Noobie…
Question if I have a gcode from let’s say SolidWorks… Can I just send it to my machine.
Gcode is supposed to be standard. But it has differences based on the firmware and sometimes on the machine.
So if the gcode you have is for grbl, then it should work.
There is a lot of info on gcode and software here:
Software workflow
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So when I was building the machine which is on another thread a long thread…lol…
I went through the setup for fluid NC was I supposed to download the repeater as well??
I did not see that in the jackpot documentation.
I just want to make sure… to bad we can’t upload videos
Upload to youtube and link it
It sounds like you have a Jackpot, which runs the FluidNC firmware, which is based on Grbl. So, as long as you are generating Grbl gcode, you should be fine.
No, you don’t need Repetier Host and I wouldn’t go that route. You just need some type of CAM software to generate the gcode. Around here, EstlCAM is quite popular and likely has the lowest barrier to entry. Even though I usually use Fusion to create models, I find EstlCAM to be way easier than the Fusion CAM. There is configuration that will need to be updated for starting, tool change and ending gcode. Milling Basics - V1 Engineering Documentation
Once you have the gcode, you’ll just end up uploading it to FluidNC via the WebUI. You do this using the Upload button in the “SD Files” section.
Typically, before running a job, you’ll home the machine and use the jog controls to move to the starting point. You’ll want to note when you generate the gcode file, where the CAM software has the origin set to. I typically manually set that to the bottom left corner, but it can be anywhere.
For example, when I load this into EstlCAM, it defaults to the bottom left corner:
But you can put it anywhere you want:
And click the “Play” button to start it:
I hope that helps!
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So basically if we do this in solid works there is no Pp for the jackpot…if I’m understanding this correctly??
Jason,
Can I create gcode and import into ESTLCAM then…IDK… I don’t understand why ESTLCAM can import an STL but not a step file… All these softwares. Then communication to the machine…it’s very confusing…
What you can and can’t do…
EstlCAM can do 2d and what they call 2.5d for milling STL files.
You’re definitely dealing with something more complex than I’ve attempted.
I’m not sure if there is a Grbl post processor for it but that is what you would need.
No, the purpose of CAM software in general is just to generate gcode.
I would think that you could convert a step file to an STL and then open in EstlCAM but I don’t know if that’s a good approach or not.
Found a SolidWorks pp…
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I guess I’m just confused…
So …in 3d printing
1.design ( any software)
2. Export, 3mf, STL, obj.
3. Load in slicer that generates code for ANY machine…
CNC
- Design
- Setups…
- G-Code ( but you have to have a specific processor for a specific controller…which means if the cam doesn’t say have Grbl…then it cant be done on this machine…
Why aren’t CNC controllers universal…like 3d printers… isn’t that the point of G-Code??? To be universal
I think 3d printers and software have come a long way in the past few years. Also, I think they are a lot more mainstream than CNC machines, at least for amateur use. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that 3d printers are additive, where you build up one layer at a time which makes the “toolpaths” simpler. In general, there is one nozzle so no tool changes (closest thing being a filament change). For a CNC, you have to deal with feeds and speeds that differ depending on tool and material.
On the surface, 3d printing and CNC milling have a lot of similarities. But when you get into the details, I think CNC is a lot more complicated. I think the advance of software has made CNC much more approachable for amateur use, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.
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The Wikipedia article on gcode is pretty interesting and explains some of the history and attempts at standardization.
Understandable.
There’s a lot of details and nuances to the complex CAD/CAM/Milling workflow for parts like the the one you’ve been showing.
More like
- CAD
- CAM
- Post-Processor
- Sender (run gcode on machine, often with built-in capabilities like “run from SD” on FluidNC)
3D printers are not universal. They’re closer, but there are wildly different capablities across the various 3D printers and even more so when going to industrial machines and capabilities.
You can’t take gcode for a Prusa XL and run it on a Bambo A1.
gcode is a dialect of machine instructions and all the manufacturers and implementers have thier own subset of supported gcode.
The advanced milling gcode like drill and tap cycles are not in contol software like GRBL/FluidNC and require machine support to be able to run (e.g. encoders and stepper/servo indexed spindles)
The same is true with a whole bunch of gcode features.
Sadly, the workflow for SolidWorks CAM to FluidNC is something that not very many people here are doing. The built in SolidWorks CAM is difficult to use. It’s also difficult to target a variety of machine implementations including GRBL dialects, Marlin dialects, Klipper, etc.
Does your friend routinely use SolidWorks CAM to output gcode for a part like the one you’ve posted pictures of? If not, this will take some learning on their part as that workflow is uncommon.
That’s why you’re seeing suggestions about other CAM and post processors- if no one here is using that tool chain then no one here is going to be able to tell you how to make it work.