[Plugin] Model2GCode V0.5 - released 04.02.13

niccah

Hey at all!

I would like to present you the very first release of my new plugin "Model2GCode".

With this plugin, you can create CNC code of a model in Sketchup for your milling machine. At the moment, you should be able to create the code for "surface milling" (3D milling) and for cutouts (2.5D milling). At first, I would like to improve the existing features. In the near future, I will publish more new features (pocket milling for example) step by step.

I created a small webpage for the source code and some more detailed information: http://model2gcode.eu/

Enjoy it!

I'm very looking forward to interested people, who would like to test my plugin. When you find a bug or if you have some ideas for new features, please let me know!

I would like to thank all the people in this forums, who helped me a lot in the last few month!

Best regards,

Tobi

niccah

Now, I released the version V0.2 of the plugin "Model2GCode".

You are able now, to insert bridges for the cutout mode. Just select any faces and add them as "bridges" to the corresponding part in the project list.

A bug in the transformation of the faces is fixed.

For more detailed information, please have a look to the webpage.

Enjoy!

niccah

I have to release a new version! Due to the help of some friendly people, there could be found a lot of bugs.

Thanks a lot to all these guys / girls!

In the new version, there is also an update check included => there will be a small hint, if there is a new version on the webpage.

I hope, you will enjoy it!

dacastror

this is very interesting! move from a sketchup model to a model in my hands is something I have long dreamed.
This is a wonderful job!
(google translator)

niccah

@dacastror said:

this is very interesting! move from a sketchup model to a model in my hands is something I have long dreamed.
This is a wonderful job!
(google translator)

Thanks dacastror! I'm happy to get some feedback! If you have some trouble, please don't hesitate to contact me (here in this forum, or via email, or how ever)

Have fun!

niccah

I uploaded a "new" 0.3 version... in the first "0.3" version, there was "0.2" written... so, the Update checker thought, there is an update available...

When you solve this problem, just download the 0.3 version again.

Sorry for this trouble!

niccah

Today, I uploaded version 0.4. The most important point is the significant reduced calculation time.
Both for surface and for cutout calculations, the computation time is reduced.

A new feature: "Finishing" in the cutout mode.

For the rest, there are a lot of smaller improvements.

For more detailed information, please have a look to the homepage (http://model2gcode.eu)

This week, I spent lots of time to develope a "Pocket mode". I get a very good result (

), but the calculation time is definitely too long. So, I had a look to some papers to get a much faster algorithm. I found for example "A pair-wise offset algorithm for 2D point-sequence curve". A very nice paper, but I understand this used algorithm not yet to 100 %

So, I hope, I can present you the pocket mode in the next few days... I keep you up-to-date!

I would like to thank all the people, who sent me a lot of messages to improve the plugin. Please, don't hesitate to contact me!

Best regards,

Tobias

ematango

Hi,
it looks like a very useful tool, great...!
But I get errors while running "calc. Gcode", I have Java installed, what is missing??

Thanks
Emanuele

niccah

@ematango said:

Hi,
it looks like a very useful tool, great...!
But I get errors while running "calc. Gcode", I have Java installed, what is missing??

Thanks
Emanuele

Hi Emanuele!

Thanks a lot for your feedback! Which errors exactly you get? One idea: Do you try to use an older project with a newer Model2GCode version? In the new version, it could be, that the arguments for the Java software are different - so, when you try to use an "old" project, there could be wrong arguments saved...

I change the Java code a little bit - in the future, there will be a hint, if Java is not able to handle the arguments.

However, it could be a different bug - so, lets try to solve it!

Best regards,

Tobias

Sergio Morera

Hi Niccah
It looks like a very promising addition to sketchup. At the moment I have to convert all my models to DWG or DXF and pass it over to the CNC company so they can do the programming for the machine.

I know nothing about g code so don't know how I could help you in developing it, but will keep a very close look on this post to see how its progress. Definitily very interested in this development.
Many thanks
Sergio

niccah

Today, I released version 0.5 of Model2GCode.

An important change: Now, it is possible to calculate the toolpath in a pocket! I have some ideas to decrease the calculation time further, but they have to be implemented and tested at first! Hint: At the moment, islands are not yes supported!

Have fun with this new version!

Again thanks a lot for all your support! With the help of your feedback I could fix a lot of bugs!

Best regards,

Tobi

joergber

Hi Tobi,

thank you for sharing!

Unfortunately I am not able to make it work ...
(I only tried v0.5!)

In milling mode 'Surface' I'm getting an error from the Java cmd prompt:
Error: Wrong surface part argument!

In milling mode 'Pocket' I'm getting an error from the Java cmd prompt:
Error: 1

In milling mode 'Cut out' I'm getting an error from the Java cmd prompt:
Error: Wrong cutout part arguments!

And with mouse over the added parts the shown milling options seem to be screwed up ...
The milling options and the milling mode seem to be incorrect.

I would really like to make this thing work!!!

Moin,
Jörg

niccah

@joergber said:

Hi Tobi,

thank you for sharing!

Unfortunately I am not able to make it work ...
(I only tried v0.5!)

In milling mode 'Surface' I'm getting an error from the Java cmd prompt:
Error: Wrong surface part argument!

In milling mode 'Pocket' I'm getting an error from the Java cmd prompt:
Error: 1

In milling mode 'Cut out' I'm getting an error from the Java cmd prompt:
Error: Wrong cutout part arguments!

And with mouse over the added parts the shown milling options seem to be screwed up ...
The milling options and the milling mode seem to be incorrect.

I would really like to make this thing work!!!

Moin,
Jörg

Hi Jörg!

So, we discussed a lot via email. I would like to "present" the result of our discussion. The problem was: to cutout something, a 3D model is necessary. Just a single plane is not enough. I hope, I can "fix" it in the next version.