http://diylilcnc.org/forum/tags/linux Free, open-source plans for a low-cost 3-axis CNC mill by Taylor Hokanson and Chris Reilly. Sponsored by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. en-US Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:48:12 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://diylilcnc.org/forum/search.php http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/linux-recommendation-for-reading-editing-files/page/2#post-873 Sat, 08 Oct 2011 16:53:48 +0000 Taylor 873@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>All,</p> <p>I've just posted a zip file containing 7 separate DXFs to the <a href="http://diylilcnc.org/downloads">downloads page</a>. You can also grab the files directly <a href="http://diylilcnc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/DIYLILCNC_v103_DXF.zip">here</a>.</p> <p>Mess with the material and let me know if any problems/requests pop up. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/linux-recommendation-for-reading-editing-files#post-847 Fri, 09 Sep 2011 20:08:56 +0000 Taylor 847@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>Thanks for your patience everybody! We're doing a talk in NYC next week, then there should be more time for file management at the end of the month. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/linux-recommendation-for-reading-editing-files#post-846 Mon, 05 Sep 2011 13:20:11 +0000 at2marty 846@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>I personally use Fedora 15 for my OS and use a program called DraftSight for viewing and editing DXF and DWG files. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/linux-recommendation-for-reading-editing-files#post-836 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:41:17 +0000 T4b 836@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>"I can't open files for cutting the DIYLILCNC parts either."<br /> Not completely true, I never waited long enough, now I did for at least an hour and now it finished loading and I can look at the file. Qcad lags, though.<br /> Well, better than nothing. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/linux-recommendation-for-reading-editing-files#post-835 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:50:42 +0000 T4b 835@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>These DXFs open flawlessly in qcad and the svg one in inkscape, don't know what program I should try with ".AI".</p> <p>I can't open files for cutting the DIYLILCNC parts either. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/linux-recommendation-for-reading-editing-files#post-832 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:38:18 +0000 Taylor 832@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>Hmm - let's try a new set. SVG should be easy, though I can't export that directly out of Rhino. Try <a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3548427/test_filetypes.zip">this batch</a> and let me know what you get. I also added one extra curve for kicks. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/linux-recommendation-for-reading-editing-files#post-830 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:57:10 +0000 jstults 830@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>None of the programs seem to recognize DWG formated files; is there a tool to convert them to DXF? I tried Inkscape, OpenOffice Draw, Qcad and Blender (which needs an external script of some sort). </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/linux-recommendation-for-reading-editing-files#post-829 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:35:20 +0000 Taylor 829@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>@jstults,</p> <p>I've also noticed that DXFs really tax Inkscape and Pycam (like you said, taking forever to open). I thought it was an issue specific to each application, but perhaps it's an OS thing? Anyhow, with your help perhaps we'll track down the best file type and improve the way we export the design. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/linux-recommendation-for-reading-editing-files#post-828 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:23:18 +0000 jstults 828@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>Taylor, thanks for the test files; I will try them out with the various programs. I got the dxf in the zip file to open in Qcad (I just let it run overnight, so I'm not sure how long it took); <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/101235888084767733315/DaytonDiode?authkey=Gv1sRgCN6azZH0rJWm-AE&amp;feat=directlink#5641505117994551762">screenshot</a><a>.</a> </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/linux-recommendation-for-reading-editing-files#post-827 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:39:47 +0000 Taylor 827@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>@jstults,</p> <p>Sorry to hear about your difficulty! I just got back from a conference/demo, so my Linux box is still packed up. I'll look into this by the end of the week, and try to repost some additional file types if that helps.</p> <p>In the meantime, I had a peek at your screen grab. It looks like the program you're using is only rendering circles and arcs. This sounds like a DXF import/export issue. I've just knocked out <a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3548427/DWGs.zip">three simple DWGs</a> for you to test. Try each and let me know if they render funny. They should all give you an inch-UOM design that <a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3548427/test_grab.tiff">looks like this</a>. