[studysession]

OK -

I am new to a lot of this. I downloaded the CNC Toolkit and the files have a .mse extension. How do I install these?

Also since GMax is not offered as a free download anymore. Where do I download it from?

Is this GMax the same thing?
http://www.turbosquid.com/gmax

Thanks!@

[ger21]

Yes, you can get GMAX from Turbosquid. Be prepared for a VERY steep learning curve if you've never used 3D Studio Max.

[studysession]

Yes, you can get GMAX from Turbosquid. Be prepared for a VERY steep learning curve if you've never used 3D Studio Max.

Thanks - How do you install the *.mse files from the CNC Tool kit?

[ger21]

Never tried CNC Toolkit. You might want to join their Yahoo group.

[studysession]

I joined the group and posted there. Just no reply yet and was HOPING someone here has used it and was familiar with it and was able to help and give advice.


Thanks

[yohudi]

I joined the group and posted there. Just no reply yet and was HOPING someone here has used it and was familiar with it and was able to help and give advice.


Thanks

Well that's where you're in luck then... because I know at least enough about it to get you going and also where to find the best reference material re using it... I'm a member of the CNCToolkit Yahoo group as well, but IMHO it can be a bit of a slow process getting a response to questions there...

CNCToolkit is a maxscript.. the programs (3dsmax and gmax) allow a set/s of external instructions to make calls upon the 3dsmax or gmax core functions for purposes other than those originally pre-built into the software. Rainea, the author of the toolkit, has addressed the matter of deriving GCode from both lots of the software. There are some restrictions in the toolkit running under gmax, it was a freebie, so it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the 3dsmax software.

to get the toolkit working.....

First: just copy the contents of the download into your 3dsmax/scripts directory.. or your gmax/scripts directory.

Next, run 3dsmax/gmax. Look to the right of the screen and you will see a thinnish grey panel that runs the full length of the window. This is the "max" control panel area and it's here that you adjust parameters for many of the "max" functions.

Look to the top right of the control panel and you'll see some tabs. In 3dsmax one has a picture of a hammer on it.. and I think it's the same in gmax. There are only about 2 tabs in gmax so it should be really easy to spot. Click on the hammer to take you to the Utilities control panel.

On the Utilities panel you'll see a button marked "Run Script". Press it and browse your scripts directory for a file called 4.03.mse. This is the latest version of the free beta CNCToolkit software. Select the file and press "OK".

The CNCToolkit control panel should now popup in the centre of your 3dsmax/gmax screen.. da daaaaaahhhh!

To make use of the toolkit functions:

Unfortunately NOT so easy as getting it installed.. but not that hard either..

If you've not used 3ds or gmax before don't worry, it's not as hard as it might look initially. I've pretty much grown up with the 3DS/max software since it's MSDOS version 1.0 back in the 80's. It has excellent modelling features and is a lot more freeform and intuitive than many of highend packages.

Focus on spline modelling to start with. Learn how to make complex shapes in 2D before worrying about 3D. Most if not all through cutting jobs only use the 2D functions in max and also CNCToolkit. The Mach2 toolpath in the picture at the link below was generated entirely by the 2D max functions and CNCToolkit.... the link to video of the machine cutting it is also below

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/attach...9&d=1168819886

Video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoYoQwRnIKU

Let me know how you get on with running CNCToolkit. If you have any 3dsmax or gmax questions I should be able to help out there too. Definitely in the case of 3dsmax. I pretty much run it every day... gmax is not that different as far as I know..

best of luck... and STICK WITH IT.. When you get your GCode generation running this way then it's so easy it's unbelievable....

[yohudi]

I joined the group and posted there. Just no reply yet and was HOPING someone here has used it and was familiar with it and was able to help and give advice.


Thanks

Just checking to see how you got on with CNCtoolkit.... as I've noticed there was no reply or response to the info I posted here....

don't give up on max or the toolkit.. it's a useful way to work ...

[studysession]

Sorry -
Been working on my DIY CNC Router build. Once done will be using the tool kit.

I am building a 48" x 48" 6 axis router from 8020 aluminum. Going slow but it is going. Thanks

[yohudi]

Sorry -
Been working on my DIY CNC Router build. Once done will be using the tool kit.

