Handling large files

Hello,

I'm looking at the possibility of machining some complex 3D surface, that would require rather large NGC files. Is there a set limit in the size of the files that LinuxCNC can process ? Any practical advice on how to handle large files and long (i.e several hours) machining operations ?

Thank you for your help

You may have to turn off the backplot especially if you have a slow or memory limited host CPU.

> You may have to turn off the backplot

OK. Can you give me a pointer on how I should do this ?
Thank you

Not sure in general how its done but in Axis: (from the Axis GUI manual)


11.8. Preview Control

Special comments can be inserted into the G Code file to control how the preview of AXIS behaves. In the case where you want to limit the drawing of the preview use these special comments. Anything between the (AXIS,hide) and (AXIS,show) will not be drawn during the preview. The (AXIS,hide) and (AXIS,show) must be used in pairs with the (AXIS,hide) being first. Anything after a (AXIS,stop) will not be drawn during the preview.

These comments are useful to unclutter the preview display (for instance while debugging a larger g-code file, one can disable the preview on certain parts that are already working OK).

(AXIS,hide) Stops the preview (must be first)

(AXIS,show) Resumes the preview (must follow a hide)

(AXIS,stop) Stops the preview from here to the end of the file.

(AXIS,notify,the_text) Displays the_text as an info display This display can be useful in the Axis preview when (debug,message) comments are not displayed.

I see, this is great.

I'll try that and report results here, sometime in July.

Again, thanks a lot for your help !

@Lezard,

How big is a huge file? Can be anything....
I don't like info that is not completed with size (how many lines) and line examples (arc, circle etc).

Why shut off the gremlin screen if we don't know the data?

Hi,

Yes, more info is better, when it's available... It is now, as I'm experimenting with Fusion360 CAM.
So, the files are around 30 Mb, one file is 1,120,000 lines, another 1,400,000 lines like below :

N50 G0 Z-38.
N55 G1 Z-39.702 F720.
N60 G18 G3 X619.342 Z-40. I-0.3 K0.
N65 G1 X619.035 Z-39.962
N70 X616.122 Z-39.958
N75 X609.333 Z-39.957

Hi Lezard,

I have to mention you got the following error in the g-code sample of 6 lines you provided :



Haha. It's a online Autodesk program or not?
It looks like even float value's are to big for Autodesk.

Thank you for your replies.

I haven't yet tested the Fusion360-generated code on my machine, will try today, but it looks like it won't be plain sailing...

I'm looking for an efficient way to generate toolpaths from STL data that represents 3D geographical maps. Fusion360 looked like a good choice, as it can import the STL files and use them directly to create toolpaths following various milling strategies. If you have a suggestion for another (set of) tool(s) to do this, I'm listening.