.plt too .ngc

what program do i need to convert a .plt too a file that emc2 can see?

if this is plt format from autocad then you need to realy use the dxf format and use a cam program to convert to gcode ..
their are many cam programs that are available , mostly are windows based but their are a few linux ones ..

which program are you converting from and is it windows based or linux ?

also see this thread on the subject of cad and cam
www.linuxcnc.org/index.php/english/compo...unc=showcat&catid=31

What you need is any program that can convert the files you have to a g code (ngc) file, with a post processor for linuxcnc. I have never tried to go from plt to ngc but there are programs out there. I believe it is more common to go from dxf to ngc.

You might want to look here...
wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Cam

As cncbasher stated many cad programs can save files as dxf or dwg and then there are many option to choose from. Also many cad programs can import plt files and then save them as dxf files.

What program are you using to create the files?

Rick G

i use vinyl master pro as my cad program. (a sign program)
it will exprot a dxf . but it improts biger than the exported.
i can export a 1" x 1" box and it imports as a 25.400" x 25.400 "

and yes it is windows
and yes it is hpgl (i thank)

i dont understand cnc language.
i'm new to the cnc game.
and i dont know what a post processor is.

the software and driver i use on my 5' x 10' cnc
takes the .plt file and drivers the stepers and cuts
the layout. just like k-cam. (i have the demo)

it sounds more a conversion issue and setup problem within your system ...
1" equals 25.4mm not 25.4 inches .. most cad systems use a unit scale style , so 1 unit = 1 inch or 1 unit = 25.4mm when switching between Imperial and metric

when i say it imports at 25.400 x 25.400
it imports back in inches not mm
i can place more than 625 1" boxes inside of it.

my cad program is setup for inch.

can you tell me what a post processor is
and what it's four ?

If you export your design as a dxf file it needs to be converted to a g code file for Linuxcnc to be able to run it.
The program you select to do this often has options on how to export the ngc file as g codes can be different from machine to machine.
The post processor is really just a filter for the output.

Rick G

when i export my 1" box design as a dxf to a 3.5" disk i take it to my
router computer open the program select my design.

instead of cutting a 1" box it will cut 25.400" box.

it will do the same thing in k-cam.

1 inch = 25.4mm your not importing the design correctly .. as cad programs use unit measures .. i.e 1 can be either 1 Inch or 1mm on import you should be able to scale
it's looks like your cam program is set to mm and your designs set to Imperial , you should have 2 post processors one for each Imperial & Metric
and your probably set up or using the wrong one .. post processor that is , as rick mentioned .

in Kcam see " Table Setup " and under axis setup you can change from imperial to metric
can you post your dxf and i can , see if we can locate the problem