Exporting G Code Without a Postprocessor
Hello people. I'm working with SprutCam and trying to export to a Shopbot. The only available postprocessor I can find doesn't output anything the machine can use. But I've heard good things about feeding the shopbot software plain gcode and letting it do the dirty work. Problem is, I can't figure out how to export the plain gcode from sprutcam. Any advice?
Re: Exporting G Code Without a Postprocessor
Quote:
Originally Posted by
wimbley
I can't figure out how to export the plain gcode from sprutcam. Any advice?
This is a really fair question, and I know I'm grave digging, but this is where I'm at searching for the answer to this very question...
I've made a simple 3dprinter with Arduino & ramps, (simply, it accepts gcode for xyz g1 movement).... So how do I get my SprutCam 7 to export these tool paths generated by each job?
Please don't hate for grave digging, this should have been answered 3 years ago
Re: Exporting G Code Without a Postprocessor
Don't the commonly available slicers like Kura generate G-code for open source printers?
I don't that think that SprutCAM has a post for any sort of 3D printer.
Re: Exporting G Code Without a Postprocessor
Got a couple of options:
1) use a very basic mill, eg, the Tormach. Generate your gcode, then edit out, manually all the M codes, S codes, and Gcodes that don't apply. I would imagine there would be only a few, becuase I would think in 3D printing there is basically one op : extrude!
2) take a copy of the Tormach post processor, and modify it yourself. You need some software writing skills, as the PP generator uses a form of the Basic language. Even at that it's daunting at first getting into the Sprut mind set, and data structures. But after you get productive with that tool you can do some cool things.
Re: Exporting G Code Without a Postprocessor
How do you drill a hole with a 3D printer?
Re: Exporting G Code Without a Postprocessor
I had some coffee and re-read your post. The problem is a little more complicated because you basically want to take a model and machine it ( mill it ) in reverse. Ie, the last gcode moves become the first and visa vera. You would select a tiny ( the diameter of your extruded blob of plastic ) end mill that is as 'long' as the Z travel on your bed, and machine your model to dust. Or, you need to create a negative of the model, like a mold and machine that. Not sure if SprutCAM would allow the first case, and you would be limited in the second case, because the subtractive approach to making something has limitations over the additive approach. I think open source software is the way to go here.