Gcode input, surface output

Hi,
I have a Gcode file with CNC machine commands (Fanuc).
Is there a way (maybe a utility someone wrote) to "read" the Gcode
file into SW and to get a surface.
The Gcode includes commands such as
Line from P1 to P2
Arc from P1 to P2 with center at P3
etc
A program should read the file and "translate each command to SW
entity. I guess the next step is to create many profiles (sections)
and to use lofted (or swept) surface from them.

M.C.

 

Now was THAT nice? The poor guy will probably post there expecting Jon
to actually help him. <G>

 

Is there a way (maybe a utility someone wrote) to "read" the Gcode
You need a backplotter. Check out CGTech vericut.

 

you had to say that....

 

Now was THAT nice? The poor guy will probably post there

He does not have to post there. He got the help he needed
from me right here.

That he did not get it from Cliff, and that Cliff says what
this man wants to do can't be done, would be *no surprise*
for many of us in alt.machines.cnc. who realize that Cliff
has no idea what is going on in today's small machining job
shops.

Cliff has no machining experience in the last 20 years
and even then it was very little.

Many of us in alt.machines.cnc also know that Cliff has
NEVER used SolidWorks.

jon

 

MCuser,

Actually, Mastercam will probably work better for what your trying to do
than SW. You can rev post standard vanilla Fanuc to get a bazillion
connected line segements. You can then select "chains" of lines and convert
those to splines, and from there to a surface.

If you could reduce the G-code to a X.xxx, Y.yyy, Z.zzz, table, you could
read this into SW as curves through points. You would have to selectively
seperate U,V, sets prior to this in Mastercam though. Saving as ASCII in MC
usually yeilds a simple XYZ text file (like I mentioned above) Reading in
the whole shebang into SW at once will probably kill your computer.

So, I guess the answer is no, not directly. There may be a third party add
in for this, I haven't checked out the SW partners list for a while. You can
do it using MC and SW, I think I could, but it wouldn't be a slam dunk. I
did a boat plug once (about killed me).

What you basically have is a point cloud. Most programs that work well with
this type of data (Raindrop Geomagic for instance) are very expensive. Rhino
may be able to do it, haven't used it in a long time.

Regards

Mark

 

Neil,

Don't let the FACT that this is an uncensored and unmoderated newsgroup and
that I don't and have not violated the charter of this newsgroup in anyway
get in your way of making up stories as you see fit.

ROTFLMFAO

..jon

 

MC,

I forgot to mention that you need to know the diameter of the endmill that
the program was written for. The g-code usually represents the centerline of
the ball end. You'll have to offset your surface by the radius of the cutter
to get anything near accurate. And this will "only" work for a ball end,
which has a constant offset from the surface. If the program was written for
a bull nose your outta luck.

Regards

Mark

 

Thank You Mark,

I'm a little too late to chime in, but you're exactly right.
I did this in MasterCam a couple of years ago for a client, it's a PITA, but
it can be done.
Reverse post and turn on "create geometry form tool path", or something like
that (I'm at home).
And then build your surface from those spline using a loft and offset the
surface the radius of the cutter(it's in the G-code).
I never thought about it but yes you probably could create a comma delimited
file(I think that's what it's called), using the X,Y,Z coordinates from the
G-code, and create a "point cloud" and surface it in Geo(Raindrop GeoMagic).

So, MasterCam User, if you ever get to the point where you get a comma
delimited file, I would love to try to surface it in Geo.

Muggs

 

Hi Jon,

I really don't know anything about Vericut as I've only used MasterCam for
the last 8 years or so.
Actually the last (only) time I had to do it was back at version 5.5, and I
don't know if the option to save as geometry even exists in MC any more.

As far as the points data goes, I was just wondering if it could be done,
that's all.
I wasn't trying to say it would be the best or most efficiant way to do it.

Muggs

 

As far as the points data goes, I was just wondering if it

It don't have any doubt that it could be done.

Well the major problem is that we don't know exactly what
mastercamuser really wants to do. We also don't know how big
this project might actually be or what accuracy he needs to
achieve.

