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Post by cloudcabinarts on Feb 12, 2017 20:53:13 GMT -5
Alright, I've had this thing for just a few weeks now, new to CNC but not woodworking, and this thing is great. But I have to know, how do I output direct to the machine? There has to be a way, I'll hack it if I have to, without it adds such an unnecessary level of complication for some of the things I'm doing. Trying to create a system of organizing multiple toolpaths and then read them back in the 8 or so characters available on the pendant is not fun at all. Does anyone know?
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Post by cloudcabinarts on Feb 12, 2017 20:55:50 GMT -5
I'm using Vcarve Pro 8.5 and an AR8PRO by the way
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zaxis4
Junior Member
Posts: 162 
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Post by zaxis4 on Feb 15, 2017 15:49:03 GMT -5
I will watch this thread with you. Lots of tool paths on a flash drive and then getting them in order with the CRYPTIC readout on the pendant is a significant issue. It has been a problem with me more than once. I wish there was a better interface. This quality of machine deserves one!! Something like Stony......maybe. At least for a purchase or upgrade option |
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Post by gene35146 on Feb 16, 2017 14:48:14 GMT -5
At one point I tried to see if their was such a think as a wireless USB device so I could just push things from my computer to that but couldnt find anything. I wonder if you could take one of the very small NAS devices and plug it in and read it. I think the drive has to be formatted as FAT32 which might be an issue.
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Post by madereg on Feb 17, 2017 19:30:50 GMT -5
The old style DOS-based file name truncation/abbreviation definitely is old school! You would think in this day and age we would not be having to deal with such a limit.
My band-aid way around it is to use file folders (of course limiting the folder names to 8 characters) and then putting the G-Code files in their respective folder. As for the G-Code file names, I always try to name them something like 1TB1253D, 2VB60TXT, 3EM025PC, etc...
My Naming convention being such that...
1st digit = Tool number or seq order I want to run the files
2nd & 3rd digits = TB-Taper Ball, VB-V bit, EM-End Mill etc...
4th, 5th and maybe 6th = Tool size (Imperial since that is what I typically use) such as 125 for 0.125", 025 for 0.25", 60 for 60-degree
Remaining digits for stuff like 3D for 3-dimension, TXT for maybe Text engraving with v-bit, PC for Profile Cut, etc...
This convention so far has helped me at least keep things sort of organized and making sense for me. Using file folders was the biggest help.
I hope this at least can maybe help someone. :-)
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Post by cloudcabinarts on Feb 22, 2017 10:46:51 GMT -5
madereg, that's a good system, and I believe something like this may be the solution for now. I understand keeping things clean and organized is one way, but it sure would be nice to just go direct sometimes, sheesh. Us creatives like to create in the moment and sometimes it's the only way. Thanks for sharing your approach.
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Post by jordandemoss on Feb 26, 2017 16:35:38 GMT -5
Can I ask why you need to output directly to the machine?
It seems like you guys have a similar workflow which makes you want to do direct output which makes me curious what your workflow is like. I'll share my workflow for anyone that is interested. I do 3D carvings and the software I'm using is Vectric Asprire. Here is what my typical toolpath list looks like for almost all of my jobs. 3D roughing, pocket, 3D finish, profile cut, profile cut, profile cut. Here is how I name my toolpaths.
1 Roughing
2 Pocket
3 Finish
4 Profile
5 Profile
6 Profile
I know what bit I use for each step of a 3D carving so that simplifies things a lot, it's almost always the same. Additionally I adhere to the following steps when handling my toolpaths.
1. Delete everything on the flash drive.
2. Delete all toolpaths that were copied to the controller from the previous session.
3. Export all of my toolpaths for this job to the flash drive.
4. Plug in the flash drive and copy the toolpaths to the controller.
I never keep toolpath files on my computer. Even if I have used the toolpaths before I always have Aspire calculate the toolpaths so I can preview them. They are then exported directly to the flash drive. This prevents problems with mixing up toolpath names on the controller, flash drive, or computer. If I have a job that I repeat again and again, time after time, I just put "master" in the .crv3d file name and set it as a read only file.
I am also going to be mass producing carvings with multiple machines which is why I like the standalone nature of the system. I don't want to have to run multiple computers or one computer with multiple instances of software for production in my shop. 1 computer, X number of machines, it scales easily. I don't find the USB drive approach to be much of an issue because I move all my toolpaths at once and the carvings I make take 6-12 hours to complete.
Is there a reason you keep the actual toolpath files after you have run a job?
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Post by kirkvq on Nov 30, 2017 22:36:48 GMT -5
Yea would love to see a controller like Stoney, even as an upsell!
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