Lenny, There are two steps from the VariCad (or any CAD system) to NC code. You need an application (CAM system) to create a generic cutter path and then you run the generic cutter path against a control specific post processor to create NC code for a particular control. Most CAM systems have a post processor with them. Many CAM systems have configurable post processors so you can create a post processor for a specific control. There are a few stand alone post processors that will accept a generic cutter location file and create a NC code file for a specific control. There are not many open source CAD systems. There are not many open source CAM systems. There are not many (if any) open source Post Processors. Stuart
On Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 10:51 AM, Wayne Patterson<[email protected]> wrote: > Hey Guys, > I have been reading the list for a few months and I was hoping that > someone else would ask these questions or something close but no one > did. Durn! > First I'm new to EMC and CAM in general so forgive me if this is a > simple question. I know that a post processor is needed to convert CAD > files into G-code. > I have been using VariCAD for years to produce plans for my little > projects and am very happy with it. And I have run Linux for a few years > as well and extremely happy with it and do not want to use any M$ > products at all if possible. I'm using vista now because this laptop is > still under warranty. I'm sure you understand. And as soon as this > warranty period is over I'm loading up Ubuntu or Fedora. > What I want to know is: Is there a post processor to convert VariCAD > files into something that EMC2 can use and understand? > Can STEP files be used "as is"? Or is there a Linux program out there > that will do the conversions reliably? > Thanks for all your help in advance! > LennyWayne > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > _______________________________________________ > Emc-users mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users > > -- you can lead a person to knowledge but you cannot make him think ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
