Thanks Marcus, Needless to say, before I even posted the question I did some research and created a couple of G-Code files. One for Mach3 and one for the general option. Ran into an interesting issue.
This is the general.spm file output for an arc (I've added spaces). N7 X-4.208 Y2.818 F14.7 N8 G17 N9 G03 X-3.9 Y2.992 I-4.141 J3.059 F11. LinuxCNC doesn't like it and complains about starting radius different from ending radius. Meanwhile the MACH3 spm file creates this line 10 and 11. X-4.2083 Y2.8177 F14.7 G17 G03 X-3.9005 Y2.9917 I0.0669 J0.2409 F11.0 Notice the starting locations for the ARC is the same. Reading up on various sites for G03 there seems to be two approaches to the G03/02 arc commands. One approach is that the XY location is the start/end for the circle and the IJ are the location of the center of the circle relative to the XY. The other approach is that each specifies a center point of a circle and the intersection of these is the radius. And then there's relative or absolute. Same drawing. Different G-Code values. Clearly there's something in the spm files that tells the post processor how to create an arc. Obviously the G-Code file should have a G90.1 or G91.1 to set our incremental or absolute arc mode and it wasn't generated automatically. The MACH one is correct as far not throwing an error message and actually moving the router bit around the table in what looks like the correct direction. However, it sets a G90 at the header and doesn't even support a G90.1. Fascinating. So much more complex than I thought. I'll contact MecSoft. I have to move my 2017 license anyway so it's integrated again with the updated Alibre. (was Geomagic). John > -----Original Message----- > From: Marcus Bowman [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: October-29-17 12:51 PM > To: Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC) > Subject: Re: [Emc-users] G-Code > > I'm not using MecSoft, but I do use Vectric VCarve Pro and I had a similar > problem. > I phoned and spoke to them, and they created a post-processor for me to use. > I think they may have added it to the normally distributed set of post- > processors after that. > Then I wanted a 4th axis wrap-around post-processor for LinuxCNC, so I > phoned them again. By this time, they had distributed a post-processor > creation application which runs within VCarve, so I was able to use that. > In fact, it is more flexible using the creation application, as it let me customise > the content of the post-processor to include my own standard header, > initialisation commands etc, so that the output is similar in style and > structure to my own hand written programmes. > Of course, the output is just a series of very simple G code moves. There is > none of the logical subtlety or flexibility one can create by programming in > LinuxCNC. The output works though. > > So; to cut a long story short, I suggest you might get satisfaction by phoning > MecSoft. > They may be glad to add another post-processor to their list. > > I know you could do a better job of creating a post-processor yourself, but life > is short. > > Marcus > > > On 29 Oct 2017, at 17:56, John Dammeyer wrote: > > > I'm using Alibre which creates files for MecSoft VisualCAD 2017 to create > > the G-Code. It's possible to tell it what kind of G-Code is generated by > > the MecSoft Post Processor from Mach3-Inch.spm, Mach3-mmMM.spm, > > Mach3-Sherline.spm, Hass.spm and even a general.spm etc. (There are lots > of > > machines in the list). > > > > But no LinuxCNC.spm. Where does one start for a generic LinuxCNC parallel > > port? Is anyone using MecSoft with LinuxCNC? > > > > John > > > > > > > > "ELS! Nothing else works as well for your Lathe" > > Automation Artisans Inc. > > <http://www.autoartisans.com/ELS/> http://www.autoartisans.com/ELS/ > > Ph. 1 250 544 4950 > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- > > Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most > > engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot > > _______________________________________________ > > Emc-users mailing list > > [email protected] > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- > Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most > engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot > _______________________________________________ > Emc-users mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
