Noob Questions

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  • September 30, 2012 at 10:31 am #3541
    rickmellor
    Member

    Hello. Sorry if this is covered somewhere but I can’t find the info I’m looking for.

    I learned about the TinyG at Maker Faire yesterday and picked up a board. I think it’s pretty clear how to install the thing, but I’m not clear how to produce gcode to run on the thing. I use Alibre Pro and have the CAM package, but it’s my understanding that gcode dialects must be understood by the CAM package to generate the output. I haven’t had a chance to dig into Alibre yet (it’s on a computer I don’t have with me), but what are others using to generate their gcode?

     

    -Rick

    October 1, 2012 at 9:03 am #3545
    alden
    Member

    Rick, Good to meet you at Makerfaire, and thanks for picking up a board. As for Gcode generation, We think CamBam is the best thing out there. It’s main limitations are Windows only and $150. There are free programs / cross platform such as PyCAD and some Inkscape and Sketchup plugins that work also. Riley would need to weigh in on those details.

    – Alden

    October 1, 2012 at 10:43 pm #3546
    rickmellor
    Member

    Hey Alden, nice to meet you as well.  I wish I could have hung around longer to chat but I needed to get back to Dumbo to see my wife dance.  I’m glad I ran into you guys though and I can’t wait to see what this thing can do.  I’m ordering my motors, PSU and other goodies tonight so we’ll soon know.

    I’ve sent a note over to Alibre to see about getting a post processor made that will support TinyG’s dialect.  Do you know if anything in particular needs to be done to get CamBam to work with TinyG?  Alibre is pretty cavalier about offering to do custom posts and I’ve seen where the BobCam people were all over grbl …

    -Rick

    October 1, 2012 at 10:51 pm #3547
    Riley
    Keymaster

    Rick,

    Cool. Let us know what happens with alibre.  Cambam will output codes that will just “work” with TinyG.  Nothing special is needed really.   They offer a trial too!  So get it and see how it works.  It does take about 1 afternoon to sit down and figure it out.  There are other gcode “generators”

    http://sketchuppluginreviews.com/2010/04/30/phlatscript-google-sketchup-plugin-review/

    and the inkscape plugin (which I have had “mixed results”

    http://cnc-club.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35

     

    I will say that if you can make a svg / dxf and want minimal “hacking” Cambam is the way to go.  I do not have a problem buying cambam. Its totally worth the money.  However if you are a big Open Source fan try the ones above.

     

    Riley

    October 1, 2012 at 11:05 pm #3548
    rickmellor
    Member

    I’m a software engineer so while I appreciate FOSS as much as the next guy, I also appreciate seeing people eat. 😉

    I’ll report back when I have some results.

    -Rick

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