Version 2.266 online

[ArtF]

Hi All:

  Version 2.266 has many bug fixes for the simulator. Its young code so I expect various bugs. This version works well in my testing
both in inches as well as mm's, so let me know how it goes. A bit has changed in how you use it, You must select an object to simulate,
this frees you from having to simulate all toolpathed objects, you can instead just select the objects you wish to see simulated.

If your tool doesnt look right, neither will the simulation. If you find a badly simulating object, do me a favour and post it as a project file here so I can test it myself and fix whatever the trouble is. Export your tool tabel if you feel it may be a tool issue so I can import your tools as well.

Thx
Art

[John T]

Hi Art,
Downloade d 2.266,  I get the same 1907 error if I try imperial measureme nts.

John

I Put this on the other thread as well sorry.

[Jerrywi]

Hay Art,

I'm still getting the same results with the sim. I've been working with the program on my laptop with the results I mentioned earlier so I tried a sample gear on my desk top.
The desk top returned an error message of "Set pixel format failed" I clicked on the "OK" and the screen went back to the work Bench with an error message of "Zmap failed to open channel".
I attached the GTH file of a simple 20 tooth spur gear.

Thanks the help
Jerry

[ArtF]

John_T:

New version is online with more messages. Let me know what error you get this time if you redownload.
Thx for the report, I think its close..

Art

[ArtF]

Jerry:

  New version placed online just prior to this post. It shoudl solve your SetPixelFormat error..
Thx for the bug

Art

[Jerrywi]

Art,
Things are up and running great. Thank you.
Jerry

[John T]

Hi Art,
Stuff works! 

It would be nice if the face width from the tools and project went automatically to the workbench but on mine it doesn't - just have to remember to set it again in the workbench.  I didn't check the gCode as I don't have a machine here but it used to carry the proper face width.

John

[ArtF]

John:

  The simulator should set the thickness of the stock to the thickness of the
thickest obj selected. It will only sim objects that are selected. Does it seem to
work that way for you? Ill run some tests here.

Thx for the reply and the bug reports, I suspect the Sim will be working very well
within a short time frame with all the bug reports Ive had. :)

Thx
Art

[John T]

Hi Art,
I was only simulating one gear and with the proper (my mistake) settings made on the tool/project screens the simulation works as advertised.

John

[John T]

Hi Art,
On the old gearotic I could specify the pallet thichness as different than the escape wheel.  Has that feature gone, Have I forgotten where or is it coming later?

John

[ArtF]

Hi John:

  It will appear in future in a cad modules ability to edit any object for pretty much any part .. or at least thats the plan.
With the workbenchs ability to cut to any thickness it wasnt a high priority for development..though it is on my list to
add that. Ill bump it  notch or two as a visually desirable option.

Art

[Mooselake]

Hi Art!

I don't know how you feel about open source libraries (and the licensing mess they can get into), but take a look at Anders Wallin's opencamlib if you haven't already.

Kirk

[ArtF]

Hi Kirk:

  I do tend to stay away from open libraries, as you say the licenseing becomes a mess but more importantly the structure of a
cad program tends to be such that code written for one structural design is good only as a tutorial on how to do something in another
stuctural design. It is interesting reading though on variosu techniques one can use.. I havent chosen one particular way as yet, but I have
a lot of paper s with various designs. Thx for the addional material. :)

Art

[ArtF]

Hi All:  Quick poll type question...

  Since doing the simulator hurt my head, Im adding some code for personal usage this past week to unwind. Im curious
as to if anyone else would find the output usefull. Does anyone ever find they'd like to have a stl sliced and saved
as DXF's?
  I really dont want ( at this point) to make a whole lot of 3d printer output, but I do have need for slicing so Ive
added a slicer to Gearotic, I dont always turn on such things for the general user, so I was curious if having the ability
to slice 3d objects ( gears as well as any other stl's has any value for you. If so I can leave it turned on in future releases.
It basically slices an object in any orientation to any number of slices and will then save each slice as a dxf ( or put out
Gcode for a laser to do 3d printing in paper. ). I suppose at the least it allows one to have 3d slices of bevel gears for further
processing by other cam systems.
Thx
Art

[John S]

Yes for definite.
One use is to take an stl to get the sliced dxf's to cut on a laser to then get say a casting pattern.
I know you can STL a pattern but your 3D printer might not be big enough for the part or you need to modify one of the dxf's to get better representation on the mould.

Will it have the ability to import a foreign STL, then slice it or just a Gearotic grown STL ?