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IndustryArena Forum > MetalWorking Machines > Tormach Personal CNC Mill > Looking for a good code simulator.
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    344

    Looking for a good code simulator.

    Any suggestions for a good code simulator, one that will run all the Fanuc codes? I've been using PathPilot but it chokes on some commands and/or routines that ran w/o a hitch on a Haas. I don't mind paying a few quid, I just want something that works reliably and w/o popup ads.

    Thanks

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Posts
    3063

    Re: Looking for a good code simulator.

    Doesn't Bob Warfield (CNCCookBook) have a G-Code simulator?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Posts
    1788

    Re: Looking for a good code simulator.

    Yes but insofar as I know the Warfield product doesn't handle LinuxCNC specific features such as if/elseif/else, variables, etc.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Posts
    3063

    Re: Looking for a good code simulator.

    Sorry, then, that's the only one I can think of off-hand.

    I suppose this one will be too expensive for your budget:

    https://www.fanucamerica.com/product...ning-simulator

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Posts
    110

    Re: Looking for a good code simulator.

    CIMCO or NcViewer may interest you

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Posts
    591

    Re: Looking for a good code simulator.

    Another option to look at is OpenSCAM. It's free-as-in-beer. It's not the most featureful program in the world, though.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Posts
    3110

    Re: Looking for a good code simulator.

    Google "nc corrector"
    ... free editor as well as a screen nc code plotter

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Posts
    1788

    Re: Looking for a good code simulator.

    I downloaded NCcorrector from NC Corrector, free G-Code editor. and installed. It looks rather nice but definitely is not fully compatible with LinuxCNC programs. Processing the gcode from Vectric VCarve, the toolpaths look OK but I get error messages for every character of every comment line. Feeding it a handcoded parametric program to mill boxes with rounded sides (runs daily under PP) produces no display and no error messages.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    2151

    Re: Looking for a good code simulator.

    Sprutcam 12 cam model simulator now has a g-code option. "I guess" No simulator for PP so I have no access to this.

    Quote from help
    Supports milling for Fanuc 30i, Sinumerik 840D, Haas VF2, Heidenhain iTNC530.
    And we developed new interpreters:
    Tormach PCNC Mach3 (milling),
    Sinumerik 840D (turn-mill)
    Interpreters for NC-code in APT format.

    Guessing this wont help much because of cost, but figured other readers might find this function useful if they have machines that are supported.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Posts
    591

    Re: Looking for a good code simulator.

    If you specifically want to see what LinuxCNC code is doing, you can use the LinuxCNC "Axis" program in simulation mode to do that.
    You can also install an evaluation/simulation version of PathPilot to run the code without a tool, and look at how the preview moves.
    They don't show a "carved piece" like preview in Fusion does, though.

  11. #11

    Re: Looking for a good code simulator.

    I've got tk cnc editor which is pretty decent for the price and it's got a good backplot . I've also got ncplot which is great for various functions , and it's the best bang for the buck . Nc corrector is free and it's ok but gets unstable on large programs

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    2100

    Re: Looking for a good code simulator.

    OpenSCAM is a dead name. The latest version is called CAMotics. Its got some little things like parsing machine specific codes like G28 and G30 weirdly, and it doesn't process G83 for peck drilling, but otherwise it seems to work for most of my needs. It does show non peck drilling and spiral interpolation drilling ok.

    If you are a CamBam user there is even a user written plugin so you can create a compliment file and simulate in CAMotics quickly and easily.

    Its open source I think so if you are a programmer and interested in helping... also the original author is motivated by donations. He fixed a couple things I mentioned after I made a small donation. Another time he asked me to do a project on one of his project sites and he'd add a feature I asked for. He's responsive to people who are not just one way.
    Bob La Londe
    http://www.YumaBassMan.com

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    720

    Re: Looking for a good code simulator.

    Don't have any experience with these products, but OpenSCAM probably made a good move getting the word scam out of their product name!

    Terry

  14. #14

    Re: Looking for a good code simulator.

    Haven't used any of my machines in a while, but when I did, I used to use CNC Simulator from here: http://cncsimulator.info/download

    It's been updated since I last used it. I believe that it is still free, you just have to download new "petrol" files every so often.


    Dave

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Posts
    1788

    Re: Looking for a good code simulator.

    Thanks for the suggestion but...
    The "free" product insists that you provide a legitimate email address and other info prior to using. Worse, it isn't compatible with the LinuxCNC dialect of gcode. For example, the following line fails:

    G02 X[#<toolRad>+#<Xmax>-#<Xoff>] Y[-#<endRad>] R[#<arcRad>]

    but gives the expected arc in PP.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    344

    Re: Looking for a good code simulator.

    Not great, but ok. I loaded Mach4 on my laptop and it gets the job done. Only problem is that the area that displays the tool path is small. Still, it's functional and free w/o pop up adds.

  17. #17

    Re: Looking for a good code simulator.

    Take a look at RosettaCNC PC software, it has a GCode simulator built-in to evaluate path without the related CNC.

    https://rosettacnc.com/en/

    https://rosettacnc.com/en/download-cnc.html

    You need to get a demo product key, valid 45 days, send a Product Key Request form of software dialog.

    Here you can have a list of supported GCode:
    https://rosettacnc.com/download/MduR...twareGcode.pdf

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Posts
    7063

    Re: Looking for a good code simulator.

    Not sure if it meets the OPs exact needs, but for 10 years I've been using CutViewer-Mill, and would not be without it. It's not the most sophisticated simulator, but it does pretty much everything I need it to. I ALWAYS run my code in CutViewer before risking my tools, and it has saved my bacon countless times. Also, on the few occasions where I have found a bug, I was able to e-mail the developer, and he's e-mailed me an updated version within 24 hours. They do have a free 30-day, full-function demo if you want to try it out. HIGHLY recommended.

    https://www.cutviewer.com/

    Regards,
    Ray L.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    2100

    Re: Looking for a good code simulator.

    I think the devloper of Cut Viewer has passed on. I was not aware that he was responsive to bug reports, but development seemed to have been at a stop for many years.
    Bob La Londe
    http://www.YumaBassMan.com

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Posts
    1788

    Re: Looking for a good code simulator.

    Quote Originally Posted by SCzEngrgGroup View Post
    Not sure if it meets the OPs exact needs, but for 10 years I've been using CutViewer-Mill, and would not be without it. ... They do have a free 30-day, full-function demo if you want to try it out. HIGHLY recommended.

    https://www.cutviewer.com/

    Regards,
    Ray L.
    From https://www.cutviewer.com/buy/
    "Unfortunately, Cutviewer is no longer available for sale. Should this change in the future, we'll update this page."

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