Ron: I didn't fully understand the intent. You're aiming for tools to do relatively simple tasks while at the machine. This would be handy during "manual" machining, i.e. additional functionality along with jog and MDI.
What you would like is a simple menu driven CAM package. In this you select, for example, make countersink. The package brings up a menu asking, 1) center (default current x-y), 2) diameter, 3) depth, 4) tool diameter. A "more" menu might set parameters normally defaulted, feed, speed, tool offset, finish cut, etc. A GUI might show the tool path. The CAM package then generates G-code for this countersink. The G-code is loaded into EMC for execution. The scripting language would be the basis of extending the CAM package, what new menu items are written in. Would this work? Is it more in line with what you were thinking? For functionality this CAM package could be linked tightly with EMC. The CAM package could draw on EMC defaults and automatically load generated G-code into EMC. I'd still suggest thinking of this as a separate CAM package that generates G-code. It is very handy to see what the machine will do next and single step "unproven" code. This requires viewing a known language as it's run. I, along with Dale, don't want to learn a new G-code like language, Learning G-code is a skill I can apply at any CNC, a new language would be specific to EMC. I have enough trouble reading G-code without reference material at hand (bad memory). Such a CAM package may be useful in general, to other controllers, if not too tightly linked to EMC. This would require a post-processor scheme though. My thinking is in line with what Mike described. However, if made part of the EMC project and rules developed for how to program each "feature module" more people could contribute additional "features". Thanks. On Monday August 20 2007 6:36 am, Ron Ginger wrote: > I am not for a second suggesting Interactive machining should replace > conventional CAD-CAM, Gcode generation. As Stuart describes there are > large complex machines for which Gcode is the appropriate tool, and EMC > works very well. > > However, I see application for the much simpler Interactive work. My > example would be a 3 axis mill, om which I want to do a simple set of > tasks like face off some stock, drill a bolt circle, then maybe mill a > couple circular pockets around it. Yes, one could go to the CAD system, > draw it all, then process it to Gcode, then load and run that. On Monday August 20 2007 8:31 am, Mike Cinquino wrote: > What I have been playing with is using Gambas (a VB like language for > linux) http://gambas.sourceforge.net/ to generate a .nc file. -- Hugh Currin Klamath Falls, OR USA ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This SF.net email is sponsored by: Splunk Inc. Still grepping through log files to find problems? Stop. Now Search log events and configuration files using AJAX and a browser. Download your FREE copy of Splunk now >> http://get.splunk.com/ _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
