SU to G Code

Sawduster · 2 May 2008, 17:53

Asked this down at the corner bar, but seems lots of folks don't visit there. Is there a ruby or some other software out there (free would be great, but reasonably priced would be nice, too) to convert directly from SU to G code for use in CNC applications? Haven't found anything on the net, but I may be asking the wrong question in my searches.

remus · 2 May 2008, 18:12

Itd be pretty cool if this could be done, altohugh i ca imagine there would be a few problems. Ive done a bit of research in to g code in the past and from what i can gather its very unstandardised. This would making an exporter very difficult for obvious reasons.

Having said that, i think a lot of the basic code is pretty similar, so you never know, it might be a goer.

If it is possible i would certainly like to see it, theres a 3 axis CAM machine at my old school thta i tihnk takes g code...oh the fun i could have

Sawduster · 2 May 2008, 18:45

G Code not being standardized was not one of the first things I would like to have heard.

There are several software packages to convert from DWG to G Code, and a ruby to convert SU to STL, and some other package to convert that to g code. I know the stuff I've imported from dwg with some curved faces and stuff like that does not come in real clean, so exporting SU to dwg in Pro might yield some similar results, and doing a double conversion is just asking for more problems.

remus · 2 May 2008, 19:08

Well most of the knowledge ive gleaned on the subject came from this wikipedia article, and having re-read it, it seems there is more standardisation than i first tohught. The fact that exporters already exist would also suggest a similar thing.

I suppose theres probably a code base that stays pretty much the same from manufacturer to manufacturer, with just the more advanced features that are less standardised

Whatever the case i hope someone does end up doing this.

Sawduster · 2 May 2008, 19:35

@unknownuser said:

@sawduster said:

Asked this down at the corner bar, but seems lots of folks don't visit there.

The corner bar is the most frequented section of the board. Just gotta know where to put things Glad you got a response

Guess the section on gadgets and software and such was not the right place, huh?

I was just down on the main Corner Bar Forum andlooks like that's pretty active. The subforum on software seems a little slow, though.