Exploration 1.5. It's an older demo of the software that's still about if you know where to find it... it's NOT a cracked or hacked version.. it's a legitimate demo. They didn't build expiry of function into the demos until later versions

I don't post where this is publicly..PM me or send me an email at my website and I'll let you know where you can get it.. sorry to be a bit "mysterious" and all that.. but if I post a link to it here it will no doubt vanish.. and it's too useful to allow that to happen.. If you think it's BS about it vanishing.... just try and find version 1.5 on the net...

As an alternative for FREE gcoding of DXF files, I'd suggest the CAmBam beta.. this works with DXF as a native format.. and there's plenty of help with it at the CamBam forum. CamBam has just gone commercial.. but 10Bulls is still letting people have the beta version for FREE.

While we're on the subject of FREEMill I'd be interested to hear of any Rhino users who have tried FREEMill...

I think that FREEMill might actually be able to gcode based on NURBS content. it loads .3DM as a native format... but it also has a specific setting for loading .3DM triangular mesh files. I'm curious as to the difference between a "normal" .3DM file and a "mesh" .3DM file. If any Rhino users have tried FREEMill or can put me straight on this one way or the other I'd appreciate it....

thanks a lot in advance for any info..

Danny

EDIT:

I've found a link to a download of 3D exploration 1.71.. which is NOT the same version as the one I mentioned earlier.. so this might expire after 30 Days.. but at least it will give anyone who wants to try it the chance to give it a spin.. and won't put the non-expiring version at risk.. see below

http://soft.softoogle.com/ap/3d-expl...-get-591.shtml

hope it helps

Danny

[gravy]

Hi there,


As an alternative for FREE gcoding of DXF files, I'd suggest the CAmBam beta.. this works with DXF as a native format.. and there's plenty of help with it at the CamBam forum. CamBam has just gone commercial.. but 10Bulls is still letting people have the beta version for FREE.


Danny

I use Cam Bam now and can't say enough good about it.

[kirkln]

Thanks ACP awesome DXFs will try to burn some today I will post pics later

[Switcher]

Here is a sample DXF file that started out as a Dingbats then ran thru my program to trace, then Wintopo to create the DXF.


.

[ACP5080]

Here is a sample DXF file that started out as a Dingbats then ran thru my program to trace, then Wintopo to create the DXF.


.

Looks good Switcher, eventhought its a quit simple figure.
The outer contour is not closed tho, and the most inner contour has 1 line to many.
Can this be solved in your prog?

[kirkln]

Test1[1].dxfHere you go outside closed extra line deleted just trying to help switcher he's doing an awesome job

[ACP5080]

Test1[1].dxfHere you go outside closed extra line deleted just trying to help switcher he's doing an awesome job

hehe...THNX kirkln....the cleaning of the DXF file is no problem for me either.
But what i was curious about, is if the PROGRAM can detect open contours or double lines when making a dxf file.

[fretsman]

Here is a sample DXF file that started out as a Dingbats then ran thru my program to trace, then Wintopo to create the DXF.


.

For some reason, this worked perfectly for me as I don't see any open areas or added lines. I guess I could be missing them though..lol!

Look forward to seeing the program, switcher. As always, thank you for your effort -

[br1]

One Program I have used to create my own "ding bats", is FontCreator, Just google it... it is not free but doesnt cost to much and you can control the outline of the font,"ding bat", that you create. Another thing I like about it is that you can call the finished font your own. Then it is just a matter of using a program like "TTF to DXF" to create the dxf file, take it into your cad and smooth out your geometry if need be and create you nc code. Yes it takes some work but doesnt everything ?

[Switcher]

New DXF File ---> Design 22


.

[Switcher]

The last DXF file I posted ( Design 22 ) was created with my new program for fonts, & WinTopo.

It has 1 open vector, not perfect, but close enough for me.

Anyone that has worked with WinTopo, knows about open vectors.

I'll post my program for fonts as soon as I clean it up, it's very simple to use & you can adjust the scale of the bitmap as large as you want, the DXF file above ( Design 22 ) was set to 3500 pixels, the larger the image the better the detail in WinTopo.


.

[Metal Lee]

Great vector Switcher! Clean and Smooth. I am using Corel Draw X3 but I am having trouble saving to DXF, I can open them but I can't save anything new as a DXF, I save everything as a PLT, my CNC software supports both, any ideas of a program that I can import a PLT and Export a DXF I really want to start contributing to this forum.

[cuemaker1]

I also use Corel X3... You can Export instead of save and it does dxf for you....

Good luck

[Metal Lee]

I also use Corel X3... You can Export instead of save and it does dxf for you....

Good luck

Thanks cuemaker, your correct, I am having problems opening with my cnc software it is saying the res is set to high i'm trying to reduce it before export, no luck yet.
Thanks, M.L

[planekrazie]

Does anyone have any Georgia Bulldog Files?
Thanks
Steve

[Soundcop]

Does anyone have any Georgia Bulldog Files?
Thanks
Steve

Is this somting ?

[Switcher]

I don't post where this is publicly..PM me or send me an email at my website and I'll let you know where you can get it.. sorry to be a bit "mysterious" and all that.. but if I post a link to it here it will no doubt vanish.. and it's too useful to allow that to happen.. If you think it's BS about it vanishing.... just try and find version 1.5 on the net...

http://www.davidhsmith.net/Essential_Tools.htm

Why you need to register your copy of 3D Exploration ?
The current version does not contain any limitations and the registered version differs only by absence of the UNREGISTERED text. Registered version also shows your name and email as the registered user.
If you register your copy 3D Exploration you will help us in development of new versions of 3D Exploration. 3D Exploration is trialware and you must register the program to continue using it after 30 day trial period (although it doesn't expire, actually). The registration fee is only $40. Once registered, you remain a registered user for this and all future versions of 3D Exploration. Registered users will receive information about latest versions of the program via e-mail.
All problems, which will arise for you and all your wishes will be considered first of all.

.

[Switcher]

btw,

It's not possible to register that version, the website does not exist.

.