POST PROCESSOR QUESTIONS
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Re: POST PROCESSOR QUESTIONS
Charlie...
OF course there are differences between CAM programs, but for the most part they work pretty much the same.
What CAD/CAM program do you use now?
For example, I use Vectric products. I edited my post processor to have a pause after the spindle starts. In the postP after the "T# M6" you can add "G4 P3" (without quotes) where the 3 is seconds that it will pause, adjust to your liking.
OF course there are differences between CAM programs, but for the most part they work pretty much the same.
What CAD/CAM program do you use now?
For example, I use Vectric products. I edited my post processor to have a pause after the spindle starts. In the postP after the "T# M6" you can add "G4 P3" (without quotes) where the 3 is seconds that it will pause, adjust to your liking.
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Re: POST PROCESSOR QUESTIONS
Gary,
I Am using artcam 2008 I see that there are newer versions of artcam but autodesk is no longer
supporting it. it looks like I can get free versions of it dont know if they are legal, but...
since I am reconfiguring the machine, and changing everything, I thought I would ask to see
if there is something better, my brother uses sheetcam for his plasma cutter,
I thought I might give that a try they have an output for centroid,
and I mainly do 2.5d machining. I am open for suggestions don't want to dump a ton of dough
into a program. as far as editing the post processor that is some of my next questions
my artcam has a delay in it for the spindle for mach 3 but it must be different than the centroid
I noticed that it did not work when I ran a test file, looks like the rest of the file worked ok.
I didn't try doing any tool changes or anything. I had a friend of mine set me up with this 7-8 years
ago or so, he helped me with the post processor (he was running a machine just like mine)
so I helped him with the build of the machine he helped me with the software.
so I just used it and it worked didn't need to know anything, but mach 3 was having issues
so I wanted to migrate to something better and that had support my brother went to linux
cnc that was modified by a reseller I didn't want to go that route wanted to stay with windows.
that is when I ran across the acorn the rest is history as they say.
I would also add that I use a cam program (signlab used for my sign business) to draw my parts and import them as dxf files into artcam
to apply the machining information I would like to keep doing it that way if I can.
if you have any suggestions I will check them out.
Gary thank you for your help,
Charlie
I Am using artcam 2008 I see that there are newer versions of artcam but autodesk is no longer
supporting it. it looks like I can get free versions of it dont know if they are legal, but...
since I am reconfiguring the machine, and changing everything, I thought I would ask to see
if there is something better, my brother uses sheetcam for his plasma cutter,
I thought I might give that a try they have an output for centroid,
and I mainly do 2.5d machining. I am open for suggestions don't want to dump a ton of dough
into a program. as far as editing the post processor that is some of my next questions
my artcam has a delay in it for the spindle for mach 3 but it must be different than the centroid
I noticed that it did not work when I ran a test file, looks like the rest of the file worked ok.
I didn't try doing any tool changes or anything. I had a friend of mine set me up with this 7-8 years
ago or so, he helped me with the post processor (he was running a machine just like mine)
so I helped him with the build of the machine he helped me with the software.
so I just used it and it worked didn't need to know anything, but mach 3 was having issues
so I wanted to migrate to something better and that had support my brother went to linux
cnc that was modified by a reseller I didn't want to go that route wanted to stay with windows.
that is when I ran across the acorn the rest is history as they say.
I would also add that I use a cam program (signlab used for my sign business) to draw my parts and import them as dxf files into artcam
to apply the machining information I would like to keep doing it that way if I can.
if you have any suggestions I will check them out.
Gary thank you for your help,
Charlie
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Re: POST PROCESSOR QUESTIONS
Charlie...
ArtCAM 2008 has an editable postP. they will be in the post or postP folder. You can open it with notepad or any text editor. Open the one you used with Mach and the Centroid version side by side. make the changes that you need.
As an alternative, you can add the G4 line to your M3 macro
I use Vectric products. You can get VCarve Pro for around $700. It may be lacking in number of machining options compared to Artcam. Dont know if you need them, but there are substantially less. You can download a demo version online.
ArtCAM 2008 has an editable postP. they will be in the post or postP folder. You can open it with notepad or any text editor. Open the one you used with Mach and the Centroid version side by side. make the changes that you need.
As an alternative, you can add the G4 line to your M3 macro
I use Vectric products. You can get VCarve Pro for around $700. It may be lacking in number of machining options compared to Artcam. Dont know if you need them, but there are substantially less. You can download a demo version online.
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Re: POST PROCESSOR QUESTIONS
Gary,
I will look into the v carve pro
and look at making the changes to the post.
thank you I am sure I will have a few more questions,
Charlie
I will look into the v carve pro
and look at making the changes to the post.
thank you I am sure I will have a few more questions,
Charlie
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Re: POST PROCESSOR QUESTIONS
Gary,
I have a few more questions.....
so instead of acquiring a new post processor software
I can just modify my existing post processor file to fit my needs.
this seems like the way I would like to go, I already know the software
and won't cost me anything but some time...and some dumb questions??
so here it goes...
the file I used for Mach and for centroid were the same output,
the one I am using is Mach toolchange (inch)*.tap (this is in the drop down menu for exporting the file)
when I go to the post p file there is a list of output types
but none of them are the same as the name in the drop down menu.
so is there a directory or file where this will be?
thanks,
Charlie
I have a few more questions.....
so instead of acquiring a new post processor software
I can just modify my existing post processor file to fit my needs.
this seems like the way I would like to go, I already know the software
and won't cost me anything but some time...and some dumb questions??
so here it goes...
the file I used for Mach and for centroid were the same output,
the one I am using is Mach toolchange (inch)*.tap (this is in the drop down menu for exporting the file)
when I go to the post p file there is a list of output types
but none of them are the same as the name in the drop down menu.
so is there a directory or file where this will be?
thanks,
Charlie
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Re: POST PROCESSOR QUESTIONS
Charlie..
Open the postP folder. Are there any files there that have "Centroid" in the name?
Open the postP folder. Are there any files there that have "Centroid" in the name?
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Re: POST PROCESSOR QUESTIONS
Gary,
no there is not.
Charlie
no there is not.
Charlie
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Re: POST PROCESSOR QUESTIONS
Then, unless you're good at modifying one from scratch, going to your reseller is the only way.
That is unless you are one of thousands that have the hacked version of ArtCAM 2008, then you will find very few, including myself that will assist. You may want to get something that is not 10 years old and has post processors for current machines.
That is unless you are one of thousands that have the hacked version of ArtCAM 2008, then you will find very few, including myself that will assist. You may want to get something that is not 10 years old and has post processors for current machines.
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Re: POST PROCESSOR QUESTIONS
Gary,
thank you,
I will pursue an alternative,
I will see what is out there...
thanks again,
Charlie
thank you,
I will pursue an alternative,
I will see what is out there...
thanks again,
Charlie
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Re: POST PROCESSOR QUESTIONS
Gary,
I just purchased V Carve pro,
thanks for the recommendation,
it is very similar to using artcam
I selected the centroid inch post processor.
I will need to test with my machine, to see if it works correctly
any suggestions on changes before I test this out...
I see that there is a pause built into the post for 2 seconds.
might need to make that a bit longer but want to try it out the
way it is first.
Charlie
I just purchased V Carve pro,
thanks for the recommendation,
it is very similar to using artcam
I selected the centroid inch post processor.
I will need to test with my machine, to see if it works correctly
any suggestions on changes before I test this out...
I see that there is a pause built into the post for 2 seconds.
might need to make that a bit longer but want to try it out the
way it is first.
Charlie