Embroidery machine

Is there anyone out there running LCNC on a commercial embroidery machine?
If there is, I would like to have a dialogue about machines.
Thanks, Allen

Just curious, what is the work flow from pattern to G-code? Are there existing tools that aren't tied to commercial machines?

Hmm, "work flow from pattern to G-code?" if I understand the question, here's what I think is the answer.
I have a Gantry router I use for lots of things (I run LCNC to control that), I use a couple different CAD/CAM programs to draw and generate Gcode. They are Synergy, Vetric, and I'm attempting to bring FreeCAD on line.

I have no machine to speak of for the embroidery, that's what I'm curious about. (What works or doesn’t work)
I have visited folks running these machines and they all insist they have to run some extremely expensive program(s) to do this sort of thing. I just wondered if it's being done with LNCN as the control software, no reason it couldn't I should think.

Thanks for responding.

There's an old thread on cnczone about DIY embroidery machines. It seems to be Mach3 oriented but there are some discussions on suitable 2d CAD/CAM.

Yeah, I saw that when I did a little Googling on the topic as well. The original poster evidently wrote some software that produces embroidery G-Code:

my-woodcarving.blogspot.com/2010/02/embr...erator-v24-beta.html

Also a reference in the DIY thread on cnczone about using a 3D printing Slicer to generate g-gode.

Finally, I saw reference somewhere to a translator someone had written that took a proprietary binary output file format from commercial embroidery software and had figured out how to translate it to G-code.

The big difference between a subtractive (a cnc router or mill) and additive (a 3D printer or embroiderer) is that the path doesn't really matter that much for subtractive, but it is make or break for additive.

Before anyone jumps in, yes, there are subtractive methods (path generation) that generate better finishes and tolerances, but at the end of the day, it's about removing what is not wanted to reveal the final part/product.

It's an interesting topic, I have access to a single color cnc embroider machine at Techshop. While it's nice, the real money makers are multi-color, multi-needle machines. I suspect a DIY single color machine is completely possible. Multi-color/needle could be handled as tools with offsets, the issue is obtaining (or building?) a multi-needle sewing head. Most of the multi-needle machines cost as much as a car.

Thanks for the feedback, the truth is I just don’t have time for another project. (Too many lined up already).
I was just curious if LCNC could be configured to work, and if you could marry the gantry knowledge base to the embroidery field.
And if it was possible, what machine would be a good fit.
I wouldn't do enough embroidery to justify going nuts, I have way too much work to do to even think of taking on another branch of business and developing it.

Thanks again for your interest and responding, Allen

I don't think it would be very difficult, especially if you were just converting an existing machine. I don't even think you'd even need 3 axis, you'd just cycle the needle at the end of each linear 2-d movement. The trickiest part might be finding the right cam program to generate the G-code.

Now that you mention it I did see that rug machine, not as refined as embroidery but the same principal.
If I can find a "test" subject cheap (so I can experiment) I might consider this, but again I honestly shouldn't take on another project.
(The wife thinks I'm crazy already)!