On Sunday, October 1, 2023 at 11:40:38 PM EDT, Sanjeev Prabhakar <sprabhakar2006@gmail.com> wrote: >Can you make a video to explain beginners how to get started with your library with some simple use cases. >It's difficult for me to understand how is it working. I am not cool enough for videos. Probably this is a bit too obscure for general usage --- it is my reaction to OpenSCAD not having CAM functionality, and there not being a CAD/CAM program for CNC routers which I can both wrap my mind around and which works with the control I want. Basically one uses this library setup to make an OpenSCAD file which will make a 3D file and a matching G-code file which will cut it out --- the first test file is quite prosaic, a block w/ a single angled cut in it (and one which is not particularly good practice since it cuts a slot deeper than the endmill diameter in a single pass --- working on improving that next). I'll try to write it up and document the source at: https://willadams.gitbook.io/design-into-3d/programming (there's a bit of that there, and it should at least provide the background) It's not interested unless one wants to work in subtractive G-code directly (for additive see: http://fullcontrolgcode.com/ ) and has a CNC router/mill to run the G-code on --- I suppose one could use CAMotics to get a 3D model, but that would be a lot more awkward than just exporting an STL from OpenSCAD. Step-by-step instructions --- download and place the library files: https://github.com/WillAdams/gcodepreview/blob/main/pygcodepreview.scad https://github.com/WillAdams/gcodepreview/blob/main/gcodepreview.py https://github.com/WillAdams/gcodepreview/blob/main/gcodepreview.scad in the OpenSCAD library folder, e.g.,: "C:\Users\willa\OneDrive\Documents\OpenSCAD\libraries\gcodepreview.py""C:\Users\willa\OneDrive\Documents\OpenSCAD\libraries\gcodepreview.scad""C:\Users\willa\OneDrive\Documents\OpenSCAD\libraries\pygcodepreview.scad" Then install: http://www.guenther-sohler.net/openscad/ then create a file which: loads the files in question: use <gcodepreview.py>;use <pygcodepreview.scad>;include <gcodepreview.scad>; has the appropriate variables: /* [G-code] */Gcode_filename = "gcode.nc"; /* [G-code] */generategcode = true; /* [CAM] */feedrate = 850;/* [CAM] */plungerate = 425;/* [CAM] */toolradius = 1.5875;/* [CAM] */squaretoolno = 102; /* [Feeds and Speeds] */plunge = 100;/* [Feeds and Speeds] */feed = 400;/* [Feeds and Speeds] */speed = 16000;/* [Feeds and Speeds] */square_ratio = 1.0; // [0.25:2]/* [Feeds and Speeds] */small_V_ratio = 0.75; // [0.25:2]/* [Feeds and Speeds] */large_V_ratio = 0.875; // [0.25:2] /* [Stock] */stocklength = 219;/* [Stock] */stockwidth = 150;/* [Stock] */stockthickness = 8.35;/* [Stock] */zeroheight = "Top"; // [Top, Bottom]/* [Stock] */stockorigin = "Center"; // [Lower-Left, Center-Left, Top-Left, Center]/* [Stock] */retractheight = 9; and has appropriate commands --- hopefully the command names are sensible enough: opengcodefile(Gcode_filename); The one tricky part is one has to declare the difference command and make the stock: difference() {setupstock(stocklength, stockwidth, stockthickness, zeroheight, stockorigin); and then all the other things are subtracted from it: movetosafez(); toolchange(squaretoolno,speed * square_ratio); movetoorigin(); movetosafeheight(); cutoneaxis_setfeed("Z",-1,plunge*square_ratio); the file actually only makes one "real" cut --- the rest of it is to make a G-code file which cuts the same as the OpenSCAD files shows. cutwithfeed(stocklength/2,stockwidth/2,-stockthickness,feed); closecut();} closegcodefile(); Here's the matching G-code file: (gcode.nc)(stockMin: -109.5, -75mm, -8.35mm)(stockMax:109.5mm, 75mm, 0.00mm)(STOCK/BLOCK, 219, 150, 8.35, 109.5, 75, 8.35)G90G21(Move to safe Z to avoid workholding)G53G0Z-5.000(Toolpath)M05(TOOL/MILL,3.17, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00)M6T102M03S16000(PREPOSITION FOR RAPID PLUNGE)G0X-0.000Y0.000Z9G1Z-1F100G1 X109.5 Y75 Z-8.35F400G53G0Z-5.000M05M02 which, as noted, if you load it into a G-code previewer will show a preview to match. William