[Plugin] 2.5D CAM Plugin 20121202

jgro11

I need more details. Do you have the ruby console open? What does it say when you run the plugin.

jgro

Dave R

Hi Joel,

I gave your plugin a try and I seem to be getting the same result. No Save window. I also don't seem to see the tool path as you show in your images, either. Here are some screen shots for you.

the setup. Note that Units is set to Decimal and units aren't displayed. The thing is a group.

Immediately after running the plugin. No save option.

And the same in X-ray.

jgro11

I just uploaded the latest version V03. (look at the first post) Give that a try. It has been changed to work for english and metric units and it should work on macs. (Special thanks to MichaelV for helping me with that!) Hopefully this should fix the problem. If not, upload the .skp file here and I'll take a look at it.

jgro

Dave R

Joel, I tried the latest version. Still no Save box. Here's the dump from the Console.

C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC_Files/CNC_Profile_Defaults.txt

2

Error: #<NoMethodError: undefined method offset' for #<Sketchup::Face:0xab8d4cc>> C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC-profile_v03.rb:712:in inside_offset'
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC-profile_v03.rb:655:in each' C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC-profile_v03.rb:655:in inside_offset'
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC-profile_v03.rb:215:in mode' C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC-profile_v03.rb:72:in activate'
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC-profile_v03.rb:912:in `select_tool'
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC-profile_v03.rb:912

This time the green face displayed at the bottom instead of the top.

Another odd thing is that unticking the visibility box for the 'path' layer makes no change.

I would like to also suggest that when the path layer is created it is not made as the active layer. Layer 0 should remain active. And it would be nice if the .rb file kept the same name through version changes so installing a new version just overwrites the old.

Thanks for taking a look at this.

TIG

Looks like you need ' offset.rb' in the Plugins folder - it's freely available from http://Smustard.com ... http://www.smustard.com/script/Offset
That file should also have a 'require' at the start of your script's code, as it needs to loaded before the script...

Dave R

I thought I had that file installed already from long ago. It is now and I get the following:

C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC_Files/CNC_Profile_Defaults.txt
Error: #<NoMethodError: undefined method typename' for nil:NilClass> C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC-profile_v03.rb:164:in find_bounds'
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC-profile_v03.rb:71:in activate' C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC-profile_v03.rb:912:in select_tool'
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC-profile_v03.rb:912

jgro11

OK, I added "require 'offset.rb' to the plugin and uploaded as V.04. (Thanks for the catch TIG!). I also renamed the plugin back to CNC-profile.rb so you can just load it over the top of what you have in your plugins folder. The version number will still exist in the plugins menu.

Quote "I would like to also suggest that when the path layer is created it is not made as the active layer. Layer 0 should remain active." The path layer is set active during the geometry creation and at the end of the plugin the active layer gets changed back to the default layer. You never got to the end of the plugin, so it never got the chance to change it back to the default layer.

Quote "C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC_Files/CNC_Profile_Defaults.txt
Error: #<NoMethodError: undefined method typename' for nil:NilClass> C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC-profile_v03.rb:164:in find_bounds'
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC-profile_v03.rb:71:in activate' C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC-profile_v03.rb:912:in select_tool'
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC-profile_v03.rb:912"

Try deleting the CNC_Profile_Defaults.txt from the CNC_files folder in your plugins folder. It should create a new one when you run the plugin. See if that helps.

jgro

TIG

@Dave...
That part of the code is checking that the first item in the current selection is a group.
Unfortunately if there's no selection that 'nil' and that has no .typename...
There are better ways yo check what's selected, if anything is...

To get it to work as it is... make sure you have something selected before using the tool, and ensure that it's a group...

Dave R

I'll try deleting the TXT file and retry.

TIG, I did have the group selected before starting the plugin. I even made sure to make it a group even though I don't like to use groups.

TIG

Edit the .rb file with a plain-text editor like Notepad...
The line reads
if Sketchup.active_model.selection[0].typename != "Group"
Change it to read
unless selection[0] && selection[0].is_a?(Sketchup::Group)
This will at least get over that hurdle...

Dave R

I deleted the TXT file and tried running it. It worked! The script did give me the save box and I was able to save the file. Unfortunately it left the path layer as active when it completed.

I'll edit the rb file with your additions, TIG.

Another request: Could you set it to save to the same location as the SKP file? You could actually automate the save process giving the file the same name as the SKP file.

