Questions about Path WB
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Questions about Path WB
I am reading the tutorial example for Path WBhttps://www.freecadweb.org/wiki/Path_Wa ... patient/de. I have a couple of questions about the Path module. First take an image from the tutorialhttps://www.freecadweb.org/wiki/File:Pa ... Window.gif.
Question 1: Using predefined curves as toolpaths: those green lines are the toolpaths generated by FreeCAD. Can I use predefined curves as toolpaths in FreeCAD? That is, these toolpaths are not generated but defined by some curves?
An associated question with this question is that: if FreeCAD allows predefined curves as toolpaths, is it necessary to do 3D modelling for converting these toolpaths to gcode?
Question 2: Multi-axis machining: say when machining an exterior surface of that cubic, can the part rotate around Y-axis gradually from angle zero to a specific angle?
Questions 3: Customized cutter: can FreeCAD allow user define customized cutter tools? What I am going to machine are plastic, I will use profile cutters for efficiency.
Thanks for help!
Question 1: Using predefined curves as toolpaths: those green lines are the toolpaths generated by FreeCAD. Can I use predefined curves as toolpaths in FreeCAD? That is, these toolpaths are not generated but defined by some curves?
An associated question with this question is that: if FreeCAD allows predefined curves as toolpaths, is it necessary to do 3D modelling for converting these toolpaths to gcode?
Question 2: Multi-axis machining: say when machining an exterior surface of that cubic, can the part rotate around Y-axis gradually from angle zero to a specific angle?
Questions 3: Customized cutter: can FreeCAD allow user define customized cutter tools? What I am going to machine are plastic, I will use profile cutters for efficiency.
Thanks for help!
Re: Questions about Path WB
Hi cnc_learner, welcome learning about CNC!
ad 1: You can use e.g. a sketch or draft in a plane and apply a profile from edges operation on that 2D geometry.
ad 2: It is not integrated in FreeCAD yet, but sliptonic has shown a prototype for that, look at his video channel. User apeltauer has posted a video in the video section of the forum, where 5 axis machines are used.
ad 3: Arbitrary shaped cutters are not respected yet.
ad 1: You can use e.g. a sketch or draft in a plane and apply a profile from edges operation on that 2D geometry.
ad 2: It is not integrated in FreeCAD yet, but sliptonic has shown a prototype for that, look at his video channel. User apeltauer has posted a video in the video section of the forum, where 5 axis machines are used.
ad 3: Arbitrary shaped cutters are not respected yet.
A Sketcher Lecture with in-depth information is available in English, auf Deutsch, en français, en español.
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Re: Questions about Path WB
to chrisb's answer I would add, tentatively:
ad 1: You can use e.g. a sketch or draft in a plane and apply a profile from edges operation on that 2D geometry.
---- If all you want to work on is wires, you can also use the "Path From Shape" tool, that will output raw G-code based on wires.
ad 2: It is not integrated in FreeCAD yet, but sliptonic has shown a prototype for that, look at his video channel. User apeltauer has posted a video in the video section of the forum, where 5 axis machines are used.
---- Sliptonic's work on 4th axis is demonstrated to work, his video on the topic of PVC machining is a stellar example.
Also, checkout Russ's work in the https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic. ... 2542bf848d
It is very experimental, but will show you the exact status of the most advanced multi-axis FreeCAD can do at the moment.
ad 3: Arbitrary shaped cutters are not respected yet.
----Yup.
ad 1: You can use e.g. a sketch or draft in a plane and apply a profile from edges operation on that 2D geometry.
---- If all you want to work on is wires, you can also use the "Path From Shape" tool, that will output raw G-code based on wires.
ad 2: It is not integrated in FreeCAD yet, but sliptonic has shown a prototype for that, look at his video channel. User apeltauer has posted a video in the video section of the forum, where 5 axis machines are used.
---- Sliptonic's work on 4th axis is demonstrated to work, his video on the topic of PVC machining is a stellar example.
