Hey guys I may be working on this project soon. I just got a LPKF 92s from ebay. It doesn't have any software and I have been told that LPKF will NOT sell the software unless you buy a machine from them. So I may have to make my own.
From the manual it looks like the machine understands a form of HP-GL. So I will be working on translating DXF files to HP-GL that is compatible with this machine.
Bean.
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Cheap 4-digit LED display with driver IC·www.hc4led.com
Bean, will your mill run on gcodes?· I have a converter that converts .dxf files to gcode, so then I wrote a program that converts gcodes to a DATA format that my Stamp can use.
Unfortunately, I had to quit using the .dxf iles that Expresspcb generates.· I found that the sequence of operations in the .dxf files is not in the same order as they were originally drawn, so I had to go back to my old method of making DATA files that my Stamp can use to run my mill.
Well, gotta make this the longest and most viewed subject ever.
Bean
Since i was just sitting around and needed to a good google search for some entertainment, this is my view. You might have a handfull to deal with here, but nothing that cannot be worked through. Hpgl is an old plotter language, maybe still used today, but does not have a lot of support now through cad and cnc applications.
It seemed to be used mostly with engravers with vector profiles from drawing programs such as corel draw and such. I looked at the manual for the machine, and it operates on ASCII commands, much different than the standard gcode found today.
Basically, it is compiling printer commands into usable machine code. From what i have seen, the plotter software is a fairly crude form of cad, like manual bitmap drawing of lines and such, not like a pcb cad editor that can be found today. Yes you can still output from a pcb editor to dxf and convert to hpgl with the proper software to run the machine, but the machine control through hpgl may be a challenge. I would look at changing the software drivers of the motor controllers to a gcode interface, but that is only my opinion. If you look around for "hpgl cnc", you will find some software out there. I found some hpgl assembly code, if you are interested, i will upload it.
From the manual it looks like the machine understands a form of HP-GL. So I will be working on translating DXF files to HP-GL that is compatible with this machine.
Bean.
Now that sounds like fun.
Let me know if I can help.
How about some pictures of the machine.
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- - - PLJack - - -
Perfection in design is not achieved when there is nothing left to add. It is achieved when there is nothing left to take away.
Bean, I don't know what kind of cutters you plan to use, but Drill Bit City has a new .0158 router.· Just received some, tried them out and they do a beautiful job.
OK, Dan, here is the system I use.· It may appear a bit cumberson but it is really quite efficient.
First, I use ACE converter to convert my .dxf file to a Gcode .txt file, and then import it into Excel as a .txt document.· Since I'm not interested in Z parameters, I delete all the rows containing a Z instruction.· See MillDemo1.
After that is done, I copy and paste the data into the left side of a special Excel template I created.· The right side of the template converts the Gcode into a format that my Stamp can use.· See MillDemo2.· Note that this is a .txt file.
I then copy and paste all the data on the right side into a Stamp program I wrote named GCode conversion.· The data from Excel is pasted into the Stamp as a DATA list.· I have attached a copy of the Stamp conversion program which contains the data from the files above.· See MillDemo3.
