Messages

Hi Johannes,

I've not found a component in my KPRC relating to G code. Perhaps It's only included in the professional version?
DeskProto CAM software is my favorite, really user friendly and with a helpful forum - I found Fusion to be a big can of worms...
I've not done anything (yet) with postprocessors.

Best regards,
Charles.

Hi Johannes.
Where can I find out more on how to process GCode into KRL using KPRC?
That would potentially release me from the constraints of my little 300X400 router, and let me use my Kuka KR200 for cutting, welding etc toolpaths generated using DeskProto.
Best regards,
Charles.

I was working on this a while back and had everything in place but stalled on the ATHC.
My setup is a KR200C with a standard CNC type Chinese Z actuator and a Polish ATHC controller.
Intention was to use an Arduino to  sequence the initial, home the Z actuator, touch off, pierce height, and then cutting height. I posted on this forum a while back...
But I'm not good with Arduino - and then I discovered that my local laser CNC man would supply and do my cutting for less than I would pay for just the material.
However if you get an ATHC system working I'd be really interested to hear about it.

I'm aiming to set up for plasma cutting soon an will want to use an automatic Z height control.
Currently I am considering using an off the shelf Stepper operated Z slide linked to the robot via an Arduino.
The arc voltage will be monitored by an off the shelf controller which will send up/down commands to the Arduino which ih turn will send pulses to the Z stepper.
The Arduino will also control the plasma cutter.

Operation sequence will go something like this:
1. Robot places torch over start of cut and sends 'start cut' signal to Arduino
2. Arduino drops 'ok to move' signal from the robot, robot pauses
3. Arduino lowers the z-axis into the material until the touch sensor is activated.
4. Arduino z-axis DRO resets to zero and the Arduino raises z-axis to pierce height.
5. Arduino fires torch, operates pierce delay and the activates ATHC to regulate cut height.
6. Arduino resumes 'ok to move' signal to the robot which follows the intended cut path.
7. THC compensates for torch height during cut.
8. If arc fails during cut, THC will tell Arduino to drop 'ok to move' signal so the robot can pause while torch re-fires the arc.

I'm just wondering if anyone had already done this - or can see a flaw in my plan - before I get started.

Hi Johannes,

That's exactly what I was trying to do. I just had three times as many components and it didn't work!

I've been working with mild and stainless steel recently but have been having the parts cut by CNC laser. Sometimes they come out a bit rough and linishing is really time consuming. If I get set up to use the robot and a plasma cutter they will probably be rougher again...

Best regards,

Charles.

Hi Johannes,

Many thanks for your help. As usual I was trying to do this in an over complicated way with rotations and moves etc. I'd forgotten about the 'orient' component.

I'm still on Rhino 5 however and it refuses to open your files. I can replicate the Grasshopper part and see how it should work but not the Rhino file, it doesn't seem to be backward compatible. Could you perhaps export using a different format?

On another subject: Did you get to China to try some KPRC plasma cutting? It's still on my list of things to try when I get organised to hire a plasma machine (and clear up my shed!). 

I want to use the robot to sand the periphery of a bunch of elipses which the robot will hold centrally with a gripper, and using a belt sander.

The sander has belt pulley axes that are vertical, so that the belt is vertical and travels horizontally. Photo attached.
 
The elipses were cut by the robot so I know the dimensions but the path the centre needs to follow to keep the point of contact tangental is not the original elipse (another photo). Also they need to be rotated through 360 degrees as they follow the path so that the point of contact with the belt is always tangental?

Rather more complex a problem than I thought when I started this. I've a feeling that there may be feed speed issues on the long and short radius curves to deal with as well.

Any help here would be much appreciated!

Perhaps I should just make a vertical drum sander - but then I only just made the belt one - and it works really well...

Can I come?
Please!

Hi,

I'm running out of plywood, and the spindle is noisy and dusty, and would like to make some big things to go outdoors, so:

I'd be interested to hear how anyone has got on using KPRC with plasma cutting.
Setup, successes, failures, problems etc.

Hi Johannes,

Everything's working great now and I'm really pleased with the definition and the results of my first attempts milling this!
Now I will work on the cutter type, spindle speed, feed speed, etc. can of worms...
Thanks again for your help.

Best regards,
Charles.

Hi Johannes,
Typical of my muddles! Had a problem, failed to post correctly, thought I fixed the problem, unfixed it, re-posted on the Mcneel forum and a super kind Korean gent fixed it properly! So much to learn with Grasshopper even with my limited aspirations!

I just cut my first messy prototype ring out of ply, very pleased, pic attached.
Only problem left to solve now is to get the tool to retract between cutting the inner and outer rings. I think it's a case of appending one set of planes to the other, but as a separate branch.

Also I would like to step through the program simulation somehow. The slider or 'play' are to fast for me.

Best regards,
Charles.

Usual thing - two minutes after posting I have fixed it!

Forgot the files!

Hi,
I've 'oriented' my parts to the XY plane for nesting and cutting - but they're all airborne and slanted in a strange way.
The rectangular grid is flat, but the parts 'oriented' onto it are not...
Why?
Thanks in advance for any help.

Thanks Johannes,

I hadn't realised that 'move' would work for a list like that, I just thought in terms of points, curves etc.

I'm just about set to mangle a lot of lumps of timber trying to make super size Turners Cubes over the holiday now.

One day I'm going to ask a difficult question...

Charles.