dlaery Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 I am cutting some lips out of lexan and I am using an old CNC. The part I am having trouble with is cutting the circles. Is there a simple draw program, (that I can afford) that will write the G -code. I have to enter this on the keypad on the CNC. The hard part is When entering the circle, I need "I" and "J" coordinates. A friend of mine is helping with this and we are using the book that tells how to figure this, but it does not always work like we think it should. I have access to a program that generates the G-code, but it is only x and y values. The CNC has a Bandit controller. I don't know enough about this to know if I am asking the right question. We have cut some successfully and now we have to modify the drawing and I need to cut some other sizes. Any help would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazmail Posted April 2, 2009 Report Share Posted April 2, 2009 dlaery- I know nothing about these machines, other than seeing them at work, but wish I did!! - please don't laugh, but maybe you can get it to cut two opposing half circles - when you say circles I am assuming you want a full circle??:?Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlaery Posted April 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2009 Hey Pete, actually it cuts in quadrants. Attached is a pic of what we have cut. Now I need to modify it and will have to refigure how to cut it. The hard part is cuting the quadrants. But I guess thats what practice is for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted April 2, 2009 Report Share Posted April 2, 2009 I got some 2D stuff cut-out from DXF files, which I sent to the machine shop. They then ran a program that converted the DXF to G-code. I don't know what the program was called, but every m/c shop probably has it. DXF is very easy to produce with my CAD system and I would be happy to do that side of it for you. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlaery Posted April 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2009 Thanks Dave, I have the drawing in AutoCad and thats what we use to get the x, y, coordinates. I have done some searching and found some free programs that will create the G-code from bmp file, but doesn't do the arcs. thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaPala Posted April 2, 2009 Report Share Posted April 2, 2009 Errr if you have the Autocad file why are you converting from bmp to G-code? Used the dxf file and convert to G-code should work better. Just google "dxf to g code converter" lots of free options out there. bmp is a graphic file and it represents individual pixels, dxf, dwg, hpgl are mathematical formula that represents lines and curves and would convert better to G-code. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlaery Posted April 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2009 thanks LaPala, that was the only free one that I could find. Today I changed my search on what you suggested and found some dxf to g code converters and I am downloading those to see what they have. I have downloaded numerous programs, the challenge is using the correct search terms. Thanks for the tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