When I run the Stamp conversion program the debug screen generates a display that looks like this:
DATA WORD 0,"L"
DATA WORD 0,"I"
DATA WORD 1600,"L"
DATA WORD 0,"I"
DATA WORD 1600,"L"
DATA WORD 400,"I"
DATA WORD 1600,"L"
DATA WORD 800,"I"
DATA WORD 750,"L"
DATA WORD 800,"I"
DATA WORD 750,"L"
DATA WORD 625,"I"
DATA WORD 750,"L"
DATA WORD 600,"I"
DATA WORD 450,"L"
DATA WORD 600,"I"
DATA WORD 350,"L"
DATA WORD 650,"I"
DATA WORD 250,"L"
DATA WORD 650,"I"
DATA WORD 0,"L"
DATA WORD 650,"I"
DATA WORD 0,"L"
DATA WORD 800,"I"
DATA WORD 0,"L"
DATA WORD 0,"I"
The converted program has changed X to "L(eft)" and Y to "I(n)".· This DATA list is now in a format I can use in my mill program, so I copy and paste the debug screen display into the DATA list of my mill program, which is run by a BS2E.· There are onkly two directions - L(eft) and I(n).· The mill program is written so that it reads one DATA line and executes that instruction.· For example, let's say it is reading a DATA line with an "L" instruction.· The numbers in each DATA line represent the coordinate the mill must travel to, not the amount of travel required.· The program looks at the number.· If it is greater than posx, which is the current X coordinate, then it travels left.· If it is less than posx, then it travels right.· If the number is the same as posx, then it simply goes back and gets another instruction.· Same thing for the Y axis.
The mill program is quite large, 5 banks, so I have not attached it.· If you want to see it, I can attach it in another post.
I hope I explained everything so you can understand it.
OK, Dan.· Here is the entire program to etch one of my AppMods.· I have attached each of the 5 banks separately so that you easily take a look at each one.· All 5 need to be loaded into the same directory so Bank 0 can find them.· Bank 4 contains the DATA list, which is called by Bank 3.· I use the same two banks for each etching project - I just change the names.· I'm sure you will have questions so rather than post· a lot of info you may not need I'll just wait for your questions.
When you get all the files downloaded you can run the program without it being attached to a mill.· The debug screen will tell you what is going on.· I am using an IB463 controller on the Y axis and an old Gecko microstep controller on the X axis.· That is why the */ operators are different in the goleft/goright and the goin/goout routines.
My little SuperMill continues to surprise me.· Today I made a board with a DB9 connector, which I had never done before.· Here are the odd-ball coordinates for the DB9 pins:
I punched those coordinates into the keyboard and drilled each hole.· Deburred and trimmed the board and the DB9 dropped right into the .035 holes.· This is a good little mill.
Hi, Newzed, I've recently started building a stepper driver for a vinyl cutting plotter that will be interfaced to a PC by serial and I am nearly done. I am thinking of driving the motors simultaneously instead of alternating between the X and Y motors. My idea is to drive the four phase steppers using one of the 8 bit register to drive the two sets of 4 coils (8 coils total, each controlled by a bit of the output register). Basically, it will use a lookup table that has all the step sequences, what is the implications of using such a method? I think it's a good idea, but I'm new to building CNC drivers and don't understand why it wouldnt otherwise be built this way, it sounds like it would make things easier (am I missing something??). The motors would be driven simultaneously since all 8 bits are loaded at the same time. Think parallel.
I thought about doing the same thing but I quickly decided against it.· Consider this - driving two steppers always results in a diagonal.· If the X and Y travel are the same you will get a 45 degree diagonal.· What if they are different?· Suppose X is 100 and Y is 200 - you will cut a diagonal until X is satisfied, then Y will continue in a straight line.· Sort of a dogleg.· In my case I could cut across existing traces.· It might work if you were drilling holes, where the cutter is always above the board, then descends when you reach the desired coordinate.· Having a separate program just for drilling holes wasn't worth it.· On the rare occasions where I have to cut a diagonal, I just pulse the steppers alternately.· I have previously posted programs on this thread that will cut a 5-pointed star and a circle.· Can't remember what page they are on but if you search back you will find them.
Newzed, it won't move diagonal if you hold the motor not moving still, like for example, you are moving the X motor, you would drive it with 0101 and hold the Y motor 1111, the 8 bit sequence for that step would look like 01011111. The next step would be 10101111 where the Y is continued to be held. I hope I'm making sense to you. The only thing I see is that it would take a large table since I need sequences for both Xmove-YHeld, Xheld-Ymove, Xmove-Ymove, and Xheld-Yheld and need placeholders as to where the motor currently is in the driving sequence to reverse in the opposite direction.
