Is anyone aware of any free g-gode generators? What I ultimately need to do is to cut 2 concentric circles with my engraver. The size of a hard drive dis (5.25") and an interior circle (whatever that size is).

I am thinking that I would need to leave tabs so that the material can stay in place as it is cut.

Flatcam creates tabs when cutting board outlines. I can generate a round board outline in Diptrace and use that but it looks like Flatcam only works with round boards.

So any easy way I can generate the gcode that generates a circle with tabs? Or am I going to have to hunker down and learn gcode?

 

Hello,

Perhaps there is something here for you:
http://replicat.org/generators

Bertus

 

I use Scotch 42030750B – Removable Double Sided Tape to attach the workpiece so I don't need tabs.
http://www.intuwiz.com/circle.html#.WkS38d9l_IU

 

I use Scotch 42030750B – Removable Double Sided Tape to attach the workpiece so I don't need tabs.
http://www.intuwiz.com/circle.html#.WkS38d9l_IU

I was just thinking of that!!! It is how I do my PCBs.

I have seen that circle tool at intuwiz. It gets you started but is not complete. For example you can't do fractions. The smallest your tool size can be is 1. Unless I am missing something.

 

I was just thinking of that!!! It is how I do my PCBs.

I have seen that circle tool at intuwiz. It gets you started but is not complete. For example you can't do fractions. The smallest your tool size can be is 1. Unless I am missing something.

But can you set the unit of measurement? Microns, thousandths of an inch...

 

But can you set the unit of measurement? Microns, thousandths of an inch...

Don't know. I don't know nuttin about no G-code. That is why I was hoping for an easy to use generator.

I guess I will need to learn.

 

Is anyone aware of any free g-gode generators? What I ultimately need to do is to cut 2 concentric circles with my engraver. The size of a hard drive dis (5.25") and an interior circle (whatever that size is).

I am thinking that I would need to leave tabs so that the material can stay in place as it is cut.

Flatcam creates tabs when cutting board outlines. I can generate a round board outline in Diptrace and use that but it looks like Flatcam only works with round boards.

So any easy way I can generate the gcode that generates a circle with tabs? Or am I going to have to hunker down and learn gcode?

DXF format from DipTrace can be converted to GCode with ACE Converter

http://www.dakeng.com/ace.html

It must be compiled -I'll let you look into that.

 

Even with G-code generators, it is wise to learn G. code functions as there is often a time where you want to make a change or do some MDI (Manual Data input).
I think I mentioned the P.Smid book already.
Max.

 

For example you can't do fractions. The smallest your tool size can be is 1. Unless I am missing something.

You can do fractional tool sizes. This is a size 20 circle with the tool outside the circle using a 0.3 diameter tool and you can see the tool is actually following a circle of radius 10.15 i.e outside a diameter 20 circle.

%
( File created using Intuwiz Software Service )
( http://www.intuwiz.com )
( More information: http://www.intuwiz.com/circle.html )
( File created:  2017-12-28  18:23:33  )

G00 Z0.5 F70
G00 X-10.15 Y0 F70
G01 Z-1 F50
G02 I10.15
G00 Z0.5 F70
G00 X0 Y0 F70
M30
%

 

You can do fractional tool sizes. This is a size 20 circle with the tool outside the circle using a 0.3 diameter tool and you can see the tool is actually following a circle of radius 10.15 i.e outside a diameter 20 circle.

%
( File created using Intuwiz Software Service )
( http://www.intuwiz.com )
( More information: http://www.intuwiz.com/circle.html )
( File created:  2017-12-28  18:23:33  )

G00 Z0.5 F70
G00 X-10.15 Y0 F70
G01 Z-1 F50
G02 I10.15
G00 Z0.5 F70
G00 X0 Y0 F70
M30
%

Ah! It is 0.5 whatever. I was entering .5 for example and it was giving me an error.

I assumed they were dumbing down their online version to sell their installed version.

 

But can you set the unit of measurement? Microns, thousandths of an inch...

A CAM program allows the input of the tool offset in order to calculate the actual tool path, IOW it takes in to consideration the tool dia.
The smallest measurement a CNC control can read is dependent on the Least Input Increment.
What this means, it is dependant on the smallest movement the particular axis can make.
Max.