Sketchup CNC

noelwarr · 11 May 2012, 15:44

Hey guys. Well, this is really starting to come together. I guess you could say that we now have a solid foundation upon which to build. I'd bore you to bits with what the plugin does, how it does it and what it could do but I think I'll just sit back for the time being and wait for the questions to come.

There are a few minor issues with it not being an extention and not propperly integrated into the toolbar but I think I've earned a rest. The point is it works and I am now doing ALL my CNC work with it.

Big shout out to Scott for the icons and look forward to answering any questions. I'll be posting photos of CNC jobs on my Google+ stream so you know where to find me

todo list
..make it an extention
..improve ui (show/hide toolpaths, etc)
..get more files into the cnc folder (Especially a template one)
..get assemblies working (I tried but my head exploded)
..automatic toolpath/hole generation

noelwarr · 18 May 2012, 19:22

100% Sketchup CAM. 100% minivistii

tim · 3 Jun 2012, 03:19

Seriously? Those are real tables and chairs made directly from SU output? Very cool!

noelwarr · 3 Jun 2012, 22:25

Well, I'm not sure what you mean by "directly". There is nothing automatic about the process. All toolpaths have to be specified. But yes, it's all done within the Sketchup UI. From Sketchup to CNC.

chrisadww · 27 Jun 2012, 13:50

Hello
I am in the cabinet business and have used my Thermwood model 45 5' x 10' for the last four years. I use sketchup for all design work and convert skp surfaces to 2d toolpaths by exporting them to dxf. Layers are then created to identify tools, cutting depths etc. in the dxf. The Thermwood then converts these layers to G code.
Is a plug in available to automatically save selected surfaces to a 2d plane?
Thanks
Chris
adwwinc.com

Scott M · 4 Jul 2012, 17:58

@chrisadww said:

Hello
I am in the cabinet business and have used my Thermwood model 45 5' x 10' for the last four years. I use sketchup for all design work and convert skp surfaces to 2d toolpaths by exporting them to dxf. Layers are then created to identify tools, cutting depths etc. in the dxf. The Thermwood then converts these layers to G code.
Is a plug in available to automatically save selected surfaces to a 2d plane?
Thanks
Chris
adwwinc.com

Try this plugin http://rhin.crai.archi.fr/rld/plugin_details.php?id=753

beginner · 22 Sept 2012, 12:10

Hi Guys,

This is the 19th September 2012 Grand Design - Series 7 Episode 4 with CNC in action...
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/grand-designs/4od#3414075
CNC + REVIT = BUILDING

I wonder if that could be done with SU - I assume it could...
CNC + SketchUp = BUILDING

They are using MultiCam 1000 Series
http://www.multicam.com/eng/Products/1000series.html

I'm not sure if you can watch outside UK - maybe you could use some proxy servers to 'overcome the hurdle'...

PS. I'm watching the topic closely

anthony.smith.email · 8 Nov 2012, 22:23

Noel,
nice plugin. Good work. Your coding is better than mine. (I'm self taught on Ruby, so my code ain't so great).

I work in a factory which does hardly any solid timber, we do board and edgetape.

We have a nested-base machine - you know, a flat bed cnc. So my output has to be to "optimising software" (we use on old version of aspan) which nests the parts and writes the G-code. So I'm working on a plugin of my own...when I reach a meaningful milestone, I'll post it (in another thread).

Even though I can't really use your plugin for our work, your code can help me (make better code and give me better ideas.).

Regards,
Anthony

noelwarr · 12 Nov 2012, 09:56

Cheers Anthony.

Just last week I got mailed by someone else working on another CNC plugin. (http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=180&t=48781&p=439028#p438163) I got sent a screen shot and it looks quite promising.

It might be interesting to form a kind of common language between all of our plugins. A standard of sorts. I have a rough idea of how that might work. Would you be willing to work together a little?

anthony.smith.email · 16 Nov 2012, 02:47

Hi Noel,
I'm always happy to jump onto a standard...but...I think my work is not actually closely aligned with the work you are doing...The Factory I work at makes kitchens.

My project:

in sketchup the user will construct a cabinet from rectangular prisms (dynamic components named Panel1,Panel2,Panel3,etc) eg 720mm x 538mm x 16mm.
They will be able to click on which of the 4 panel edges will have "edgetape" applied.
They will be able to place 5mmDrillHole dynamic components inside the Panel component. on one of the faces, for hinges, shelves etc.
Then group several panels into a cabinet, and specify a cabinet name, number etc.
The output will be a file which specifies the rectangle size, (adjusting for the thickness of the edgetape), and also where to drill the 5mm hole, and how deep.
This file will be imported into "nesting software" (in this case Aspan (http://www.autosoftware.it/index.php/en/informations-/informazioni-aspan/menu-id-54.html)). This nesting software nests all the panels into a full sheet and writes gcode to cnc rout and drill the panels. and print labels to identify which cabinet and where to apply the edgetape.
I'll build up a library of dynamic components of cabinets containing panels containing drilling structures containing 5mmDrillHoles....for faster drawing. So I can resize the cabinet from the library, and the holes will update, and get drilled to suit...what-you-see-is-what-you-get drilling and panel sizes.