Newzed, apparently you've been the most successful one on here, by any chance would you mind giving me a pseudo code outline of how your code works? I've spent some time trying to follow your code but I guess the multiple banks and minimal comments are confusing me (or maybe I'm just an easily confused guy ).
Can you help me understand how you are able to draw diagonal lines without zigzags since you are alternating between X and Y motors?
Ktekx, I'm about ready to chill out for the evening.· Tomorrow morning, as soon as I finish grocery shopping, I will try to tell you how the code works.· In the meantime, here is a copy of the banks from my last run.· They will be the basis for my discussion>
Comments
From the manual it looks like the machine understands a form of HP-GL. So I will be working on translating DXF files to HP-GL that is compatible with this machine.
Bean.
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Cheap 4-digit LED display with driver IC·www.hc4led.com
COMING SOON "SD DATA LOGGER" www.sddatalogger.com
"I reject your reality, and substitute my own." Mythbusters
·
http://www.lpkfusa.com/Software/bmaster.htm
This site talks about software for LPKF.
Sid
Unfortunately, I had to quit using the .dxf iles that Expresspcb generates.· I found that the sequence of operations in the .dxf files is not in the same order as they were originally drawn, so I had to go back to my old method of making DATA files that my Stamp can use to run my mill.
What is the X and Y max travel on your mill?
Sid
Bean
Since i was just sitting around and needed to a good google search for some entertainment, this is my view. You might have a handfull to deal with here, but nothing that cannot be worked through. Hpgl is an old plotter language, maybe still used today, but does not have a lot of support now through cad and cnc applications.
It seemed to be used mostly with engravers with vector profiles from drawing programs such as corel draw and such. I looked at the manual for the machine, and it operates on ASCII commands, much different than the standard gcode found today.
Basically, it is compiling printer commands into usable machine code. From what i have seen, the plotter software is a fairly crude form of cad, like manual bitmap drawing of lines and such, not like a pcb cad editor that can be found today. Yes you can still output from a pcb editor to dxf and convert to hpgl with the proper software to run the machine, but the machine control through hpgl may be a challenge. I would look at changing the software drivers of the motor controllers to a gcode interface, but that is only my opinion. If you look around for "hpgl cnc", you will find some software out there. I found some hpgl assembly code, if you are interested, i will upload it.
kelvin
Now that sounds like fun.
Let me know if I can help.
How about some pictures of the machine.
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- - - PLJack - - -
Perfection in design is not achieved when there is nothing left to add.
It is achieved when there is nothing left to take away.
·http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7613620792&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1
I've been told the table will handle a 12"x18" board.
Bean.
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Cheap 4-digit LED display with driver IC·www.hc4led.com
COMING SOON "SD DATA LOGGER" www.sddatalogger.com
"I reject your reality, and substitute my own." Mythbusters
·
Sid
Bean.
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Cheap 4-digit LED display with driver IC·www.hc4led.com
COMING SOON "SD DATA LOGGER" www.sddatalogger.com
"I reject your reality, and substitute my own." Mythbusters
Sid
Here is the link:
http://www.store.yahoo.com/drillcity/40mm0158rtr.html
Sid
I don't know why they say "Laser" ? It has a 20K RPM spindle... No lasers... Darn...
Bean.
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Cheap 4-digit LED display with driver IC·www.hc4led.com
COMING SOON "SD DATA LOGGER" www.sddatalogger.com
"I reject your reality, and substitute my own." Mythbusters
·
The grey tube is for the liquid cooling for the laser...Just kidding it's a vacuum hose.
These machines are very good at making single sided boards. Double sided you have to find a way to connect the vias.
Bean.
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Cheap 4-digit LED display with driver IC·www.hc4led.com
COMING SOON "SD DATA LOGGER" www.sddatalogger.com
"I reject your reality, and substitute my own." Mythbusters
Post Edited (Bean (Hitt Consulting)) : 5/9/2006 2:29:33 AM GMT
Has anyone thought of what software to use to make teh steps from the PC to the mill?
