Toolbox
Making G-code
After you have drawn a panel and applied some machining operations, or created a nest of a product or job, you can make a program that will run on your machining center. There are two different ways to produce machine G-code. The first way was talked about in the Processing Reports section in Overdrive. This process took all the parts in the job and created a G-code file for each part with machining that could be run on your machining center. The other way to make G-code files is from single parts drawn on the AutoCAD drawing. After selecting the "Make G-code" button, (which is the 16th toolbar button on the main toolbar or the 6th toolbar button on the "Single Part Editor" toolbar), you can select a part in the AutoCAD drawing to make G-code. If there is only one part in the drawing, then Microvellum automatically knows that that is the part you are trying to make G-code for so you do not have to select it; otherwise, you will need to select the part's border. Once you have selected the part's border, a screen will be displayed that will allow you to name the G-code file and select the path to place the file. G-code files are, by default, stored in a separate folder from the rest of the manufacturing data. If you have selected the G-code files to be placed in the "Manufacturing Data" folder, a new folder will be created called "G-code" inside the "Manufacturing Data" folder. (The "G-code" folder name is specified in the toolfile and will be different for each toolfile). If you would like to create a new folder to store the G-code, select the "New Folder" button. From the G-code screen you can decide if the part will be run in the normal or mirrored field on your machine. If you would like this part to run in the mirrored field, select the "Run In Mirrored Field" checkbox. If your machine is capable of doing its own mirroring, an almost identical file will be written, no matter what field it goes in. If you machine cannot do its own mirroring, all the coordinates will be flipped to force the machine to make a mirrored part. In both cases it is important to remember that mirroring a part gives you just that. If you are looking at a left cabinet side, the mirrored program will make a right cabinet side. If you are nesting and have
nested part borders in the AutoCAD drawing, you have the option to make G-code
for all of them at once. Instead of selecting a border of a part or
nested part, enter in "A" for All. This will automatically
find all the nested borders in the AutoCAD drawing and display the
"Program File Name" screen. Enter in the file name you would
like for your nested borders. The first border will be called the name
you specified with "001" added to it. The next one will be
the name you specified with "002" added. This will continue
until all the nested borders have been named. Before selecting the
"OK" button to create G-code you can decide whether the nests will
have a double pass. Checking the " Click the "OK" button once the file name and run field or double pass option have been decided on to create the G-code. The G-code results screen will be provided displaying a picture of the part, and warning messages if any problems were found. If the part contains machining on both Face 5 and Face 6, two programs will be made instead of just one. You can see the G-code files created by selecting the part name in the results screen. A picture to the left will show what machining operations are being done. Any errors that occurred will be displayed in the "Error Messages" text box. If you would like to view a text file that shows the G-code, select the "Display G-code File". A text editor will allow you to view and edit any G-code lines and save the file. Click the "OK" button to close the "G-code Results" screen. You will now have a program to run on the CNC machine. A DXF file will also be made and saved in a folder called "DXF" in the job folder. After you have made G-code for a part, the part will be placed in the "Parts List from a DXF Folder" and can be viewed by selecting the "Display a Parts List From the DXF Folder" toolbar button. |
|||||
|
|
