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3D cnc text

Discussion in 'SketchUcam Help' started by utoto, Oct 20, 2013.

  1. utoto

    utoto New Member

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    Hi all. I am trying to use Sketchup v8 with Sketchucam v1.1.

    I am having trouble getting proper gcode. I have been trying tutorials and help and not really getting anywhere. I have gotten a couple of files into proper gcode, but, cannot seem to duplicate the process. Argh! I am milling letters in 1/4" thick aluminum on my Zenbot 1216 cnc mill via EMC2.

    Can anybody help with this dilemma?
     
  2. swarfer

    swarfer Moderator Staff Member

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    Hi
    We'll need an example SKP file and the .CNC file you generated from it, and some idea of what you think it should look like as opposed to what it does look like. Maybe some photos of the finished article that did work?

    If you are using the 3D generator then, well, we know that needs work and is best used for very simple shapes.
    I like to put a flat 'apron' of at least 1.5*(bit diameter) width around the part at Z-zero, this enables much better edge detection and ensures that the bit does pass around all sides of the object.
     
  3. utoto

    utoto New Member

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    Hi swarfer,

    I simply want to generate gcode for a letter, say 0.25" thick aluminium 10" high in whatever font looks good at the time. I make a 3D letter and place it at the UCS intersection. From there, I am lost as to what next to do. I do click the 'parameters' button and set it up always the same, but, I do not check the g-code box or the gantry box. Perhaps this keeps the gcode from generating?

    Here's a bit that is incomplete:

    Code:
    %
    (Generated by SketchUcam {1.1a})
    (Bit diameter: 1/8")
    (Feed rate: 8' 4"/min)
    (Material Thickness: 1/4")
    (Material length: 1' 3" X width: 11")
    (Overhead Gantry: true)
    (Retract feed rate NOT limited to plunge feed rate)
    (Optimization is ON)
    (www.PhlatBoyz.com)
    G90 G20 G49
    M3 S15000
    G0  Z0.2500   
    G0 X0 Y0 (home)
    M05
    M30
    %
    It seems to start, but, goes nowhere.?

    Now here is one that works:

