customising cnc code

[Chris Armstrong]

when sending down jobs to cnc and nesting it then writing the cnc file, with parts im using we may need to cut 1 or 3 identicle parts depending on situation is there a way i can adjust the cnc file to ask if we require 1, 2 or 3 so the quantity of the parts are part of the cnc programme? or is that too far into the programming side of things?

just our benchtop joining cnc file asks what we want and we can select the options given. just unsure how hard it would be to setup. as it may be a feature i could use on later products that we are offering

[Kerry Fullington]

Chris,

When you load the job into Control Nesting, you can right click on the quantity of any part or cabinet and change that quantity before you nest the .twd.

[Chris Armstrong]

yeh i know you can do that,

we just want to use the cnc file instead of having to nest it in all the time. we have a work around so its fine was just seeing how hard it would be to do

[Clint Buechlein]

yeh i know you can do that,

we just want to use the cnc file instead of having to nest it in all the time. we have a work around so its fine was just seeing how hard it would be to do

Just so we are clear on terminology, the CNC file is what is generated by Control Nesting. It is the file that contains all the G and M code. The .twd is what is generated by eCabinets and loaded into Control Nesting.

For example, if you created a cabinet that had shelf pin holes from top to bottom with only one shelf, after loading the .twd into Control Nesting you can do as Kerry suggested and change quantity of the shelves so you can have additional shelves for the cabinet. Then the additional shelves will be nested with the rest of the cabinet. You cannot change a quantity within the CNC code as it is written for the parts within a full sheet. The CNC code does not optimize the parts on sheets, that's the job of Control Nesting.

However, a custom program can be created to cut out a part that requests number of parts to make, dimensions of the part, and dimensions of your material. It does not however pull any information from eCabinets, it is specific part program. If you are interested in something of that nature contact the programming department at program@thermwood.com with details of what you would like created and they can get you a quote.

-Clint-

[Chris Armstrong]

hi clint,

thanks for getting back, a program isn't really required was more of research as to see if it could be done from the cnc file created. as it would not be solely used for this particular part and if we were to get a program it would be for that part only.
thanks for the description it helps to understand what can and cannot be done with the cnc file. i was researching elsewhere how it could be done but as you stated it isnt possible to tell the cnc file the quantity without using control nesting.

thanks

chris

[Josh Rayburn]

Hi Clint,
It's not entirely impossible actually.
If you ran your machine in incremental mode instead of absolute mode, you could use some AFL with loops to arrange multiple parts on a sheet using a single piece of gcode. You wouldn't have a printout of a nest, and you might have to shift X or Y manually, but it could be done.
Hope this helps,
jnr