Re: NC Plot 2 Beta 11 Now Available For Download


jon banquer wrote:
> glugg2001@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote in
> news:1123156776.925876.320010@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:
>
> >
> > jon banquer wrote:
> >> This product continues to make tremendous progress. If you using
> >> another G code backplotter / editor I urge you to give NC Plot a try
> >> and to participate in helping to develop NC Plot.
> >>
> >> This version of NC Plot now contains a basic lathe backplotter. I
> >> have no doubt that lathe backplotting will continue to receive lots
> >> of attention.... especially if more lathe people participate in the
> >> development of NC Plot.
> >>
> >> Anyone with an interest in helping to develop a quality G code
> >> backplotter / editor can participate in NC Plots beta development
> >> program.
> >>
> >> IMO, there currently are no high quality G code backplotters /
> >> editors available at *any price*
> >
> > How about cutviewer? It makes a solid model out of gcode.
> > You can then view it from different angles and zoom in and
> > out and use a menu of inspection tools to check the model.
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> Please update me / us.
>
> Last time I looked at CutViewer it had no real text editing
> capabilities.

The latest? I dont know, but the version I have from a few
years ago does have a text editor which I have only used for
taking a quick look at the gcode if I see some problem with
the resulting model. If there is a crash, the line that caused
it is highlighted in red.

>
> It did not support canned cycles, etc.

The version I have does not. Every drill/spot/tap type cycle is
treated basically like a G81 and the resulting geometry comforms
to the shape of the tool.

> Does CutViewer support G12 / G13 ?

My version doesnt. I get aroung that with a special intermediate
program that reads my programs and converts it to a generic gcode
program that cutviewer can run.
In my case, the ultimate plotter would be one that can create
a 3D solid model out of any program that a Yasnac i80 control
can understand. (including macro B)
Nc plot is close.

> Has any of this changed since I last looked at CutViewer ?

I dont know.

> Cutting a solid model is nice but not at the price of no real editing or
> canned cycle support.

I disagree. The changes I usually need to make arent the simple
ones that I can just type in. I have to go back to the cam system
to fix it. A built in editor isnt the key thing for me.

Concerning canned cycles, choosing the wrong canned cycle has never
been a problem for me and I actually would prefer not to watch a bunch
of holes being drilled with the tool going up-down-up-down.
The "G81-like just give me the final result" method of cutviewer
is fine by me.

As for the solid model. It's the best thing about it.
I can click on a random point on a 3D surface and cutviewer
reports the XYZ value of that point. Then I go back to the
model in my cam system and see what the Z value SHOULD be of
that XY point and if its the same as cutviewer says it is then
I have a good cross check. Of course there is also the usual
length, width, hole diameter-position, depths, angles between
surfaces and other types of inspections that are useful too.
What I dont want to see is a bunch of lines floating in space.
When I see a tool cutting the part, I dont want to see lines
representing the path the centerline of the tool took along
the way, I want to see the material changed as the whatever-shaped
tool is cutting it and, in the end, the resulting part.

>
> Have you tried NC Plot ?

I read about it due to your earlier posts here. Thanks.
As soon as it creates a solid model, Im interested.
Actually I might go and try it just to see it work with macro B.

.