I am building a 48" x 48" 6 axis router from 8020 aluminum. Going slow but it is going. Thanks

Hi.. glad to hear you will be using the tool kit... it's great once you get used to this way of coding.

re your 8020 build... I'm about halfway through a similar build myself... at the functional 3 axis stage at the moment.. cut area (X)1800mm x (Y)1400mm x (Z) 200mm. see my build log at the link below. Will increase the cut area to (Z)300mm when I go to 6 axis... using the same rotary drives as rainea used on his machine... that's the machine generally under discussion at the CNC toolkit forum btw.

doing some actual work with my existing 3 axis setup to pay for the 6 axis upgrade (hopefully anyway).

build log link

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20656

[studysession]

Nice looking setup.

[roboticscnc]

Hi, is there any way to convert iges, step, stl or similar files so they work in Gmax? The CNC Toolkit is the only software I can find that does 4 axis toolpaths but I can't spend time recreating drawings that are only compatible with Gmax. There are also some 3D models I would like to use but they are all .max format, which Gmax doesn't support either.
I've done an extensive search on the web for conversion programs but I can't find anything suitable.
Thanks,
Glen.

[yohudi]

Hi, is there any way to convert iges, step, stl or similar files so they work in Gmax? The CNC Toolkit is the only software I can find that does 4 axis toolpaths but I can't spend time recreating drawings that are only compatible with Gmax. There are also some 3D models I would like to use but they are all .max format, which Gmax doesn't support either.
I've done an extensive search on the web for conversion programs but I can't find anything suitable.
Thanks,
Glen.

Hi There,

You Can convert .STL and .MAX files to .3DS using 3D Exploration 1.5. see the link below to download it. This did used to be hosted at David H. Smiths Gmax support site... but the site no longer exists... If the link below doesn't work I do know of a couple of other places you can still find this online as part of other downloads...

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/attach...2&d=1210930947

3D Exploration conversion is quite intelligent... if the file exceeds .3DS format limits of 64,000 faces per object it automatically and seamlessly divides the object into 64,000 face groups. These can then be reunited inside Gmax using the Editable Mesh Attach function.

As for .IGES and .STEP I'm not aware of anything that does these formats directly... but you could always look for something that will take them to .STL format.. and then apply 3D Exploration 1.5 again...

Edit:

BRL_CAD is a FREE option for the above.. it's open source and according to the documentation it will open IGES and Convert to .STL see the link below to download

http://sourceforge.net/projects/brlcad/

If you have 2D content you need to get into Gmax the best route is via .DXF.. Gmax will import .DXF files directly...

Hope this helps

Danny

[fly_boy_bc]

sorry removed post because I want to think about my question some more.

[yohudi]

Hi There,

The board did send a copy of your post by email and I thought I'd reply to try and offer a bit of guidance re: the parts of the ebook that should be most helpful to you.

You are correct in thinking that 2.5D or Parts type work is best addressed using spline or vector modelling / editing in gmax. I think Chapter 4 of the ebook is most relevant to the type of work you are looking at, particularly the 'Parts and Layout' and 'Toolpaths' sections of the chapter. As you have a 4 axis setup, the 3D spline building parts of the 'Toolpaths' section might be helpful. Toolpath processing examples in chapter 7 will probably also be helpful.

gmax and CNC_Toolkit excel at this type of work and for many parts you need only create a simple 'outline' drawing, from which you can then generate a multipass toolpath to whatever depth your tooling can cut with a user specified number of passes.

If gmax seems a bit heavy for the work you are doing, a useful and less complex alternative might be found in the FREE CamBam beta software discussed in chapter 8. CamBam does excel at things like region based clearance paths and outline cutting and can be a lot more 'automatic' than gmax although it's editing tools are not as powerful.

ebook content related to image editing and mesh deformation etc will not be required in the type of work you describe. The ebook starts with these aspects of CNC as, like yourself, many people do at least have some familiarity with image editing.

hope this helps

Danny

[fly_boy_bc]

Thanks for the guidance and especially for the effort you have put into this project of yours. And I am sorry for calling you "David" in my first post. You usually just go by yohudi. I have also spent many thousands of hours compiling free information for the benefit of others. see my Hubpage at :

http://hubpages.com/hub/Copyright-free-aircraft-plans

(group)

I removed the post because I could not remember my specific questions and I FINALLY got the help files and tutorials for G-max. I do remember a few things that were giving me a lot of trouble:

1...In chapter four on page fourteen fig. 20 you show the 2.5D snap as green and active. MY copy does not look the same it has a "3" on that button and when I hover over it it is identified as "3D Snap Toggle". I can see no sign of a 2.5D toggle anywhere??!?

