XYUV toolpath generator

I have read this post - www.linuxcnc.org/index.php/french/forum/...-up-to-manufacturing and I have been using the software FreeCad-PyCam-LinuxCNC to get myself started with a 3 axis router to do some wood working projects.

I am also interested in following a similar path for setting up a 4 axis hot wire cutter -- one side xy and the other side uv.

However, I can't find the piece in between FreeCad and LinuxCNC. I have watched this youTube tutorial HOWTO make Gcode for a XYUV Foam Cutter [part2] DXF 2 G-code and into UV (). At first I thought that HeeksCNC had the ability of creating the gCode for a XYUV machine. However, after watching the video again, I now believe that he is only using HeeksCNC to output a XY gcode path and then using GEdit to do make a second copy of the process, change the xy to uv manually and then paste or merge the process back together.

So, I am looking for some advice to move forward.
1. I am assuming that LinuxCNC 2.5.2 has the ability to do a xy uv hot wire cutter. (I only ask because I see from the video above he is using 2.6 simulation mode only)
2. Is there a open source tool for creating the gcode for a xy uv machine or is the only free method the one shown in the video that creates the xy and then do the copy, replace and merge method.

I see in the comment section from the video posted above there are a couple of comments like this -- i got a post processor that generates XYUV gcode automatic on heekscad
you select 2 sketches and press gcode for foam and its done. From this I assume that some where there would be some sample code that I could copy that would take xy ouput and write a program that you help with the copy, replace and merge function?

Thanks, John

Thanks for the response andypugh.

I have a fresh install of LinuxCNC 2.5.2 / Ubuntu 10.04 from a boot CD. When I installed it I used the entire disk. The next step after install, I used the update manager to bring Ubuntu 10.04 up to date.

I have not done anything with LinuxCNC.

When I go into LinuxCNC and it shows me all the configs -- I have scrolled down to Sim. Under Sim is axis. Under axis is the following 7 sections: axis, axis_9axis, axis_mm, gantry, lathe, profile_axis and random_tc.

I do not have a Config for Sim->axis->axis_foam

Any idea of how I can get the Sim-axis-axis_foam?

Thanks, John

John ,
Attached is the ini file Andy is mentioning ..
place this in your sim /axis configs folder with the others then start linuxcnc and it should then show up

i'm hoping that you dont need the development version of linuxcnc , but we shall see if that does the trick

Yes, I got this to work...thanks very much.

I had one small hiccup, since I had never picked any of the other Sim configs before....at first when I put axis_foam in under LinuxCNC->config. I got a major error and LInuxCNC shutdown. I then tried picking another config to see how it should work. It asked if I wanted to move Sim to myConfigurations. When it did that I could see more files and also where axis_foam.ini should be stored. I moved to proper folder. The next time when I picked axis_foam under Sim configs it opened perfectly.

Once again, thanks for keeping my project moving.

John

glad you managed to figure it out .
it's only because the file was in the wrong place to start with , so nothing to worry over .

Thanks, I got it working. I am able to watch my toolpath.

1) I don't think I have a "Wire" tool. Should I have one? If so, how do I set it up....I have Google searched but can't find any details about doing it



2) Also, I can only see XY axis....whereas in the above video you can see XY and UV. I can't find any setup that would show the UV axis




Thanks, John

I went to buildbot and followed the directions

I picked the files from the Lucid (32-bit and 64-bit), simulation since I have a 64bit Athlon.

Since it was called simulation -- I also picked the sudo apt-get install linuxcnc-sim

Everything installed ok.

I thought I might end up with LinuxCNC2.5.2 real time and LinuxCNC 2.6 Simulation but I only have LinuxCNC 2.6 simulation. Is it possible to have both? I am hoping that in a week I have my 3 axis wood router ready to go. Then I would want Real time.

Anyway, here is a shot about 30 seconds after I fired up LinuxCNC and reloaded my test gcode that I was using in the above screenshots.