Intercon feature requests.

[richardb15]

When graphing intercon paths I'd find it useful to have a "live" WCS, distance to go and machine coordinates displayed as it moves through the programme. There is the space on the LHS of the screen, could it be added there? All other graphing CNC software I've used in the past always showed the coordinates as it ran through but I haven't found a way to get CNC12 to do that.

[Toaster]

Suntravel:

Backplot is something I am working on, I'll get that done when I feel like the blocks are in good shape.

As far as "too much typing" are you taking about putting in XY positions and feedrates, or typing information into the blocks themselves?

An tagging on to grossman's comments.. would it be helpful if it had some pre-setup blocks that one could use?

For example, "Rip a board" or "face a block" could drop in a bunch of blocks for you that are premade..perhaps even with your preset feeds and speeds?

[grossmsj]

An tagging on to grossman's comments.. would it be helpful if it had some pre-setup blocks that one could use?

For example, "Rip a board" or "face a block" could drop in a bunch of blocks for you that are premade..perhaps even with your preset feeds and speeds?

Sure, it's always helpful to have a place to start, but if the blocks can be saved and called back to be reused or modified it wouldn't be very necessary. And it would be very quick. I could see where 'blocks' could be fungible across users, so you might be able to have a repository of what you and/or others have already made. As cncsw said, the devil really is in the details to make something like that work.

You might want to create a separate thread for your tool. Makes it easier for others to find and doesn't detract from the Intercon Wish List thread.

[suntravel]

Suntravel:

Backplot is something I am working on, I'll get that done when I feel like the blocks are in good shape.

As far as "too much typing" are you taking about putting in XY positions and feedrates, or typing information into the blocks themselves?

An tagging on to grossman's comments.. would it be helpful if it had some pre-setup blocks that one could use?

For example, "Rip a board" or "face a block" could drop in a bunch of blocks for you that are premade..perhaps even with your preset feeds and speeds?

For a simple facing with Intercon, select two operations with touch screen or mouse type 9 fields (Tab from field to field)
One click to save and load in CNC12
Done in <30s for me.

With Blockmill move 22 blocks with the mouse and type in 15 values.
Several clicks to save and load in CNC12
In the G43 I also made a mistake its H1 not H2
Done in >4 min with one error possibly causing a crash.

But I must admit the BlockMill toolpath with arcs is nice.

With any G-code generation not using Acorn tool lib and parameters you will have to type more = slow and more risk for user error.

The red arrows in the intercon screenshots are the only inputs by me.

IMHO also for a CNC beginner Intercon is faster to learn than BlockMill.

Intercon UI is old and I whish some more features to make it more capable and even more efficient, but it is easy to use and freaking fast once you have spent a few hours to learn it.

Sometimes I prefer it even if I already have a 3D file in fusion if I need only 2D turning or 2.5D milling to get the machines making its thing in no time..

Uwe

[cnckeith]

right on, great discussion.

[Toaster]

That's some great feedback Uwe, the screenshots are super helpful.

There are a couple of ways that the amount of blocks could be reduced... One is to pack more into your M6 and M30. (I like to have tool height comp in my M6) and my M30 kills the spindle, coolant, etc.

However that will only get you a couple of blocks.

The tool library access is really nice. However unless this is specifically built into CNC12 it wouldn't have that access...

So, what about having some preset blocks that you could recall?

So you could setup what you have and save it, and recall it back whenever you need a facing path. You'd key in whatever values you want to change and off you go...

So after you set it up once it may be less clicks to just key in a few values here and there...

I also have another bonkers idea for assembling blocks faster, but until I know it's not totally crazy I won't share

[suntravel]

Special mods in M6 and M30 are not a good way for a specific g-code generator because this could come in the way using other CAM.
I suggest to have a complete Header and End block for Centroid which saves G21/20

Tool block that puts out:

N0002 ; Tool Change
T2 M6
S6000 M3
M7
G4 P0.50 ; pause for dwell
G43 D2 H2

Operation Blocks with a start point in G0

Nxxx numbers in front of each block to make using restarting from a block easy

Uwe

[lavrgs]

My Intercon features list.
- basic single line engraving 
- DXF import convert entities to lines and arcs, (use best fit for DXF files that use curves/spines to define complex curves)
- Shapes
- Helix Plunge
- drill List from .txt
- define rectangular pockets and frames by xy corner position
- face allow choice of which axis to move first
- spoil board cleanup

Would it be possible to account for minimum diameter when using partial threading inserts. I'm not sure if it's a standard but I've seen that subtracting 0.108 * pitch from the minor diameter will get the proper thread depth.

[suntravel]

This is because such inserts/mills are pinpoint sharp, so you need to cut another diameter than with inserts/mills with a radius for a specific pitch.

Uwe

[tblough]

The root flat on UNC/UNF/ISO threads is 1/8 of the thread depth. So, 0.125H = 0.108253175P per side. You would therefore need to reduce the CNC12's minor diameter by 0.217 * the thread pitch when using sharp V or "partial" thread inserts.