[danheeks]

lezdep, SALOME: Is there a download for my computers ( Windows Vista or XP or Ubuntu 8.04 ) ?

[lezdep]

There is standalone Linux executable here -

http://caelinux.com/CMS/index.php?op...d=44&Itemid=40

They also have bootable LiveDVD you can run on any PC.

[lezdep]

Another session of machining. Other side of my part. This time I generated both roughing
and finishing toolpaths using pycam. Overall toolpath are acceptable. Issues are related
to the fact, that hight of toolpath is bigger than length of cutting portion of my tool. So on
some passes, tool was cutting only part of the stock, while deflecting from another part.

There are couple picture of produced part. It's not ideal, but good first try.

[danheeks]

Good work, lezdep.

Lode,
I can now open an NC file into my CAM software.
The toolpath isn't quite right.
Please look at my blog for details.
http://heekscnc.blogspot.com/2009/01...ropcutter.html
Is there something I can change?

Dan.

[lezdep]

DropCutter would normally work with ZigZagCutter. There are "valid" combinations
listed in README file. Which combination of cutters have you used ?

Good work, lezdep.

Lode,
I can now open an NC file into my CAM software.
The toolpath isn't quite right.
Please look at my blog for details.
http://heekscnc.blogspot.com/2009/01...ropcutter.html
Is there something I can change?

Dan.

[danheeks]

It's OK, I have found the problem.
In SimpleGCodeExporter.py there are lines like this:
# self.file.write(gc.rapid(point.x,point.y,gc.safety height)+"\n")
to rapid to the clearance plane, but they are commented out.
Anyway, I have written my own exporter for HeeksCNC, see here http://code.google.com/p/heekscnc/so...yCamToHeeks.py
I now have a zig zag operation in HeeksCNC, that makes NC code with my existing mechanism and backplots the NC file, so I can see the toolpath. See my blog for a picture http://heekscnc.blogspot.com/2009/01...-to-pycam.html

[lleroy]

Another session of machining. Other side of my part. This time I generated both roughing and finishing toolpaths using pycam.

:banana:

Overall toolpath are acceptable. Issues are related to the fact, that hight of toolpath is bigger than length of cutting portion of my tool. So on
some passes, tool was cutting only part of the stock, while deflecting from another part.

Maybe this can be solved for now by first doing the roughing with PushCutter/Polygon in x direction, and then in y direction? It would be mostly cutting air, but it should remove the nasty bits for the DropCutter/ZigZag....?
Of course, this will be the job of the PushCutter/Contour once that's working.

[lezdep]

One thing to note - roughing toolpath was generated with previous version.
PushCutter appears to be broken in current version.

One direction milling we talked about would help somewhat in my case.
Combination with Adaptive Clearing worked good though.

:banana:

Maybe this can be solved for now by first doing the roughing with PushCutter/Polygon in x direction, and then in y direction? It would be mostly cutting air, but it should remove the nasty bits for the DropCutter/ZigZag....?
Of course, this will be the job of the PushCutter/Contour once that's working.

[lezdep]

Did more machining. PyCAM was used to generate number of toolpaths. Worked
quite well. Nice thing about PyCAM is that it allows to define toolpath's borders implicitly.
So, I could only generate toolpath for selected portion of my 3D model.
For example only packets in parts were machined with CNC. Rest I've done manually.

I found PyCAM to be very useful and working well for me. Next will be machining
of diffuser for my model. I will show results as soon as I'm done. All toolpaths for
that work were generated using PyCAM.

[roger_e]

Okay I got Ubuntu 8.04 and EMC2 on a dual boot.

My machine is a minitech 4Axis...and I use it comercially....right now with mach3 and lazy cam...for the business we are ordering Visual Mill...

WE make optical components

So I got a system and time to play around with pycam...What is the direct way to get it up and running on Ubuntu 8.04?

Thanks

[lleroy]

So I got a system and time to play around with pycam...What is the direct way to get it up and running on Ubuntu 8.04?

thanks for your interest in pycam... unfortunately I do not know ubuntu... so I cannot provide you a step-by-step guidance.
there are some hints on the help forum: http://sourceforge.net/forum/forum.php?forum_id=860184

[posix]

is this lode from brussels?

[lleroy]

yep, who's asking?

[posix]

remember kelderke and stomp and snails?
we worked together many years ago at icon.
it's interesting to see that after we worked together with same technology that we're both into cnc after so many years! :wave:

[sumpfralle]

There is a new release of pycam available (v0.2). It contains a new GUI based on GTK and a lot of new features:
* improved performance by (optionally) using the "Open Dynamics Engine" (ODE) for collision detection
* configurable 3D view settings: model / toolpath / axis / drill progress / frame rate / colors
* manipulation of the model: rotation, flip, swap, scale, move
* saving the model to an ascii STL file
* load/save processing settings from/to a file
* handling of multiple processing templates (e.g. "Rough", "Semi-finish" and "Finish")
* configure "material allowance" for a minimum distance between drill and model
* allow to manage and export (gcode) multiple toolpaths at once
* visualize invalid processing setting combinations

Try it out, if you are interested:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/pycam/files/

[lezdep]

Got to find time to try it. Sounds promising.
sumpfralle are you helping out with development or completely taking over ?

[kanton]

I would like to try Pycam under Ubuntu 8.04. I downloaded the files at:http://sourceforge.net/projects/pycam/files/ but I cannot figure out the instructions in the install.txt file.

Is there an easier install method or a clearer set of install instructions available?

[sumpfralle]

I would like to try Pycam under Ubuntu 8.04. I downloaded the files at:http://sourceforge.net/projects/pycam/files/ but I cannot figure out the instructions in the install.txt file.

I would like to improve the installation instructions. Thus it would be great, if you could tell me, which part of the install.txt is hard to understand or confusing. Thanks!

Regarding your question: basically it boils down to the following:
sudo apt-get install python-gtkglext1 python-pyode python-opengl python-gtk2

Since your version of Ubuntu is older than "Karmic", you would also need to install two new packages from the "Karmic" repository. BEWARE: in the long term this can cause problems with your system.
Do the following to install the two new packages:
1) add "Karmic" to your package repository list (via "synaptic" or with your favourite text editor)
2) run "sudo apt-get update"
3) run "sudo apt-get install python-pyode python-opengl"
4) remove "Karmic" from your repository list again

When you are done, you can just run "./pycam.py" to start the program.

I hope, this helped,
Lars

[sumpfralle]

Got to find time to try it. Sounds promising.
sumpfralle are you helping out with development or completely taking over ?

Hehe - someone noticed the name change

I just joined the project. Lode and me were communicating a lot about these changes.
As a nice side-effect, the danger of a "sudden death" of the project should be greatly reduced

[kanton]

sumpfralle,

I got as far as:

"Do the following to install the two new packages:
1) add "Karmic" to your package repository list (via "synaptic" or with your favourite text editor)"

How do I add "Karmic" to my package repository list using
"synaptic"?

Why isn't there a version of your program that runs under "Hardy" without adding the "Karmic" stuff as the standard EMC install package comes with "Hardy"?

Thanks.