If mastercamuser does want to convert to NURBS and he is
going to go the Raindrop GeoMagic Studio route he could save
a shit load of time with Vericut and it's Model Export module.

BTW, any idea when CNC Software is suppose to release MasterCAM
X ??? Luckily I have not had to use MasterCAM since Version 5.5. Perhaps
MasterCAM X might be tolerable.

jon

 

Accuracy can be no greater than the accuracy of the input

Well asshole finally you have something to say that makes
some sense. Additionally, from how I see it he's going to
lose further accuracy if he has to go the STL to NURBS route
with Raindrop GeoMagic Studio.

No we don't. Tell us what accuracy mastercamuser needs, Cliffy. I
I failed to note that important FACT in his post. Amongst all your other
"skills"... your now a mind reader as well, eh.

Wrong again, asshole although I wish it had just been a demo
and I wasn't stuck using the piece of crap that it was.
Anyone remember the "brilliant" MasterCAM TV (MCTV) in ver
5.5. ???

Of course you would have *no idea* Cliffy because like
SolidWorks you have *NEVER* used MasterCAM either.

LOL

jon

 

Very interesting, Thanks jon.

Muggs

 

and you too!

 

We had it at AO Smith, among other things <G>.

Lying again are you, Cliffy.

Should I post your resume to show just how long
ago you worked at AO Smith and what you actually
did there ???

How about your post in alt.machines.cnc where you
admitted you have never used it as well as what
you think of mid-range priced CAD/CAM.

ROTFLMFAO

I'm ready to post the above whenever you are. Just
say the word.

jon

 

Cliff you don't give a shit about bothering people. Your someone
who can no longer be employed because your services are not
needed and this is how you choose to spend your time. Here is
yet another poster to alt.machines.cnc who got sick of your lies
and tried to measure you.



From: Garlicdude ()
Subject: Re: VisualMill Training
Newsgroups: alt.machines.cnc
Date: 2003-07-26 18:01:39 PST

Cliff, I was surprised that you didn't address the rest of
Tim's post. I've included it so that you can answer the
rest of his questions. I'm also curious about the answers.

TIA <grin>

--
Regards,
Steve Saling
aka The Garlic Dude
Gilroy, CA
The Garlic Capital of The World
http://www.pulsareng.com/

Cliff-

Tell us Cliff, what system do YOU use every day? What system
have YOU actually written a 5-Figure check for?

Where did you acquire this vast knowledge that gives you the
moral authority to poo-poo every new system that is out
there?

Upon what empirical data are you formulating your opinions?

The problem is you continue to spout off about something you
don't have a clue about. If you did, you would actually be
doing something with your vast "knowledge" instead of
sitting behind a keyboard and being the Mr. Know-It-All of
the newsgroup.

All your vast knowledge and you use AOL as a service
provider. Yep, you're a real Einstein.

Put the computer away for a while and do something
productive for a change.

Let the others use this group as it was intended,.


Kind Regards-

Tim Markoski

 

Got any foorp?

Sure I've got proof even for someone who can't spell proof.

You never used MasterCAM at AO Smith. MasterCAM *NEVER*
even appears on your resume, yet everything from DOS to Windows
NT, to BASIC does. LOL.

Here's a little reminder for you. Looks like the last time anybody wanted
to employ your worthless ass was 1996. Note how you "forgot" to list
your MasterCAM experience from AO Smith.

ROTFLMAO

- 1996 - CAD/CAM Systems Manager/Analyst

A. O. Smith Automotive Products Co., Milwaukee, WI
UG-II Data, Program & Platform migration from UG V9.1 (VMS & UGFM) to
V11.1 (HPUX & WINDOWS-NT)


You have NEVER used the product, Cliffy.

jon

 

Neil

YOUR post above and ALL your posts to this thread have
NOTHING to do with SolidWorks, G code input or surface output
so take your own advice.

Additionally, Neil I think it's time for you to have yet
another talk with the comp.cad.solidworks "moderator" Black
Dragon.



jon

 

Jon,
you have a psychotic illness, go and see a doctor.