Question Tool Diameter compensation

Hi, Have had a 600 machine for a few months & really enjoying using it. Primarily for cutting model aircraft parts in wood & carbon fibre. I am still using the basic software supplied with the machine & there is no tool diameter compensation.... I import HPGL files from my old DOS (yes!) 2d cad system & have to modify the drawings for tool diameter.
If I update to the next Stepcraft software - is there a tool diameter compenstion facility? have looked at the software - but can't see where this facility is.

Hallo,

make it with Estlcam (the free version) you can choose every diameter.

lg
alfred

No, WinPC NC is no CAM Software, it's only a piece of software to control the machine.

With EstlCAM you have to choose the right settings (winpc nc full or starter) and it will create the right files. *.plt for starter or *.din? for the full version. The most important difference between full and starter is, that the starter can only do 2D.

Hi all,
thanks for prompt replies. The Estlcam software seems good value & I will probably go that route. Could I ask the following - I like 'turn key' systems ( Im not a cnc buff) & the Stepcraft is certainly that & worked first time, so :

1. Does Estlecam 'take over' the machine or are the menu functions of starter-nc still active.
2. Is it simple to set up?
3. Can I still use Starter NC as an option?

I only need 2d & be able to import HPGL files.
Thanks again

The USB board sold with WinPC NC is only usable with this Software. So, Estlcam is only a CAM software in this combination.
If you have some exerience with electronics, you can buy an Arduino, build a cable which replaces the USB board and directly mill out of EstlCAM.

In my version of EstlCAM I can only load dxf- or stl-files. In the setting-tab and cnc program sub-tab you select the right target software and EstlCAM will generate the right files when generating the NC file.

The full WinPC software is a Gcode interpreter. You will need to generate toolpaths to use this. The toolpath generator is where you will get the "tool radius compensation". this is often called the "CAM" software. this converts the DXF files into Gcode.

We use Cut2D form Vectric. this should be compatible with WinPC full version. It is compatible with Mach3 and UCCNC. you select your geometry and tell the Cut2D what cutter you are using and it will compensate for this in the toolpath which you then load into WinPC.

WinPC starter cannot be used like this.

Hi all,
Have looked at Estlecam download - but it will only accept .dxf files - not HPGL which I would need. However, it certainly looks like tool paths can be generated (Have loaded some dxf files & experimented, but not tried routing as yet)

Pity, because the next step in software looks very expensive. There is another laborious way out though - using the contour command in Techsoft & exporting to hpgl - but not ideal.

converter


the world is a google .............

Something like Inkscape might also work. At least it allows *.plt as input file and *.dxf as output.

as I read this your looking for a program that will compensate for the tool dia when cutting out your job, well as Rory has said, cut2d uses the tool use reporter to automatically compensate for the dia tool your using all you have to do is make sure the selection at the top of the window has the right tool plus data in the program does the rest. oh yes and you can designate whether you want it to cut on, inside or outside the drawing. using this program along with UCCNC it's a doddle.

regards Tug

the programcompensation does not realy know how thick your tool exactly is.
you have to write your measured diameter in the programm.
In my case, I have to write 1,7mm for a 1,5mm milling cutter.

regards
alfred

yes - you need to tell all CAM packaged what the cutting diameter of your tool is. And then put the correct tool in the machine.

more high end CAM packages can account for tool length also.