Project Grote CNC Freestafel Midlife Update

This page is a means to collect and share information collected about updating Grote CNC Freestafel.

Intro

Our Grote Cnc Freestafel could use an upgrade. The software is installed on one computer and there is no installation software so if this computer crashes we are without. A project to look into possible replacement of parts of the system is probably sensible. The problem we are facing is that there is no pressing motivation since the machine is working fine as it is now. It is nice that you can import or create designs on the CNC computer. Best to see if we can work to a similar but better workflow.

Current State

Ok.. but.

• The software crashes on large imports.
• No possibility to do 3D toolpaths.
• The workflow can be quit laborious.

Current Software

XpertMill

German/English software without any development or support.

Het document [manual] geeft een goede introductie.

Current Driver

Not sure. Maybe build into XpertMill.

Current Hardware

Ok.. we need better pictures ;-)

Possible Future State

A shiny happy CNC machine with lots of possibilities.

Wishlist:

• To find an affordable workflow to get from design to toolpath.
• Possibility to change toolpath while working on the cnc computer.
• Without illegal software (Fusion 360, etc).
• A lot of import options like ai, svg, dwg, dfx or GCode (from programs like Inktscape).
• 3D instead of 2.5D it is now.
• Future prove.

Possible Future Software

Inkscape

Inkscape is a professional vector graphics editor for Linux, Windows and macOS. It's free and open source.

[link naar Inkscape website]

Usability: high.. can create dfx, gcode, etc.

Blender

Blender is the free and open source 3D creation suite. It supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking, video editing and 2D animation pipeline.

[link to Blender website]

Usability: medium.. good for modeling, but you still need a way to convert to cam. There is BlenderCam, but there is not much development at the moment (unfortunately).

F-Engrave

F-Engrave is a text or image to g-code program (for both engraving and v-carving) that is written in python. Uses CXF and TTF fonts. Imports DXF and Bitmap images.

[link to F-Engrave website]

Usability: medium.. nice program but no whole solution.

G-code Ripper

G-Code Ripper is a g-code reading and manipulation program written in python. Read, Scale, Rotate, Split, Wrap G-Code.

[link to G-code Ripper website]

Usability: medium.. nice program but no whole solution.

Possible Future Driver

Drivers is maybe not the correct word to describe this section. This is more ‘send to’ driver software.

Mach3/Mach4

Mach3 turns a windows computer into a CNC machine controller. It has enough features and is tweakable.

Mach4 is the newer version for better use with very large files.

Mach3 was primarily designed for the parallel port which has become obsolete. Still hobbyists standard. And drivers for usb or ethernet available. Also lots of tutorials on YouTube.

[link to Mach3/4 website]

LinuxCNC

LinuxCNC controls CNC machines. It can drive milling machines, lathes, 3d printers, laser cutters, plasma cutters, robot arms, hexapods, and more. Runs under Linux. Accepts G-code input, drives CNC machines in response. Active user community. Several different GUIs available. Compatible with many popular machine control hardware interfaces. Supports rigid tapping, cutter compensation, and many other advanced control features. Full source code available under the terms of the GNU GPLv2 (General Public License version 2).

[link to LinuxCNC website]

Possible Future Hardware

• Ethernet SmoothStepper ESS / USB SmoothStepper USS
• Chinese Clones.