Still Moving along..

[ArtF]

Hi All:

  Im about to head out for a couple weeks vacation. The new software is coming along well,
it has its print and stl output options modules installed, it can generate timing pulleys and sprockets
and the GUI is updated to include easier ways to create objects and manipulate them.
  When I return Ill be starting the new CNC module, which will be graphical with tool paths
shown on the screen and many options we didn't have before. It will have the ability to slice objects
and machine them. Its planned to have 4th axis displays and other features I think would be great additions.

  Once that's done Ill just have to tie in the gear creation code, and the physics code to allow motion of axis and centers
during rotations. The kinematics of the new simulations will probably be the largest challenge, but Im hoping by Sept/Oct
time frame to launch the release of  GM 2.0 , which will be re-branded under a new name at that time.

Just an update, enjoy your summer. I'm off to see how Scotland looks in its rainy season. :-)

Art


 

[Ya-Nvr-No]

Thanks for the update, Have a safe trip, and say Hi to my kin folk.

[John T]

Have a great trip - if the weather is bad they have great post cards for sale.

[Ken_Shea]

Hope your wet two weeks is a good one Art.

The "New" GM sounds exciting, any hints on the re-branding name?

Ken

[Jerrywi]

Have a great trip Art.

Lets us know how the trip goes. Take plenty of pictures

Jerry

[Wod]

Art,
    It never rains in the highlands on the whiskey trail. All of the distillerys are nice and dry inside.
Wiley

[JimG]

     It never rains in the highlands on the whiskey trail. All of the distillerys are nice and dry inside.

Depends what you mean by "dry".  ;D ;D

Jim.

[ArtF]

Thanks everyone. Ill have a sip of whiskey for all of you. :)

As to the rebranding name... Im really not sure as yet. Since we'll have more CAD/CAM capability when its totally done, Im thinking
of branding it as a new CAD/CAM program. KineticCad/Cam is my top choice so far.. but perhaps Ill put it to you guys and see what you think a good name would be. I like Gearotic, but porn sensors trigger on it at times. lol

  So, I think a new name is necessary just so people in some countries arent excluded from us. While Im gone, feel free to kick in
with what YOU think it should be named. DO better than KineticCad and you could forever more look to the name with pride that you came up
with it. :-)

  My thought is to make the new GUI do all you can do now, but with much more professional looking components, then add more drawing and
CAM capability so in the end it will be a somewhat ecclectic mix of cad, cam and whatever I happen to think is cool, lithophanes, perhaps 3d from webcam, slicing and space filling curvatures...I have lots Id like to add, so the program will be kinda strange in that it will encompass a lot of things not normally
found in a cad program.. It may even end up being a 3d printer controller.. I really havent decided on final directions..

Art


Art

Art

[JimG]

It may even end up being a 3d printer controller.. I really havent decided on final directions..

If you're aiming in that direction,  could it also provide waterline GCode for CNC?

Jim.

[ArtF]

Jim:

  Yes, one of my design decisions was to remove all "hidden" output and make them modules with much greater control. SO when you print youll see a print preview, when you save an STL youll see the model ( or models that your combining) before you save, and for batch operations youll click a box that says "do this for all objects Ive selected".
  For CNC, that means a completly new module that shows the toolpaths, has selectable coordinate home locations. 3d display of the paths, including 4th axis code. And waterline
machining for 3d models that arent necessarily gears. (The new program loads any STL to add to a gear drive mechanism.). This also means tool tables, and in the end post processors,
perhaps for 3d printers as well as general CNC.

  This means I have to do a slicing module and a spacefilling set of algorithms. To complete all that I hope to have a good simulation package on it. Many things will change in the new program, but most of them maintain what you can do, just makes it work differently. Spokes for example are planned to have a great many more types and will hopefully allow you to make your own spoke design and save it or trade with others.

  All of this will of course take some time, but Im still aiming for fall for the initial release
with at least most of the current  functionallity turned on. Further more advanced functions will follow over time from there as each development season progresses. And yes, before Im asked, there will be no cost to users for any upgrades. :-)

Art

   

[John S]

I vote for "Wheels and Peripheries CAD / CAM

[JimG]

  For CNC, that means a completly new module that shows the toolpaths, has selectable coordinate home locations. 3d display of the paths, including 4th axis code. And waterline
machining for 3d models that arent necessarily gears. (The new program loads any STL to add to a gear drive mechanism.). This also means tool tables, and in the end post processors,
perhaps for 3d printers as well as general CNC. 

Art,

I will be interested to see what you bring out.  I've been looking at doing waterline cutting to get round the small "nodding" problems with my KX1 head which become apparent when working with very small detail.  I've done a small amount of hand coding for simple shapes but haven't yet (if ever?  :) ) got my brain around doing waterline coding for more complex shapes.  :)  And it's not got gear cutting either.  :)

But just to show that I do cut gears,  putting Gearotic to its proper use - 0.2MOD cut in styrene with an 0.2mm cutter - for a 4mm:ft scale yard crane  :)

Jim.

[Steve Fox]

Art,

I use a  photography post processing package that has three levels, Beginner, Intermediate and Expert.
With these three levels, different menus are available.  For a beginner, all the choices can be daunting and the simplest level only gives the parameters that are necessary to generate basic photo changes.  This allows an individual to jump right in without being overwhelmed.

Since I only cut gears by hand and with a laser, I don't even know what most of the parameters that are being discussed actually do.  If you make a menu system with levels, maybe I (and other beginners) will be able to figure which parameters go with basic design, which can be used to make minor adjustments and which are for CNC operations, etc.

Just a thought,
Steve Fox

[BobL]

" has three levels, Beginner, Intermedi ate and Expert."

Steve;

Gearotic had that feature way back, to do exactly what you described below, perhaps time to re-evaluate.. If I remember correctly though, the issue with it was where do you draw the line between levels and could it interfere with what your trying to do?

Thanks for the post.


Cheers
Bob

[BobL]

"Wheels and Peripheries CAD / CAM"


Not bad John.. ;)