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/linux-recommendation-for-reading-editing-files#post-826 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:56:17 +0000 jstults 826@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>I tried to open the dxf file in a couple different programs. </p> <p>QCAD became unresponsive after spinning for 20 min, and did not successfully open the file. PythonCAD crashed immediately on trying to open the file. OpenOffice Draw seems to open the file (no error messages), but the only thing that shows up is a box with no drawing in it. </p> <p>Any other ideas for software to try in Linux? I'm running Fedora, so I'd prefer something packaged for that OS, but I'd install from source at this point. Thanks for any tips/pointers. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/linux-recommendation-for-reading-editing-files#post-825 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:45:22 +0000 jstults 825@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>I tried viewing the dxf from the zip file download in Inkscape. The CUT_SHEET_* layers show up, but no part shapes. </p> <p>The file open dialog on Inkscape for 'DXF Input' says:<br /> - AutoCAD Release 13 and newer.<br /> - assume dxf drawing is in mm.<br /> - assume svg drawing is in pixels, at 90 dpi.<br /> - layers are preserved only in File--&gt;Open, not Import.<br /> - limited support for BLOCKS, use AutoCAD Explode Blocks instead, if needed</p> <p>The Options are 'Use automatic scaling to size A4', 'Or, use manual scale factor'. What should the scaling factor be? Is there a 'view' setting I should change to be able to see the shapes? </p> <p>The character encoding default is 'Latin 1', should I choose 'UTF 8'?</p> <p>Here's a screen-shot of what I get if I use a scaling factor of 1.0 and zoom the view: <a href="http://goo.gl/IIBpD" rel="nofollow">http://goo.gl/IIBpD</a></p> <p>Thanks for any pointers on trying to visualize these drawings on linux. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/emc2#post-724 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 18:49:50 +0000 Taylor 724@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>@OFA</p> <p>Glad to hear you're functional! Don't worry about the lack of limits - as you say, careful model and machine zeros work fine for the most part.</p> <p>a: The motors do get pretty hot! Metal CNC chases do have the benefit of acting like a giant heat sink. Try turning on "idle current reduction" on your HobbyCNC board. This will also address the noise a little bit.</p> <p>b: Oh yeah! This is one noisy machine. You are running the files pretty slow though, which is why you're getting those sing-song sounds. Slow stepping speed equals higher torque, and I wouldn't be surprised if that generates more current/heat. I believe Alden Hart of TinyG once told me that steppers draw the most current when standing still.</p> <p>c: Have a look at this <a href="http://linuxcnc.org/docs/html/gcode.html">G code command library</a>. There are only about 80 commands, so it's pretty easy to do a search and replace on G code files if the settings aren't cooperating on post. Try bumping up the Feed (or F) rate incrementally - you should be able to go much faster through foam, especially if the plunge is conservative. Go ahead and experiment! Once you know that your model won't sent the tool into hard limits, the worst you'll do is cause erratic motor behavior/skip steps, or maybe break your bit if you're cutting wood (nothing will blow up). </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/emc2#post-722 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 20:50:59 +0000 jimmycakes 722@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>Those pictures are great. What did you use for the 3D model? Should be getting my parts next week. I can't wait. Going to try and get my computer set up and installed with Linux and goodies. Look forward to reading more about your problems so I can solve mine when they arise. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/emc2#post-720 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:54:27 +0000 Open Form Architecture 720@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>@Taylor,</p> <p>Our problems were mostly with the PINS (as I suspected). We had "All limits" in Pin #10 which seemed to cause all the problems. Following the larger tutorial on the SAIC website (thanks!) I erased the 10-15 pins as "unused" and we inverted the Z-Axis direction. We had to tweak our table limits to a larger dimension, which scares us because there are no limits, and the steppers could just keep going, but we'll regulate this with actual model. </p> <p>Screenshot: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/darrel_ronald/5405381284/in/set-72157625822258783/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/darrel_ronald/5405381284/in/set-72157625822258783/</a></p> <p><strong>Questions:</strong><br /> a) The motors are always quite hot. We found online (or manuals?) that they should run about 140 Ferhenheit (is this okay)?<br /> b) The steppers are quite loud -did you have this same issue? Are there quieting techniques?<br /> c) How do you change the speed of the steppers depending on which material you're using (i.e. Wood versus softer Foam?) SHould we overwrite a feed rate somewhere to speed it up? </p>