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SketchUp Foamcutter.rb does not generate GCODE as shown #9

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ThomasHeb opened this issue Oct 14, 2020 · 12 comments
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SketchUp Foamcutter.rb does not generate GCODE as shown #9

ThomasHeb opened this issue Oct 14, 2020 · 12 comments

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@ThomasHeb
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From youtube.com

After I select the paths, I am not getting the GCODE window to pop up like yours does at 5:49 Any idea why???

Please send me your SketchUp file for a deeper analysis.

Regards
Thomas
@CWO4
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CWO4 commented Oct 14, 2020

Here is the file requested. Very simple cut going from square to round. It is on the same SketchUp file you included as an example. And also, the "Tower" gcode you included is not running correctly either. The code actually runs and cuts, but the shapes are all wrong.

Tower.zip

@CWO4
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CWO4 commented Oct 14, 2020

Here is a photo of the shape that results from the gcode that is produced.

PXL_20201014_183112009

@ThomasHeb
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ThomasHeb commented Oct 14, 2020 •
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thank you. I will check the code on my machine tomorrow.
was your machine already parametrized and did you made some successful cuts before?

the cut out looks a bit like axis-traveling for x and y is not ok and positioning of the foam is not correct. but this can also be an issue due to missing post process (square to round is a complex shape and needs a post process with machine specific setup to calculate axis traveling from block shape, I will include some pictures tomorrow for better understandings)

@CWO4
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CWO4 commented Oct 14, 2020 via email

@ThomasHeb
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ThomasHeb commented Oct 15, 2020 •
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Hi Tom,
using SketchUp for fuselage is exactly what I do.
Your design is correct, you only missed the post process. Sketchup/Foamcutter.rb exports the two paths (left and right side) of the shape. If you do not run a post process, the foamcutter takes these paths as the machine movement. see picture below. If you add a foam somewhere in the middle, you get something between square and round.
Bildschirmfoto 2020-10-15 um 06 54 33
I made a small video showing the steps and insides.
postprocess.mov.zip

What is a bit strange on your photos.... the width and hight of the cutout looks different..... these should be equal.

Actually this doesn't help you, because my post processor is running on MacOS. But what I can offer is to extend the foamcutter.rb-tool with a basic post processor... but this will take some time and testing

Here you see the fuselage design of the Lo100:
Bildschirmfoto 2020-10-15 um 06 59 51
IMG_3978

@CWO4
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CWO4 commented Oct 15, 2020 via email

@ThomasHeb
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Tom,
stay tuned. the first SketchUp post processor is working.... I will post a demo here and hope you can support me for testing.

P.S.: Maybe someone could use my source and port it to Java.

@ThomasHeb
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ThomasHeb commented Oct 15, 2020 •
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Hi Tom,

appending you find the foamcutter_V002.rb file. Please open SketchUp, the Ruby Code Editor and load this rb file and execute it. You will find a new menu "Foam Cutter Tool PP"
Bildschirmfoto 2020-10-15 um 20 22 20

I modified your example (attached tower.skp.zip).
You have to add your machine dimensions at (1) and (4). the distance in between is the the distance between your axis (I used my machine width of 721mm).
The shape is placed in between and is equals the position of the foam inside the machine and the thickness of the foam (distance between (2) and (3)).
Bildschirmfoto 2020-10-15 um 20 17 13

Select the Foamcutter Tool PP. Select

  • (1) left machine side
  • (2) left shape side (be careful to use the correct line)
  • (3) right shape side (be careful to use the correct line)
  • (4) richt machine side

The tool calculates the movement of the axis, draws the movements inside SketchUp. exports the gcode, including hotwire on/of, power setting and feed speed (see foamcutter settings menu). the gcode file can be executed directly.
Bildschirmfoto 2020-10-15 um 20 17 55
As you can see, my machine is too small to produce this shape.... I would need to reduce the machine width.

default.gcode.zip
foamcutter_V002.rb.zip
Tower.skp.zip

Can you please test this?... of course you need to modify to your machine dimensions.

Limitations of that tool:
Axis and shapes are parallel, the tool is not calculating shapes which are rotated!
For position of machine and left/right side of the shape, the first point is used only (distance between shape is distance between first points of the paths, kind of parallel projection for each path).
Bildschirmfoto 2020-10-15 um 20 40 17
The selected/blue path equals the one next to it right side, because rotation is ignored and and for position between the machine only the first point is relevant. This allows more complex cutouts and back travel of the hotwire.

Regards
Thomas

@CWO4
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CWO4 commented Oct 15, 2020 via email •
edited by ThomasHeb
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@CWO4
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CWO4 commented Oct 15, 2020 via email •
edited by ThomasHeb
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@ThomasHeb
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Hi Tom,

Thanks for the first feedback. Not everything is possible inside a simple script compared to 3D calculation in Swift, but if you have ideas and wishes, let me know!

I had several problems on my fuselage, too. the small segments have a width of 60mm and behind the wing a big difference between the left and the right shape paths, so my axis movements have been too small. I reduced operational width of the machine from 721 to 350mm and for the nose to 200mm, so I could use full axis movement to produce big angles between the axis. The nose had 2 outer and two inner cut-outs per side, which I combined in my post processor and checked visual, if the hotwire is not intersecting the final piece.

Bildschirmfoto 2020-10-16 um 05 58 42
Bildschirmfoto 2020-10-16 um 05 59 54

I tried to rebuild that in the SketchUp PP Tool and this is not possible in a single calculation. But you can calculate the 4 cutting steps separate and then copy the relevant parts from the gcode together to one big file...

Bildschirmfoto 2020-10-16 um 06 10 21

@ThomasHeb ThomasHeb mentioned this issue Dec 16, 2020
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@ThomasHeb
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foamcutter.rb with integrated post processor is released

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@ThomasHeb @CWO4