    Code:
    %
    (Generated by SketchUcam {1.1a})
    (File: Untitled.skp)
    (Bit diameter: 1/8")
    (Feed rate: 8' 4"/min)
    (Material Thickness: 1/8")
    (Material length: 1' X width: 1' 4")
    (Overhead Gantry: true)
    (Retract feed rate NOT limited to plunge feed rate)
    (Optimization is ON)
    (www.PhlatBoyz.com)
    G90 G20 G49
    M3 S15000
    G0  Z0.1250   
      X0.8187      Y0.8591   
    G1  Z-0.1750    F100
      Y0.0625   
    G0  Z0.1250   
      X1.4127      Y1.8392   
    G1  Z-0.1750    F100
      X0.8187      Y0.8591   
    G0  Z0.1250   
      X1.2910      Y1.8392   
    G1  Z-0.1750    F100
      X1.4127   
    G0  Z0.1250   
      X0.7569      Y0.9394   
    G1  Z-0.1750    F100
      X1.2910      Y1.8392   
    G0  Z0.1250   
      X0.2311   
    G1  Z-0.1750    F100
      X0.7569      Y0.9394   
    G0  Z0.1250   
      X0.0955      Y1.8392   
    G1  Z-0.1750    F100
      X0.2311   
    G0  Z0.1250   
      X0.6909      Y0.8319   
    G1  Z-0.1750    F100
      X0.0955      Y1.8392   
    G0  Z0.1250   
      X0.6909      Y0.0625   
    G1  Z-0.1750    F100
      Y0.8319   
    G0  Z0.1250   
      X0.8187      Y0.0625   
    G1  Z-0.1750    F100
      X0.6909   
    G0  Z0.1250   
      X0.8812   
    G1  Z-0.1750    F100
      Y0.7791   
      Y0.0625   
    G0  Z0.1250   
      X0.9437      Y0.8242   
    G1  Z-0.1750    F100
    (move y= -0.062500 LT min of 0.0)
      Y0.0000   
    G0  Z0.1250   
      X1.6346      Y1.9642   
    G1  Z-0.1750    F100
      X0.9437      Y0.8242   
    G0  Z0.1250   
      X1.2198      Y1.9642   
    G1  Z-0.1750    F100
      X1.6346   
    G0  Z0.1250   
      X0.7578      Y1.1857   
    G1  Z-0.1750    F100
      X1.2198      Y1.9642   
    G0  Z0.1250   
      X0.3028   
    G1  Z-0.1750    F100
      X0.7578      Y1.1857   
    G0  Z0.1250   
    (move x= -0.123592 LT min of 0.0)
      X0.0000      Y1.9642   
    G1  Z-0.1750    F100
      X0.3028   
    G0  Z0.1250   
      X0.5659      Y0.7977   
    G1  Z-0.1750    F100
    (move x= -0.123592 LT min of 0.0)
      X0.0000      Y1.9642   
    G0  Z0.1250   
    (move y= -0.062500 LT min of 0.0)
      X0.5659      Y0.0000   
    G1  Z-0.1750    F100
      Y0.7977   
    G0  Z0.1250   
    (move y= -0.062500 LT min of 0.0)
      X0.9437      Y0.0000   
    G1  Z-0.1750    F100
    (move y= -0.062500 LT min of 0.0)
      X0.5659   
    G0  Z0.1250   
    (move y= -0.062500 LT min of 0.0)
      X2.4547   
    G1  Z-0.1750    F100
    (move y= -0.062500 LT min of 0.0)
      X2.8326   
      Y0.8685   
      X3.5825   
    (move y= -0.062500 LT min of 0.0)
      Y0.0000   
    (move y= -0.062500 LT min of 0.0)
      X3.9603   
      Y1.9642   
      X3.5825   
      Y1.2183   
      X2.8326   
      Y1.9642   
      X2.4547   
    (move y= -0.062500 LT min of 0.0)
      Y0.0000   
    G0  Z0.1250   
    (move y= -0.062500 LT min of 0.0)
      X5.3793   
    G1  Z-0.1750    F100
    (move y= -0.062500 LT min of 0.0)
      X5.7556   
      X6.0850      Y1.3131   
    (move y= -0.062500 LT min of 0.0)
      X6.4222      Y0.0000   
    (move y= -0.062500 LT min of 0.0)
      X6.8048   
      X7.3139      Y1.9642   
      X6.9366   
      X6.6051      Y0.5735   
      X6.2702      Y1.9642   
      X5.9150   
      X5.5834      Y0.5868   
      X5.2497      Y1.9642   
      X4.8607   
    (move y= -0.062500 LT min of 0.0)
      X5.3793      Y0.0000   
    G0  Z0.1250   
    (move y= -0.062500 LT min of 0.0)
      X8.2146   
    G1  Z-0.1750    F100
    (move y= -0.062500 LT min of 0.0)
      X8.5925   
      Y0.8685   
      X9.3424   
    (move y= -0.062500 LT min of 0.0)
      Y0.0000   
    (move y= -0.062500 LT min of 0.0)
      X9.7202   
      Y1.9642   
      X9.3424   
      Y1.2183   
      X8.5925   
      Y1.9642   
      X8.2146   
    (move y= -0.062500 LT min of 0.0)
      Y0.0000   
    G0  Z0.1250   
    G0 X0 Y0 (home)
    M05
    M30
    %
     
  4. swarfer

    swarfer Moderator Staff Member

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    ok, you're doing a few things incorrectly.
    firstly, all drawn objects must be contained by the 'safe area' box set in the parameters, normally the safe area box positions itself with the lower left corner on the origin. now you put the things to be cut inside that box.
    all cut lines that you actually want cut must be in the safe box. The box must not be bigger than the physical travel limits of your mill! but of course you can set it down to the material size so you know where you can safely cut.

