G code?

[scottsutton]

I am about to start an automation job that will run among other things a CNC type ultrasonic knife. I am going to use DoMore for the base controller to run all of the machine's functions. The ultrasonic knife portion will need to run G code files that (4 axis) cuts out the customers parts. Can DoMore's built in motion control execute G code files? Yaskawa apparently sells a motion processor that can execute G code but I would much rather use DoMore if that is possible.

Thanks,
Scott

[Garyhlucas]

After seeing the motion control functions in DoMore BRX I think you could write an interpreter fairly easily. Years ago I wrote what I called G-code in a DL205, but it stood for Growbot. It allowed operators to write a sequence of operations for multiple tasks using an Opcode and data.

I do G-code programming and it really is just 4 functions. G0 rapid from current location to some point no path control. G1 move from here to a point with a specified feedrate and linear interpolation of the path. G2 feed rate, end point, center and circular interpolation to the right. G3 the same as G2 to the left.  Most of the rest of the G-codes do things like determine whether a move is incremental or absolute mode from an origin, fixture offsets etc.

G70 & G80 range commands are modal, they stay active until can canceled by a G80 and do things like drill cycles, peck cycles, pockets.

M codes are used to start & stop the spindle, blow off air, coolant, clamps, that kind of thing.

The code is in a simple ascii file with one command and parameters per line, as needed by the command. So you need file parser that just calls subprograms or tasks for each function. DoMore is kind of perfect for this.

I ran an old CNC controller whose only user interface was two digital data displays, and pilot lights for G, M, N for line numbers!  You can get away without a fancy display if you use a CAM program to write the code. CamBam for $149 would do a great job.

[franji1]

After seeing the motion control functions in DoMore BRX I think you could write an interpreter fairly easily.

Cool!  FYI, the Do-more BRX AXSCRIPT instruction has its own import/export text file mechanism.  I bet you could leverage your stuff even more (AX* instructions are Do-more BRX only, however).  There are a few examples that get installed with Designer that help show how to do some "simple" things with the AXSCRIPT instruction (see the attached screen shot)

[scottsutton]

So you need file parser that just calls subprograms or tasks for each function. DoMore is kind of perfect for this

So, without really understanding much of what you described, the DoMore can do this with some work? Would this be done through scripting? What resources could you point me towards that could lead me in the right direction? I am very interested in solving this with a DoMore solution rather than adding a secondary motion controller just for the G Code portion.

As far as G code generation, I do that currently with SheetCam, so no additional software would  be needed to generate the tool paths.

Thank you,
Scott

[BobO]

Do-more cannot execute G-code, but it can do most of the common moves that G-code does. We had thoughts about doing a G-code function for BRX, but we haven't had a large number of requests for it.

[Garyhlucas]

If you are using sheetcam it suggests you are driving a laser, plasma, or router, and maybe you don?t do tool changing or drilling cycles? So knowing what you are trying to do would give us a better idea of how to approach it. My CNC mill and the CNC router I am building both have DoMores to handle functions not easily done by the CNC processor.

[scottsutton]

Gary,
This will be an Ultrasonic knife application. So no, no drilling, no tool changing. This will essentially be just a CNC router table without the router and a knife instead. The only unique part of this is that the knife will need to have active rotation (4th axis) to follow the arcs. It will not work like a drag knife which follows the geometry with an offset. This will require active arc tracking to produce the desired results.

I am very interested in your CNC mill and router application with DoMore.

We had thoughts about doing a G-code function for BRX, but we haven't had a large number of requests for it

Add me to the request count for this function!

Scott