pyCAM - CAD to G-Code

Hello,
has anybody here tried pyCAM?
i dont really get it..
if i import a model i can generate the GCode for it, but it cuts the final depht at the first time. that will only work with cheese,



how can i generate code that cuts step by step deeper into the material?

or is there another OS-Linux Programm that can do so ...
kind of a skeinforge for millig...


thanks in advance...

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my projects: [www.robotik.dyyyh.de] ...

Take a look at HeeksCad. It is still in heavy development, but it has made significant progress in the last 6 months and it is capable of generating the type of milling operations suggested by your post.

Hi goaran,

disclaimer: I am one of the developers of PyCAM ...

PyCAM offers two different toolpath strategies:
- PushCutter: cutting down slices of configurable height (e.g. 3mm - if your cutter/material combination can manage the force)
- DropCutter: final surface cutting (assuming that the PushCutter already removed the material layers above)

The templates in PyCAM are already configured in this way:
1) a "rough" operation (PushCutter in parallel lines preferably with a big tool)
2) a "semi-finish" operation (PushCutter following the contour of the model with a medium-sized tool)
3) a "finish" operation (DropCutter with a small tool)

All operations can be independently configured with a "material allowance" setting to keep some distance to the final surface. This is good for big tools that should avoid contact with the object.

I hope, this helps,
Lars