    next, SketchUcam is designed for cutting 'around' the shape you want, and the drawings are FLAT with no 3D component (technically this is created by specifying material thickness). the shapes must have faces inside them. outside cuts will cut around the outside of a face, inside cuts obviously cut the inside of a face.

    so, detailed process
    1. create some 3D text, untick 'filled' , place the text inside the safe cut area box
    2. with the text selected, right click and select 'explode'.
    3. select the text, right click an edge, select 'Phlat Edge', select "Phlatten selected edges'
    4. some areas may now be filled that are not normally filled, this is correct.
    5. now select the 'Outside cut' tool, it is second from left in the SketchUcam toolbar.
    6. roll over each letter and you will see a red outline appear, click to create a cut line for the outside edges.
    7. select the inside cut tool (3rd from left) and do the inside cuts on those inside bits of letters that must be removed.
    8. open the parameters dialog and set the tab width to 2 x bit diameter, and tab depth to 90% (leaves 10% material behind)
    9. select the TAB tool and create tabs on the long legs of each letter by clicking on the cutlines. this will create a tab at that point that will keep the letter attached to the parent material so it doesn't jam the bit.
    10. click the green Gcode generator button
    11. select 'plugins' and then 'plot Gcode'. this will bring up the Gcode previewer.
    so the drawing I did while typing this looks like this
    [​IMG]
    the orange and blue lines are cut lines, orange are outside, blue inside. the green bars are tabs where a bit of material will be left behind to keep the parts from jamming the bit.

    and the gcode preview looks like...
    [​IMG]
    where you can see that the bit will lift 10% of the material thickness to leave a little connector.
    Now, assuming your mill is happy to cut 1/4" aluminum in one pass, you can cut it now. However, if you want to do multiple passes you need to tick the 'Generate Multipass' option before generating the Gcode.

    NOTE that the bit will cut THROUGH the material according to the "In/Outside Overcut %" setting. In my drawing it is set to 110% and the material is 4mm thick, so it will cut 4.4mm deep. You can set it to 99 or 100% so it doesn't go (far) through into your vice or table, but make sure you get the Z zero absolutely correct at the surface of the material. Otherwise I suggest some sort of discardable backing board :)

    Each of the SketchUcam tools is described in the help, click the question mark on the toolbar. Somewhere there are howto videos for most of this. ah yes, start here
     
    Trulsen likes this.
  5. TigerPilot

    TigerPilot Well-Known Member

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    Great write-up, swarfer. Kudos.
     
  6. utoto

    utoto New Member

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    Wow! Very nice swarfer!

    I tried as you said and ran a trial on my mill with nmo hiccups! Thank you for the directions. I did try going through the tutorials, but, I was not understanding it in relation to my needs. So, thank you for taking the time to help!

    I do notice that when I check the gcode, it prsents from the top view, not isometric as yours. So, I cannot see the tabs and rapids. Any ideas?
     
  7. swarfer

    swarfer Moderator Staff Member

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    Great!
    just hold down the middle mouse button and move the mouse, the view will rotate.
    left mouse button will drag the whole drawing around.
    scroll wheel will zoom in and out.
     
  8. utoto

    utoto New Member

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    Oh my socks! That is so easy! Thank you.

    Is there some way to extract a second gcode that cuts out the tabs when the first gcode is finished?
     
  9. swarfer

    swarfer Moderator Staff Member

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    copy the drawing outside of the current safe area, making sure you have some way of positioning the safe area in the exact same relative position around this new drawing, turn off multipass, delete all tabs, generate gcode. this will then do a single pass at max depth around the shapes, cutting the tabs off.

    the bottom left corner of the safe area box sets the 0,0 position, so it is important to keep it in the same place relative to the drawing being cut.
     
  10. utoto

    utoto New Member

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    Aha. Yes. Thank you. I'll update as I progress.
     
