G18 workaround for WINCNC

[pescado_loco]

:(
Russ & I are very happy with our progress in making his CAMASTER go. Were very close to having a program to cut my table legs for the Baltimore Fine Furnishings show. We are both getting more experience with making his machine do [fantastic] stuff. At least for us.

I'm starting to understand his frustration with WINCNC. He has spent the last several years using Mach & WINCNC does not support all the code that Mach does. After a lot of playing, we were getting nice corner radii & coves. When I got home to my WINCNC SS, no G17 - G19 & no k word in g2 or g3. I suppose if the cutter is long enough, one could cut an inside or outside arc from the side of the 4th axis. What do you all do when you need to cut a radius in the XZ or YZ plane with WINCNC? Appreciate your help.

[GJMATHEWS]

Yo Pescado,

It would help if you could describe what you want the end result of the radius to be. Are you engraving a design? Are you fitting for a cross piece or stretcher that has a concave or convex shape? If you can sketch out what you are trying to do and post attachments or email it to me, I can get you moving on this.

[noprob]

Guy

[pescado_loco]

Thanks Guy.
It's a very simple turned tapered leg with a little cove in it. The dimensions are really whatever I want it to be. The legs are either 32" or 23" long. The top 4" are 2" diameter for 4" then a small cove say 1/2" wide & 1/8" dp, then tapered to the end with a 1" diameter at the bottom.
Again thanks for your help!

Will New Wave be at the Fine Furniture show in Baltimore on May 2-3?

[GJMATHEWS]

Just write the code manually.

G90
S15000
M3
G1 X3.0Z2.5A0F200
G1 Z1.75A-15F1200
G1 A375
G1 A360Z1.625
G1 A-15
G1 Z2.5F250
M5
G0 A0X0Y0
G53Z
X0Y0

Something like this should work for you. You can use any type router bit. If you want to add multiple details just change the X locations based on the widths and 50% widths of the bits you are using.

With your Z and A on the same line the bit will ramp in as the A axis rotates to -15. When it reaches that point it will will stay at the desiganted Z height until the next Z command. You want to go past the the 0 and 360 marks to ensure you do not have a bump in your work. You can double rotate as well, but that is a waste of cycle time.
The A360 and Z1.625 will allow the bit to ramp again prior to biting the wood.
This is a fast way to do this. You can set the cove wherever you want. You can also change the depth.

Just check my prep and ending commands. I am rusty on manual code! Visual Mill 5 and 6 do all my hard work now! :D

I just threw in the M5 command to stop the spindle at the end of the run. Told you VM 5 and 6 does all the hard stuff for me!

[pescado_loco]

Thanks for your help. We will have to wait until we have actual control of the A axis to try that. We are still only spinning the A axis with a 555 timer pulser signal to the Gecko. My SS is a long way from A axis control. [fantastic]

[GJMATHEWS]

Well heck now it's real easy. Just manual everything. Start your spindle, start your rotary, move the X into position, and lower the Z. You can use keystroke commands or you can use the User control buttons on your Cmdscrn.

I'm off to finish a couple of sabot rounds. [lol]