Edit to add:

I closed the SKP file without saving it and edited the text per TIG's instruction. Then re-tried it. It worked but I got the following in the console. Note the error message at the end.

C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC_Files/CNC_Profile_Defaults.txt

2

#Sketchup::Face:0xaae9034

2

#Sketchup::Face:0xaac57d8

2

#Sketchup::Face:0xaaa1f04

2

#Sketchup::Face:0xaa7c4ac

2

#Sketchup::Face:0xaa69a8c

#Sketchup::Face:0xaa68204

Error: #<TypeError: can't convert nil into String>
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC-profile_v03.rb:879:in initialize' C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC-profile_v03.rb:879:in new'
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC-profile_v03.rb:879:in gcode_write' C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC-profile_v03.rb:275:in mode'
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC-profile_v03.rb:72:in activate' C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC-profile_v03.rb:912:in select_tool'
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 8/Plugins/CNC-profile_v03.rb:912

timj

I'm having similar issues. OS X, sketchup 8

Everything is installed correctly, 3D model made to be a group. No save window or new layer appear. Here is the dialog box output:

/Users/timjerome/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/CNC_Files/CNC_Profile_Defaults.txt
Error: #<Errno::ENOENT: No such file or directory - /Users/timjerome/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/CNC_Files/CNC_Profile_Defaults.txt>
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/CNC-profile.rb:118:in initialize' /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/CNC-profile.rb:118:in new'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/CNC-profile.rb:118:in inputs' /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/CNC-profile.rb:71:in activate'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/CNC-profile.rb:914:in `select_tool'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/CNC-profile.rb:914

Dave R

Did you install Offset.rb?

Make sure the Plugins folder has read and write permissions enabled.

timj

Yes offset.rb is installed within my plugins folder (I've also checked the read and write permissions). I've tried reinstalling the plugins and am still getting the same errors. I'm not sure what else to try?

TIG

@timj
Your error says:
**/Users/timjerome/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins**/CNC_Files/CNC_Profile_Defaults.txt
So some code is expecting the tool's subfolder and thereby the txt file to be in that Plugins folder structure.
BUT that is NOT the right MAC 'plugins' folder - do NOT install into the 'User' one, rather use the one in the HD tree - ensuring you have full read+write permissions to this folder:
Macintosh HD/Library/Application Support/Google Sketchup 8/Sketchup/plugins

Another potential issue is that if your MAC has a case-sensitive system some files can NOT be 'found' - so for example if a folder is named 'plugins' and a script assumes it's called 'Plugins' it will be found OK on a PC or most MACs, but on a case-sensitive MAC system it will fail... This is unlikely, but if all else fails...

Dave R

Good call, TIG. I missed that "Users" detail.

jgro11

I uploaded V05 in the first post. This version's major change is that I incorporated TIG'S Smart Offset plugin. So now you don't have to have inside fillets on your part larger than half the mill diameter. See image below. The fillet radius is .100 and I'm cutting it with a .25 diameter cutter (.125 radius). It creates a nice sharp corner, like it should.

I also added the ability to have stock left after machining to either the inside or outside cuts.

Enjoy!

jgro11

icoff

Nice job! I'm sorry but I don't know very well english to follow all your explanation... but I'm very interesting in this plugin because I want to buy a CNC mill in the next week....
So i ask you humbly if you can explain me how make work this plugin.
I download the V5,0 and I try use it, but there are something wrong in my program because don't work.
Some simply questions:
It's necessary to have other plugin installed and which?
I use in SU centimeter as measure unit; in the first window that is open (where I can enter the parameter of the milling...) what kind of measure unit do you use?
In the ruby consol I see an error that you can see in the image below.

Ok, after this post I go in my control panel and change the level in "Beginner".....

jgro11

Can you post the Sketchup model? I'll take a look at it and see if I can figure out what's happening. Also, can you give me what settings you are using?

jgro11

jgro11

@icoff said:

I download the V5,0 and I try use it, but there are something wrong in my program because don't work.
Some simply questions:
It's necessary to have other plugin installed and which?
The only plugin you should need is TIG's Smart offset. It was included in the zip file with V05. Double check that TIG-Smart_offset.rb is in your plugin folder.

@icoff said:

I use in SU centimeter as measure unit; in the first window that is open (where I can enter the parameter of the milling...) what kind of measure unit do you use?
You set your units in Sketchup in "Window", "Model Info". The plugin should be able to handle metric units.
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