Also, checkout Russ's work in the https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic. ... 2542bf848d
It is very experimental, but will show you the exact status of the most advanced multi-axis FreeCAD can do at the moment.
ad 3: Arbitrary shaped cutters are not respected yet.
----Yup.
Re: Questions about Path WB
Good to hear that it is still working on your side.RatonLaveur wrote: ↑Sun May 12, 2019 12:49 pm If all you want to work on is wires, you can also use the "Path From Shape" tool, that will output raw G-code based on wires.
Although I did not change it EnableExperimentalFeatures all of a sudden vanished. Even after reenabling PathFromShape did not reappear - I remember it was in the supplemental commands, right?
Is this due to OpenCamLib not being installed, which requires EnableExperimentalFeatures as well?
OS: macOS 10.13
Word size of OS: 64-bit
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.19.16694 (Git)
Build type: Release
Branch: master
Hash: cd74f2e92908e94f9f7bc718e1be52939647b844
Python version: 3.7.3
Qt version: 5.6.2
Coin version: 4.0.0a
OCC version: 7.3.0
Locale: German/Germany (de_DE)
A Sketcher Lecture with in-depth information is available in English, auf Deutsch, en français, en español.
Re: Questions about Path WB
Can anyone see what I made wrong?
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A Sketcher Lecture with in-depth information is available in English, auf Deutsch, en français, en español.
Re: Questions about Path WB
Hi Chris,
But i have only the line "EnableExperimentalFeatures" at the Parameter Editor for Path WB since some time.
On my system it's still there.
But i have only the line "EnableExperimentalFeatures" at the Parameter Editor for Path WB since some time.
Gruß Herbert
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Re: Questions about Path WB
Nothing. It looks like a side effect of PR 2157. I think the intent was to attempt the import and write a helpful error to the console if OCL didn't successfully import. Instead, if OCL doesn't import, it returns False for the experimentalfeatures in general.
Re: Questions about Path WB
Thanks for the info. It's easier to accept an issue , if I know the reason for it.
A Sketcher Lecture with in-depth information is available in English, auf Deutsch, en français, en español.
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Re: Questions about Path WB
Thanks everyone for the helpful advice.
@chrisb, I found sliptonic's short video demonstrating 4/5-axis machining, he didn't tell how he did that in that video.
@RatonLaveur, most paths are wires like with one exception: the part to be machined will tilt around Y-axis with either a fixed angle or a changing angle.
Here is an amateur question about generating 4-axis gcode: can I generate 2/3-axis gcode first, then manually add angle A or B to the generated gcode?
Can anyone point me to the right direction in learning how to generate 4-axis gcode programmatically?
Thanks again!
@chrisb, I found sliptonic's short video demonstrating 4/5-axis machining, he didn't tell how he did that in that video.
@RatonLaveur, most paths are wires like with one exception: the part to be machined will tilt around Y-axis with either a fixed angle or a changing angle.
Here is an amateur question about generating 4-axis gcode: can I generate 2/3-axis gcode first, then manually add angle A or B to the generated gcode?
Can anyone point me to the right direction in learning how to generate 4-axis gcode programmatically?
Thanks again!
- sliptonic
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Re: Questions about Path WB
cnc_learner wrote: ↑Mon May 13, 2019 3:09 pm @chrisb, I found sliptonic's short video demonstrating 4/5-axis machining, he didn't tell how he did that in that video.
You're right on the bleeding edge of feature development! Information is going to be spotty and subject to change.cnc_learner wrote: ↑Mon May 13, 2019 3:09 pm Can anyone point me to the right direction in learning how to generate 4-axis gcode programmatically?
I did the video using my own implementation of a 4th axis carve. https://github.com/sliptonic/FreeCAD/tr ... e/4thcarve
At the same time I was working on my implementation, Russ was working on Surface improvments and included 4th rotation as well. These two threads have some information:
https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=36018
https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=26469