You can convert an STL file back to a 2d CAD file but it requires some hand work and reverse engineering. It is not hard for a human to see a counter sunk screw hole and know it is a hole for an M4 CC screw but the software just sees 5,000 triangles. So it can't be automated but it is not hard to do by hand. Or ask the designer to send the files to you or maybe it is already posted on Thingiverse. So one option is to get the CAD file, even if you have to re-draw the part. If you can get a CAD file then there are many CAM options, some free, some very expensive that people here can tell you about. This is what the professionals do.
The other option is to work from the STL. There are a couple of milling methods. One is "waterline" where you drop the Z-axis by 0.001 and move it every place there is to be no metal, to drop it by another 0.001 and repeat. It is very much like 3D printing but with a tiny size end mill. You simply "print air" and what is left over is the part. But the g-code for this knows nothing about the shape of the part. It is just doing a raster pattern. Another method is to allow the z-axis to follow the part shape as it makes a raster over the part. But deep dives on "Z" can break a small end mill. PyCAM will generate milling g-code from STL and it is free. https://github.com/SebKuzminsky/pycam It is always better to start from a real CAD file so the milling can be dome more intelligently. i On Thu, Nov 12, 2020 at 10:35 AM Gene Heskett <[email protected]> wrote: > On Thursday 12 November 2020 12:38:19 John Dammeyer wrote: > > > Mill it out of aluminium. Counter bores for the screws. Total time > > spent will be way less than 3D printing it. There are places for 3D > > printing. I use it all the time. But it's easy to get into that > > place where when you have a hammer everything looks like a nail. John > > > How do I make that .stl into gcode to drive one of my mills? Do we have > such a critter? > > And I expect to have a similar problem with the full sized lid. The other > half of that same bearing is half buried it it, same problem. > > I'll have to print both and take measurements to write the gcode I guess > since the .stl doesn't AFAIK have a size, that is up to the printer. > I've 1/8" plate I can make both parts out of. > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Gene Heskett [mailto:[email protected]] > > > Sent: November-12-20 9:02 AM > > > To: Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC) > > > Subject: [Emc-users] More questions for the 3d 'spurts > > > > > > 2 scans attached if they get thru the listserver. > > > > > > I am having a problem with this part, printed right side up, I am > > > getting this from PETG at 250C nozzle/70C bed. The ledge in the > > > center, destroyed as you can see, has an overhang of about 1.5mm to > > > retain the bearing. Turned over, its destroying the bottoms of the > > > cap screw counterbores. And the supports in the bolt holes are being > > > caught and pulled back out of the holes, mucking up the bottoms of > > > the counterbores that bolt it all together. > > > > > > Suggested fixes? > > > > > > Thanks. > > > > > > Cheers, Gene Heskett > > > -- > > > "There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: > > > soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." > > > -Ed Howdershelt (Author) > > > If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law > > > respectable. - Louis D. Brandeis > > > Genes Web page <http://geneslinuxbox.net:6309/gene> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Emc-users mailing list > > [email protected] > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users > > > Cheers, Gene Heskett > -- > "There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: > soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." > -Ed Howdershelt (Author) > If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable. > - Louis D. Brandeis > Genes Web page <http://geneslinuxbox.net:6309/gene> > > > _______________________________________________ > Emc-users mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users > -- Chris Albertson Redondo Beach, California _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