  11. TigerPilot

    TigerPilot Well-Known Member

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    utoto, I cut many times the same part with two or three different g-codes. When I do circuit boards, for example. What I do is when I have the first 'safe area' outline in place, starting at position 0,0 as swarfer mentioned, I make a small, maybe 0.5", line from the end of the safe area. Now I select the part and copy it clicking first on the 0,0 point and then on the end of that little line. The new part is now at a known position. I now put a new 'safe area' at the same point, at the end of that little line. When you now make the new g-code it will have the same 0,0 start.

    When I do circuit boards I have one code for the holes, one for the traces and one for the outline of the board and every time it bang on with no deviations or errors. I can make, and I do, changes to any part and regenerate the code on one part only and it is always right on.
     
  12. utoto

    utoto New Member

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    Thanks TigerPilot,
    To simplify for me, I set an 'A' in place and did all up to tabbing function. I then created the un-tabbed gcode, set to 1 pass, and labeled it as 'A-final' meaning the final pass then saved it as that file name. Then I went back to the drawing and added tabs and multiple passes and saved it as 'A-tabs'. So, I will run 'A-tabs' first and clean up by running 'A-final' to remove the tabs. Perhaps this might seem a bit cumbersome, but, I am not at ease yet with my CAM abilities or my machine. I would like to realize it how you say, but, I am just unclear as how it all works.
    Perhaps do you have an .skp I can look at to get the jist of what your speaking of?
     
  13. TigerPilot

    TigerPilot Well-Known Member

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    Look at the file. I hid the axis' so that you can see the lines. To see the axis' go to 'View' and check the 'Axis'. I hid them so that the line on the red axis will be visible. I normally don't hide the axis' which is why I have also the line going down. I will not know where to put my 'safe area'. The down going line indicates it for me. As I've said, I some times have three of them, each with a different bit or function.
     

    Attached Files:

    • Test.skp
      File size:
      212.7 KB
      Views:
      216
  14. foamlvr

    foamlvr Member

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    Try playing around with some scrap material first before going right to your good aluminum. You can even just make air cuts by setting Z axis zero well off of the material. Make sure your material is really as thick as advertised, I recently bought 1/8 aluminum and it measured 0.105'' thick.

    If you cut the tabs, your good parts are free to move. Free to move right next to a spinning end mill, which in the best case will ruin your good part, and worst case grab the part and throw it at someones face. You are probably better off cutting the tabs with hand tools.
     
  15. utoto

    utoto New Member

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    Thanks for the words of wisdom foamlvr.
     
  16. ewo

    ewo Moderator Staff Member

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    Ok there is a new way of doing this , I took Yorams file and made 2 groups
    Group1 cuts the letters with the tabs and Group2 cuts the letters cutting off the tabs
    Check out the new files Group2 is positioned on top of Group2.

    I know this thread is old but i thought it was worth an update :)
     

    Attached Files:

    • Test.cnc
      File size:
      19.9 KB
      Views:
      209
    • Test.skp
      File size:
      209.9 KB
      Views:
      199
  17. TigerPilot

    TigerPilot Well-Known Member

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    I looked at the .cnc file, Bruce, and all it does is cutting the part twice. Once with tabs and once without. How do you prevent the part form moving during the second time, as foamlvr mentioned?
     
  18. ewo

    ewo Moderator Staff Member

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    Well maby that wasn't the best file for me to upload.
    you are right with it cutting the way it does. I just modified your skp file to try to get a point across

    I redid all a minute ago so someone can see how it works .

    Now instead of cutting the parts twice once with the tabs and one without ,
    Now it cuts the parts with the tabs . and the second pass only cuts off the tabs .

    I did put a simple stop code between passes so the parts can be taped together before cutting off the tabs :D

    When the first pass is done the machine stops where its at, turn off spindle , tape the parts together across the top and restart spindle ........... hit run and it cuts off the tabs ... Simple isn't it ? :fugly:
     

    Attached Files:

    • Test.skp
      File size:
      168.8 KB
      Views:
      195
    • Test.cnc
      File size:
      13.3 KB
      Views:
      198
  19. ewo

    ewo Moderator Staff Member

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    I read on another forum this quote and i think it fits me to a "T"

    Just because im a Moderator , Doesn't mean i know anything !
     

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