Tutorial to prepare a part to generate gcode

[roerich_64]

Hi to all,

Based on this pictures i will show you the workflow to prepare a part to generate gcode for 2.5D and i think others who reading this helps it:

WCS = Work-Coordinate-System

Prepare_a_I.jpg (128.07 KiB) Viewed 5779 times

Let us have a look to where we can found these Coordinate-Systems in Freecad:

Prepare_a_II.jpg (174.26 KiB) Viewed 5779 times

Prepare_a_III.jpg (146.3 KiB) Viewed 5779 times

When we set the WCS: Z=0 at the top of the part then the post processor generates g Code with -Z values. So the spindle steps down to engrave it.

@Sliptonic gave us a nice tool (Setup) to take the Model-body to the right place:

3D-Surface_VI.jpg (194.08 KiB) Viewed 5836 times

1. Click on the top of the body
2. take Z-Axis
3. take Z=0. The Model-Body flips down
4. You have to refresh the stock.

Now let us take a look what we now see:

3D-Surface_VII.jpg (197.3 KiB) Viewed 5836 times

This is the startpoint to generate the gcode with 2.5D operations

BR
Walter

[roerich_64]

Ok.

Let us have a look to a real part, how we can need the above procedure.

It is a rolling container for sorting parts:

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In FreeCAD:

Prepare_I.jpg (68.19 KiB) Viewed 5826 times

When it is ready prepared, than it looks so:

Prepare_II.jpg (124.53 KiB) Viewed 5826 times

I think the best way for now is, i make a video.
But, when it is needed, i can also do a step-by-step turorial here

BR
Walter

[sliptonic]

Hi Walter,
Nice pictures and a good tutorial. Keep it up!

One clarification however; FreeCAD has no knowledge of the Machine Coordinate System (MCS) at all. We ONLY work with the WCS. What you show in the second picture of the first post is the default placement of the body. It will be used as the default origin for the WCS when the job is set up. The origin of the job can, as you show, be moved.

Machine controllers like LinuxCNC keep track of both and are able to visualize the WCS within the real work envelope of the machine. But FreeCAD doesn't know anything about the machine's origin or work envelope. Since it doesn't know about those things, it can't know about the relationship between job origin and the machine origin.

[roerich_64]

Hi @Sliptonic,

thank you for the additional explanation

The origin of the job can, as you show, be moved.

Yes i am with you and will correct it

Edit: and now corrected.

Walter

[roerich_64]

At first i will show you how we can generate the container frame:

To do that we need the boxCreator-Macro. We found them with 'Tools / Addonmanager' then with the TAB 'Macros':

Prepare_III.jpg (72.95 KiB) Viewed 5520 times

1. Click the TAB 'Macros' in AddonManager and scroll down to 'BoxCreator'.
2. Select them with a 'click' and take 'Install / update'

Now we have to create a new File.
After them we can start the macro 'BoxCreator' when we take the TAB 'Macro' and then take 'Macros...':

Prepare_IV.jpg (57.4 KiB) Viewed 5520 times

It opens the window 'start Macro':

Prepare_V.jpg (80.9 KiB) Viewed 5520 times

1. Select with a click the 'BoxCreator.FCMacro'
2. then take 'Start' (in German: Ausführen -) )

[roerich_64]

Ok, for now the 'box creator-macro' works with Py2 / Qt4
Another thanks to @Christi from here!

The Boxcreator-Forum:
https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic. ... 10#p311162

And here my System with which i do the next steps:

Code: Select all

OS: Windows 7
Word size of OS: 64-bit
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.19.16274 (Git)
Build type: Release
Branch: master
Hash: 7c760259a389b38b76da78e4f6e1f9be66714842
Python version: 2.7.14
Qt version: 4.8.7
Coin version: 4.0.0a
OCC version: 7.2.0
Locale: German/Germany (de_DE)

So, we have installed the box creator-macro as above and we will create a container under the desk to sort parts:
Dimensions for my Container: W: 475mm, H: 650mm, L: 600mm.
Thickness of the material: 9mm

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P1130001.JPG (963.7 KiB) Viewed 5526 times

Overhang in the front for the dazzle: 19mm

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Bild_IV.jpg (184.22 KiB) Viewed 5526 times

[roerich_64]

The next step is to delete the 'box':

Prepare_VI.jpg (39.86 KiB) Viewed 5475 times

Select the 'Box' and delete them with 'DEL' on the keyboard.

Now we see this:

Prepare_VII.jpg (124.95 KiB) Viewed 5475 times

To see how i can place the walls of the container on the CNC i have create a sketch with the dimensions of my machine:

Prepare_IX.jpg (190.17 KiB) Viewed 5475 times

Result:

Prepare_X.jpg (124.67 KiB) Viewed 5475 times

[roerich_64]

Next steps:

Prepare_XI.jpg (101.7 KiB) Viewed 5439 times

1. Select the Path-WB
2. Create the job

We select the parts and click 'OK':

Prepare_XII.jpg (125.46 KiB) Viewed 5439 times

Now we are in the 'Setup' and we can do the positioning of the walls:

Prepare_XIII.jpg (222.91 KiB) Viewed 5439 times

Click in the canvas on the Top of the first part (bottom)
Click 'Z-Axis'
Click 'Z=0'

The part 'bottom' flips down. We have Z=0 at his top

Next:

Prepare_XIV.jpg (239.89 KiB) Viewed 5431 times

- Click the inner side of the left wall to define on which surface should be the Z-vector.
- Click 'Z-Axis'
- Click 'Z=0'

Result:

Prepare_XV.jpg (259.81 KiB) Viewed 5431 times