2...Can Cam Bam handle a fourth axis? (My guess is "no")

"ebook content related to image editing and mesh deformation etc will not be required in the type of work you describe."

3...These techniques although not normally useful for regular machining might prove valuable when creating particularly detailed surfaces where the design most logically starts from a 2D source. Photo engraving or texturizing leaps to mind. Am I thinking along the right lines?

4...You intended your tutorial to be used AFTER the user had already gone through the G-max tutorial from turbosquid correct? (I have not as yet)

Just so you know I have downloaded ALL of your "essential" freeware WITH whatever documentation it comes with and even 3D Exploration 1.5 with BRL_CAD as they might come in handy for file conversion purposes.

You mention a few times a G-max support site that is no longer available, do you still have the URL? Perhaps enough of the site was "crawled" to have a useful amount of information available at archive.org using "The Wayback Machine" If it does have some useful information I could copy it and make it available on a Yahoo Group or Hubpage. It would be nice to rescue such a resource from digital purgatory.

Thanks again. I can see where someone who has a system like mine might spend as much as he did on the machine for software and end up with far LESS capability than your compilation seems to provide.

Did you ever finish your second tutorial? I believe it was basically ALL about turning 2D bitmaps into 3D files suitable for bas relief style engraving yes?

Gary B in BC struggling to teach himself CNC for free with some help from yohudi.
(group)

Hi There,

The board did send a copy of your post by email and I thought I'd reply to try and offer a bit of guidance re: the parts of the ebook that should be most helpful to you.

You are correct in thinking that 2.5D or Parts type work is best addressed using spline or vector modelling / editing in gmax. I think Chapter 4 of the ebook is most relevant to the type of work you are looking at, particularly the 'Parts and Layout' and 'Toolpaths' sections of the chapter. As you have a 4 axis setup, the 3D spline building parts of the 'Toolpaths' section might be helpful. Toolpath processing examples in chapter 7 will probably also be helpful.

gmax and CNC_Toolkit excel at this type of work and for many parts you need only create a simple 'outline' drawing, from which you can then generate a multipass toolpath to whatever depth your tooling can cut with a user specified number of passes.

If gmax seems a bit heavy for the work you are doing, a useful and less complex alternative might be found in the FREE CamBam beta software discussed in chapter 8. CamBam does excel at things like region based clearance paths and outline cutting and can be a lot more 'automatic' than gmax although it's editing tools are not as powerful.

ebook content related to image editing and mesh deformation etc will not be required in the type of work you describe. The ebook starts with these aspects of CNC as, like yourself, many people do at least have some familiarity with image editing.

hope this helps

Danny

[yohudi]

Thanks for the guidance and especially for the effort you have put into this project of yours. .........

I have also spent many thousands of hours compiling free information for the benefit of others. see my Hubpage at :

http://hubpages.com/hub/Copyright-free-aircraft-plans

Hi there,

many thanks for your positive and supportive comments..... I'll try and help with a few things your post raised below... and I'll also add your Aircraft plans site to the links page at cnc4free.org next update.

Re: your questions.

1...In chapter four on page fourteen fig. 20 you show the 2.5D snap as green and active. MY copy does not look the same it has a "3" on that button and when I hover over it it is identified as "3D Snap Toggle". I can see no sign of a 2.5D toggle anywhere??!?

This button has a few options associated with it. I think there is mention of the functions on the gmax GUI page. and i also think it's covered in the 'Fundamentals' sections of chapter 4.

The button toggles snap on and off and also displays the type of snap that is active. When it shows a '3' this means 3D snap is active. If you left-click and hold on this button a slide out appears with a '3', '2.5' and '2' option. '2.5' = 2,5D snap, '2' = 2D snap. If you right-click the button a 'Snaps and Grids' options panel will appear, this allows further customisation of 'Snap' options..

2...Can Cam Bam handle a fourth axis? (My guess is "no")

Of itself CamBam cannot address 4th axis toolpathing. CamBam does have a 'Convert Toolpath to Geometry' function. This means any CamBam path you might want to apply using a 4th axis can be exported as .DXF. gmax imports 2D and 3D .DXF files and thereafter gmax tools / CNC_Toolkit can be applied to the imported toolpath to exploit it using indexed or continuous 4 axis machining.

"ebook content related to image editing and mesh deformation etc will not be required in the type of work you describe."

