Snocad-X Core and Profile export

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petefromluck
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Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2014 6:59 am

Snocad-X Core and Profile export

Post by petefromluck »

Hey Guys,
I am looking to export my designs from snocad into my other CAD program before I send it off to my cnc. However, I want to export my core with the profile together.
As of right now when I export, it is giving me these two things separately.
Is this possible?
petefromluck
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richie
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Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2010 7:25 pm
Location: New Zealand
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Re: Snocad-X Core and Profile export

Post by richie »

petefromluck wrote:Hey Guys,
I am looking to export my designs from snocad into my other CAD program before I send it off to my cnc. However, I want to export my core with the profile together.
As of right now when I export, it is giving me these two things separately.
Is this possible?
petefromluck
Hi, Are you meaning you actually want it in full "3D" with the thickness and planshape in one model? It doesn't do that but its a good idea, perhaps add this to the development project for snoCAD-x and MonkeyCAM. Check out https://github.com/mikemag/snoCAD-X and set your self up a GitHUB account and add an "issue" with title something like "Enhancement Request - export DXF 3D model". To be honest this is kind of what MonkeyCAM https://github.com/mikemag/MonkeyCAM part of the project is doing anyway as it will eventually take the snoCAD-x design and process it into ready to use gcode to do all 3D profiling operations and other core machining operations. Regardless how its done it would be great to have your input into the project so please do have a good look at both snoCAD and MonkeyCAM and test it too. Have you got your own CNC? What is it you are using for the CAD you referred to and are you doing CAM or leaving that to your CNC guy if outsourcing that? cheers, Rich
MonkeyCAM and SnoCAD - https://github.com/mikemag
Ski binding mounting https://github.com/splitn2/DrillSki

Richard Harcourt | www.splitn2.com | Christchurch New Zealand
rich@splitn2.com | www.facebook.com/splitn2
petefromluck
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2014 6:59 am

Post by petefromluck »

Rich,
Thanks for the reply. Yes, I am looking to import 3D images to be able to profile my cores with a CNC.
No, I do not have my own CNC but I work at a school that just got one so I've been self-learning via youtube to be able to use it for some of my ski building stuff. Currently, I just cut my cores and molds from it.
After I am done in Snocad, I export the file to a program that came with our shopbot CNC called Aspire. Again, I am a novice with this program and am still learning how to do more with it (ie; trying to be able to make my cores 3D so I can profile them on the machining table).
I will get on github and submit an issue request.
Thanks for all of your help!
If you are familiar with Aspire and know how I can transfer my core profiles into 3D mode, please let me know :)

Petefromluck
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richie
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Location: New Zealand
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Post by richie »

petefromluck wrote:Rich,
Thanks for the reply. Yes, I am looking to import 3D images to be able to profile my cores with a CNC.
No, I do not have my own CNC but I work at a school that just got one so I've been self-learning via youtube to be able to use it for some of my ski building stuff. Currently, I just cut my cores and molds from it.
After I am done in Snocad, I export the file to a program that came with our shopbot CNC called Aspire. Again, I am a novice with this program and am still learning how to do more with it (ie; trying to be able to make my cores 3D so I can profile them on the machining table).
I will get on github and submit an issue request.
Thanks for all of your help!
If you are familiar with Aspire and know how I can transfer my core profiles into 3D mode, please let me know :)

Petefromluck
Sounds like you've fallen on your feet there with being able to use a CNC without buying one!!! I am still actually a wee way off completing my CNC but I have been working on this software side of things getting an understanding of MonkeyCAM and also MACH3 CNC controller so that I am essentially ready to cut once my machine is built. I'm not familiar with Aspire or any other industry standard CAM package yet but thats my goal after actually cutting my teeth with MonkeyCAM, since MonkeyCAM will actually do everything I want it to. Most of the MonkeyCAM gcode works with a Shopbot controller with the exception of hole routing/drilling operations, I'm not sure why there is an issue with holes specifically but I assume its just a gcode difference between the various controllers, but still you can try and run the MonkeyCAM created gcode on your shopbot for profiling and cutting operations. Have a good look at the MonkeyCAM documentation and download it and give it a go. Its very very cool! Like anything new it will take some time to come up to speed but once you understand MonkeyCAM and that its designed for a end to end "design through to build" workshop processthen you will see how it can speed things up and also make your layup/press process somewhat easier too. Any questions keep asking, I'll be happy to run a remote Skype screen sharing session to show you MonkeyCAM basics too so to get you started, let me know if this is of interest. cheers, Rich

edit , here is the info on Shopbot ....
https://github.com/mikemag/MonkeyCAM/issues/1
ShopBot doesn't support the R variant of G02, so the following programs fail on ShopBot:
* Inserts
* Guide holes
Need to move to the I,J variant of G02 to support less capable controllers.
MonkeyCAM and SnoCAD - https://github.com/mikemag
Ski binding mounting https://github.com/splitn2/DrillSki

Richard Harcourt | www.splitn2.com | Christchurch New Zealand
rich@splitn2.com | www.facebook.com/splitn2
petefromluck
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Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2014 6:59 am

Post by petefromluck »

Rich,
Are you saying that MonkeyCam and replace Snocad for what I am trying to do?
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richie
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Location: New Zealand
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Post by richie »

petefromluck wrote:Rich,
Are you saying that MonkeyCam and replace Snocad for what I am trying to do?
Well the plan is to get snoCAD and MonkeyCAM more tightly integrated, so snoCAD is the front end design gui interface and then you can use MonkeyCAM to spit out the gcode in literally milliseconds, ready to do all the fancy cuts and rebates and profiling and drilling, it will do all the hard stuff that would take hours to do in a CAM program. Its hard to explain in a few words, just trust me have a look at MonkeyCAM for a start and I will give you a demo if you like its a lot easier to demo than to try explain in an email. For now MonkeyCAM does not have a gui but you can actually design a beautiful board literally by numbers "parametric" is how Mike Magruder describes it. Here is a extract from the MonkeyCAM github page that summarises what it currently does......

Features and Current Status

MonkeyCAM is currently a command-line program only. The program takes configuration files to describe the ski or snowboard shape via a small set of parameters and generates the following G-code programs plus a HTML overview of the board:
  • * Base cutout
    * Core:
    Guide holes to allow the core to be removed and flipped between programs
    Alignment marks to transfer key design points to the bottom of the core
    Edge relief to leave room for steel edges
    Insert holes for standard snowboard inserts (T-nuts) in a variety of patterns
    Top profile to impart the taper to the core
    Cutout, allowing for sidewall overhang and nose/tail spacers
    * Nose and tail spacers which match the core
    * Edge trenches to enable inlay of different edge wood and/or sidewall material along the effective edge of the core
The G-code programs emitted at this time have been tested on my CNC machine with a very old DeskCNC controller and work correctly. Each program also loads in Mach 3 and simulates correctly. The programs not involving holes load in ShopBot's controller and simulate correctly, but the ones with holes do not work for ShopBot right now.

There is no interactive user interface. Configuration is done via two text files, and all results are either G-Code programs, or the HTML overview which can be easily used to refine the board shape.
MonkeyCAM and SnoCAD - https://github.com/mikemag
Ski binding mounting https://github.com/splitn2/DrillSki

Richard Harcourt | www.splitn2.com | Christchurch New Zealand
rich@splitn2.com | www.facebook.com/splitn2
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