Sienci Altmill machine simulation? Fusion PP 4th Axis...

[sales]

Hey folks, 

I'd rather not recreate the wheel here. I'm hoping someone else has this CNC machine or a similar grblHAL machine with a 4th axis that can help me out. I'd love to get a working 4 axis machine standardized for the Fusion machine library. 

I am using an older PP that allows me to create the gcode I want. I haven't tested it as I'm still building the rotary Y axis trunnion, but the gcode looks solid. I also have taken the Altmill 4'x4' 3D model and tweeked it for the machine building in Fusion and it looks great! If I use the generic machinesimulation.cps Fusion file for the machine I have built in machine builder, it simulates my CAM perfectly.

In short:

- I can output good looking gcode of my 4th axis rotary CAM for the Altmill using grbl6axis B axis.cps, which I found on a forum.

- I can simulate fine with a 3D model of the Altmill I built in Fusion's machine builder space.

- I'd like to marry the two into an Altmill multiaxis cps file that works for BOTH CAM simulation and post processing gcode. 

I've tried editing the grbl6axis B axis.cps as per instructions here: https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/tsarticles/ts/6gt1MMvoyp6qGZzNScavq1.html

But, I'm not savvy enough to navagate the javascript between the two files. I don't get very far before encountering the now dreaded "invalid post processor" message when trying to apply the cps to the machine.

I've attached an image of the Altmill with 4th axis trunnion setup for clarity and the grbl PP I'm using to get clean gcode.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers!

[bob.schultz]

You have a couple of options here.  The first option is to use the library version of the grbl post processor and is the recommended option, as it has full support for machine simulation and is the most up to date version of the post.  Depending on the changes in the grbl6axis post, you may need to make some minor changes to the library post, but it would be in your best interests to use the library post.

Your second option is to make changes to your grbl6axis B axis post processor.  At the very minimum to get machine simulation working, the following changes need to be made.

Towards the top of the program make the following change.

capabilities = CAPABILITY_MILLING | CAPABILITY_MACHINE_SIMULATION;

In the onOpen function make the following change.

function onOpen() {
  if (!properties.separateWordsWithSpace) {
    setWordSeparator("");
  }

  receivedMachineConfiguration = machineConfiguration.isReceived();
  if (!receivedMachineConfiguration) {

    var bAxis = createAxis({coordinate:1, table:true, axis:[(properties.makeBAxisOtherway ? -1 : 1) * -0, 1, 0], cyclic:true, preference:0});


And in the setWorkPlane function make the following change.

  writeBlock(
    operationNeedsSafeWorkPlane ? "/" : "",
    gMotionModal.format(0),
    conditional(machineConfiguration.isMachineCoordinate(0), "A" + abcFormat.format(abc.x)),
    conditional(machineConfiguration.isMachineCoordinate(1), "B" + abcFormat.format(abc.y)),
    conditional(machineConfiguration.isMachineCoordinate(2), "C" + abcFormat.format(abc.z))
  );
  setCurrentABC(abc);

There may be other changes required, but this should allow you to simulate 3+1 operations with the B-axis.

[Jtoledo]

Bob,

I am getting an Altmill CNC router from Sienci Labs and have a couple of questions that you can hopefully answer before I decide to get Fusion 360. please note that I am new to CAM and to CNC, so I don't have much understanding of coding or programing.

1. Sience Labs told me that there CNC processor, G-sender, uses GRBLHAL. However, I can only find GRBL in the Fusion 360 library.

• How do I get GRBLHAL in Fusion 360?

2. Sienci Labs told me that to use they Vortex Rotary Axis I will need a post-processor, but they didn't have one for Fusion 360..

• Where can I find such post-processor for Fusion 360?

Thanks.

[CNC_Lee]

@Jtoledo 

If the generic GRBL post in the Fusion Post Library is not providing the required output, I offer post processor development services and happy to work out a solution for your machine! Please message me if still needing assistance.

[softwareguru]

Fellow alt mill owner here...would love to get a copy of your fusion ready altmill model...Can you provide it here please?