3...These techniques although not normally useful for regular machining might prove valuable when creating particularly detailed surfaces where the design most logically starts from a 2D source. Photo engraving or texturizing leaps to mind. Am I thinking along the right lines?

When I stated these techiques are not required for 'the type of work you describe' this is of course a bit of a generalization. There are no hard and fast 'rules' re: the use of the ebook methods... If you can think of a way to apply them in 2.5D work then by all means go for it. Texturisation could be one option and / or 'Photo-Carving'. CamBam is particularly useful for 3 axis 'Photo-carving'

4...You intended your tutorial to be used AFTER the user had already gone through the G-max tutorial from turbosquid correct? (I have not as yet)

The 'Turbosquid' gmax tutorials can be helpful but if I remember correctly they are primarily aimed at game development.... There aren't many CNC users at 'Turbosquid'.

I think it's probably more helpful to use the ebook in conjunction with the gmax helpfile. This is available as a separate download at 'Turbosquid'. The gmax helpfile is comprehensive and generally has detailed examples re: use of gmax tools/ functions and options. What the ebook adds to this is exploitation of the tools specifically aimed at CNC applications.

Just so you know I have downloaded ALL of your "essential" freeware WITH whatever documentation it comes with and even 3D Exploration 1.5 with BRL_CAD as they might come in handy for file conversion purposes.

You mention a few times a G-max support site that is no longer available, do you still have the URL? Perhaps enough of the site was "crawled" to have a useful amount of information available at archive.org using "The Wayback Machine" If it does have some useful information I could copy it and make it available on a Yahoo Group or Hubpage. It would be nice to rescue such a resource from digital purgatory.

I think download of the 'Essentials is a good idea. It's not unusual for tools or websites to go offline.. so download it while it's there is probably the best bet.

I think the support site you mention is probably 'David H Smiths' site that is sadly no longer online. I think some of the site content can still be found via 'cached pages. I do have some of the pages saved to hard-drive myself. This site was VERY useful re things like file export and gmax on linux... I'm not sure that it would be OK to just put up 'David H Smiths' work but I will try and see if it is available at archive.org as you suggest.. I think it would be OK to link to it if this is the case and I wouldn't have a problem doing that from cnc4fre.org or as you say perhaps you could do it from Yahoo. It was a great loss when it disappeared.

Thanks again. I can see where someone who has a system like mine might spend as much as he did on the machine for software and end up with far LESS capability than your compilation seems to provide.

Did you ever finish your second tutorial? I believe it was basically ALL about turning 2D bitmaps into 3D files suitable for bas relief style engraving yes?

The 'Bas Relief' tutorial you mention is actually part of the current ebook it's essentially the work from chapter 2 coupled with work from chapter 6.

Again many thanks for your positive and insightful comments. I think there is a great deal of CNC work easily acheived using FREE tools and I was surprised that consolidated information re: FREE software was not widely available.. This was the primary motivation for creating the ebook. I hope you find both the ebook and other resources at cnc4free.org to be of use in your CNC endeavours.

Regards

Danny (aka Yohudi).

[fly_boy_bc]

Thanks again! Once you mentioned holding the left mouse button down on the snap button it all became clear! It's the only button down there that acts that way.

http://web.archive.org/web/*/davidhsmith.net/*

Has THOUSANDS of pages archived! I even managed to DOWNLOAD md3exp.zip from his "essentials" page!! Now I can directly export .MD3 files! WOW not bad for a "dead" website! I LOVE The Wayback Machine!

I see no problem posting this information since he made it available for free. perhaps Mr. Smith has passed on. There is more there than I would like to re-format and post but the above link will get you to any and all of it.

I believe I am ready for a marathon study session which will end with a completed part!

Thank you again and again Danny!

Gary B in BC getting ready to CNC

[yohudi]

Thanks again! Once you mentioned holding the left mouse button down on the snap button it all became clear! It's the only button down there that acts that way.

http://web.archive.org/web/*/davidhsmith.net/*

Has THOUSANDS of pages archived! I even managed to DOWNLOAD md3exp.zip from his "essentials" page!! Now I can directly export .MD3 files! WOW not bad for a "dead" website! I LOVE The Wayback Machine!

That's a pretty handy link

Re MD3exp.zip... this is actually a redundant addon. gmax 1.2 has inbuilt support for mD3 export... I'll check if the link to 3DExploration1.5 is active there.. as it's a lot faster than Lithunwrap for MD£ conversion.

all the best and thanks again for the complimetary remarks... and for the wayback machine info / link

TTFN

Danny