I am interested in the software you use to convert pics into something the Stamp can use to step the motors.
Sid
First, I use ACE converter to convert my .dxf file to a Gcode .txt file, and then import it into Excel as a .txt document.· Since I'm not interested in Z parameters, I delete all the rows containing a Z instruction.· See MillDemo1.
After that is done, I copy and paste the data into the left side of a special Excel template I created.· The right side of the template converts the Gcode into a format that my Stamp can use.· See MillDemo2.· Note that this is a .txt file.
I then copy and paste all the data on the right side into a Stamp program I wrote named GCode conversion.· The data from Excel is pasted into the Stamp as a DATA list.· I have attached a copy of the Stamp conversion program which contains the data from the files above.· See MillDemo3.
When I run the Stamp conversion program the debug screen generates a display that looks like this:
DATA WORD 0,"L"
DATA WORD 0,"I"
DATA WORD 1600,"L"
DATA WORD 0,"I"
DATA WORD 1600,"L"
DATA WORD 400,"I"
DATA WORD 1600,"L"
DATA WORD 800,"I"
DATA WORD 750,"L"
DATA WORD 800,"I"
DATA WORD 750,"L"
DATA WORD 625,"I"
DATA WORD 750,"L"
DATA WORD 600,"I"
DATA WORD 450,"L"
DATA WORD 600,"I"
DATA WORD 350,"L"
DATA WORD 650,"I"
DATA WORD 250,"L"
DATA WORD 650,"I"
DATA WORD 0,"L"
DATA WORD 650,"I"
DATA WORD 0,"L"
DATA WORD 800,"I"
DATA WORD 0,"L"
DATA WORD 0,"I"
The converted program has changed X to "L(eft)" and Y to "I(n)".· This DATA list is now in a format I can use in my mill program, so I copy and paste the debug screen display into the DATA list of my mill program, which is run by a BS2E.· There are onkly two directions - L(eft) and I(n).· The mill program is written so that it reads one DATA line and executes that instruction.· For example, let's say it is reading a DATA line with an "L" instruction.· The numbers in each DATA line represent the coordinate the mill must travel to, not the amount of travel required.· The program looks at the number.· If it is greater than posx, which is the current X coordinate, then it travels left.· If it is less than posx, then it travels right.· If the number is the same as posx, then it simply goes back and gets another instruction.· Same thing for the Y axis.
The mill program is quite large, 5 banks, so I have not attached it.· If you want to see it, I can attach it in another post.
I hope I explained everything so you can understand it.
Sid
I would like the rest of the code I am going to try this out for myself.
When you get all the files downloaded you can run the program without it being attached to a mill.· The debug screen will tell you what is going on.· I am using an IB463 controller on the Y axis and an old Gecko microstep controller on the X axis.· That is why the */ operators are different in the goleft/goright and the goin/goout routines.
Sid
I punched those coordinates into the keyboard and drilled each hole.· Deburred and trimmed the board and the DB9 dropped right into the .035 holes.· This is a good little mill.
Sid
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Sid Weaver
Do you have a Stamp Tester yet?
http://hometown.aol.com/newzed/index.html
·
Sid
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Sid Weaver
Do you have a Stamp Tester yet?
http://hometown.aol.com/newzed/index.html
·
Sid
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Sid Weaver
Do you have a Stamp Tester yet?
http://hometown.aol.com/newzed/index.html
·
Can you help me understand how you are able to draw diagonal lines without zigzags since you are alternating between X and Y motors?
Sid
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Sid Weaver
Do you have a Stamp Tester yet?
http://hometown.aol.com/newzed/index.html
Sid
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Sid Weaver
Do you have a Stamp Tester yet?
http://hometown.aol.com/newzed/index.html
·