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Art wrote:

Hi all:

I have dealt with many bugs for the next release and have added some DXF
functions such as separate spindle speed, feedrate, and plunge rate for all
layers. Empty layers are flagged as well and turned off. Optimization has
been made better and more DXF types will load.

Hi Art:

A while ago I suggested you load a DXF file with certain options.
Am I to assume (from the above) that you can now optionally turn only
certain (entire) layers on? For example, one layer might be the
curvey surface of an object, and another might be a drill layer,
a third layer might be only a 'helper' layer to draw construction objects.
All of these layers should be treated differently.

Also, you'd like to let it know which was a 'drill' layer
(or 'drill' element, ie an up-and-down movement, not 'follow the
contour' movement). The 'helper' layer(s) can be ignored (unless
perhaps if you had a 'helper' layer which had your raw stock outline).

I also suggested that each DXF 'element' in a complicated drawing
could be turned on manually, and the ORDER and DIRECTION (and DEPTH)
of the tool could be governed by that manual selection.

Here is why: suppose you have a DXF with your complete part all on one
layer, but right now you just want to mill the outside contour. Perhaps
you'd want to start near the edge of the material (this is not necessarily
how the DXF was drawn in the first place) and proceed in a certain direction
(ie choice of upmilling or downmilling).

By picking the segments you want, in the order you want, you'd get
maximum control over the toolpath.

Have you given that idea any further consideration?

Who else thinks this is a good idea?

Doug Fortune














.

Doug et. al.

My personal opinion is that a Cam program is a Cam program, a Cad program is a Cad program, and a controller is a controller. I don't think an excellent control program like Mach2-n should be mucked up with cam functions at all. If you want a different order to your dxf vectors, then run it through a Cam program. How many different CAD/CAM programs are there currently in existence and none of them does every thing everyone wants. Mach2, for what it does, is a fantastic control program. Keep it simple, keep it pure and get rid of all the CAM functions.

Flame suit on
Bring on the hate mail.

Hugh
Hi Art:

A while ago I suggested you load a DXF file with certain options.
Am I to assume (from the above) that you can now optionally turn only
certain (entire) layers on? For example, one layer might be the
curvey surface of an object, and another might be a drill layer,
a third layer might be only a 'helper' layer to draw construction objects.
All of these layers should be treated differently.

Also, you'd like to let it know which was a 'drill' layer
(or 'drill' element, ie an up-and-down movement, not 'follow the
contour' movement). The 'helper' layer(s) can be ignored (unless
perhaps if you had a 'helper' layer which had your raw stock outline).

I also suggested that each DXF 'element' in a complicated drawing
could be turned on manually, and the ORDER and DIRECTION (and DEPTH)
of the tool could be governed by that manual selection.

Here is why: suppose you have a DXF with your complete part all on one
layer, but right now you just want to mill the outside contour. Perhaps
you'd want to start near the edge of the material (this is not necessarily
how the DXF was drawn in the first place) and proceed in a certain direction
(ie choice of upmilling or downmilling).

By picking the segments you want, in the order you want, you'd get
maximum control over the toolpath.

Have you given that idea any further consideration?

Who else thinks this is a good idea?

Doug Fortune

"Keep it simple, keep it pure and get rid of all
the CAM functions."


Ditto!

Carl

I second that, or third, whatever.
Keep it a controller only.

Alan Trest



"carlcnc" <carlcnc@y...> wrote:

"Keep it simple, keep it pure and get rid of all
the CAM functions."

It is a reality that in order to develop something like Mach2, a certain
amount of CAM functionallity must be included in order to appeal to the
broadest segment of the user community. I have committed to adding one
further thing to DXF and that is layer ordering, after that the DXF
functionallity will stay at that level for the forseeable future.
I know from the many letters and questions I get that someone is missing
the boat in terms of offering a "CAM for Dummy's" program to do all the neat
simple stuff that is desired out there at a very low price, and I may, one
day have to dive into that as a separate project, but for now, my plan is
simple, make Mach2 into the best controller it can be. My time for the most
part will be spent tightening the code and its capabilities until it will
work across the broadest spectrum of possible uses. The base Mill program is
almost complete, with the addition of multi-res screens and the removal of a
couple more esoteric bugs it will be ready for release. Mach2Turn will then
be completed. And then more capabilities will be added to both in terms of
speaking to the outside world. The G2002 will be hooked up, other IO cards
will be allowed and closed loop type of operations will be added. CAM
functionallity has a very low priority until all else is at least underway
and being tested with the possible exception of Gerber Drill code at some
point if I can squeak it in..

(Just a future outlook...)
Art
www.artofcnc.ca