So, I'm happy to try to work together, but, I think our goals are different...

My Maths is good...I have a clear understanding of matrices, vectors, dot and cross products, transformations, etc....but my ruby is really bad, I didn't know till I read your code that you can "class something < Array"...and now I want to overhaul badly written code...

all is not lost...If we write clearly commented code, others can see how we achieved something and might be able to use/modify that for themselves.

I think that people generally will have to modify the output routines or write/modify their own postprocessors anyway....so my output code will be commented and structured so that others will be able to customise it to their own nesting software...

Regards,
Anthony

noelwarr · 19 Nov 2012, 10:23

Ah! I misread your earlier post. You're right. There is little our scripts can do for one another. Good luck writing it. Ruby is a great language and has a great community.

I wish I had commented my code. The code of the project I am working on now has little or nothing to do with my first plugin. I really feel I have come a long way. But still I don't comment it. I have no excuse.

I don't want to seem pedantic but if you were surprised about inheretance (MyClass < Array) make sure you get used to working with blocks...

my_array.each{|obj| obj.do_something }

I consider them to be the most ruby thing about ruby. A good sign that you're doing things the ruby way is if you have no for/while/until loops in your code. But he coolest thing about ruby is you can do things any way you want. So if you like loops, go for it!

anthony.smith.email · 20 Nov 2012, 06:21

Hi Noel,
yeah, there is a little alignment, but not enough....

I didn't have any problem reading your code...you use meaningful class and variable names, and you write a blurb at the start...people can read it....

yeah i did learn and use the .each thing....I even found the .reverse thing too when I needed it...

I actually read a few tutorials, and had read about inheritance, but didn't make the connection for " < Array"...till I read your code...

I quite like ruby, but still have lots to learn...I'm a little worried it might run too slow when I have it working, and am concerned that badly written code runs slow too...

Regards,
Anthony

noelwarr · 20 Nov 2012, 08:59

Great to know you can read it! There are a few recursive methods there that are so obfuscated that even I can't figure out how they work! Wish I had commented them

I don't think you'll have much of a problem with speed. Apart from general good practices there are a few Sketchup specific ones too. Off the top of my head...

Interact with the model as little as possible.
Don't use
my_entity.typename == "Edge"
instead use
my_entity.is_a?(Sketchup::Edge)

If you have to perform "serious" stuff there are always c extensions. But I wouldn't head down that path if I were you.

Keep me posted on how you get on. I'm at gmail with this username.

Futurepast · 11 Mar 2013, 00:53

So, it's been almost a year. Has there been any more progress? OK not a year but for the impatient.......

Rich O Brien · 11 Mar 2013, 01:01

@futurepast said:

So, it's been almost a year. Has there been any more progress? OK not a year but for the impatient.......

Did you read this....?

CatchUp Edition 17 | SketchUcation

SketchUcation Webmag CatchUp containing trick, tips and tutorials for Trimble SketchUp.

(sketchucation.com)

there's a preview in there

noelwarr · 7 May 2013, 13:23

I'm guessing you're pointing to the Vistii article in CatchUp. Although Vistii and miniVistii share names (and developers), they are quite different. Fyi:

miniVistii is open-source, not at all user-friendly but functional. It alows you to declare edges as toolpaths and then convert them to Gcode. It is basically waiting for someone to come along and contribute. That said, I do 90% of my CNC manufacturing with it.

Vistii is a manufacturing service (Though this may change). It allows for no manual creation of toolpaths as they are all automatically generated. Vistii also simmulates the machining of the workpiece creating a kind of "print-preview" of what the end product will look like.

Scott M · 25 May 2013, 11:09

Has anyone seen this?Or used the plugin
http://www.wikihouse.cc/

Paciente8159 · 18 Oct 2013, 21:45

I'm cooking something too.
Check out my blog http://paciente8159lab.blogspot.pt/2013/10/sketchup-3d-to-gcode-plugin.html

TIMBERB · 19 Nov 2013, 21:08

@dave r said:

FWIW, the other toolbar icons have a transparent background, not grey.

Hi Dave,

I Have been reading at this site here about using sketchup with a cnc router for woodworking. Because it isn't that easy to pick in on a technical forum, I want to know where I can start.

Maybe you can suggest me where and how to start learning.

Thanks,

Bert

Dave R · 19 Nov 2013, 22:38

Bert, what is it you want to know? Do you have any specific questions?