Programming from existing parts or patterns

[densull@megsinet.net]

Hello, ShopBotters!

Just in case you ever need a program to duplicate an existing part, we at Skalar Systems can help. We can take a tracing from your part or pattern (up to 5' X 12') and turn it into a DXF file or G-code file for you. We manufacture and market the equipment to do this, but we'll also do it on a contract service basis. Email or call us for more information.

Skalar Systems
708 Congress Park Drive
Dayton, Ohio 45459
voice/fax 937 435 8151
densull@megsinet.net (mailto:densull@megsinet.net)

[arthur_ross]

Tell us more! 3D files? How tall? Do you optimize? Mechanical probe or something cooler? Enquiring minds want to know!

Arthur
Deltamation Inc./www.signsontap.com

[densull@megsinet.net]

Shopbotters:

We at skalar systems are still turning patterns into CNC or DXF files. We've done some for Shopbotter Patrick Kirgan of Kirgan Farms near Greenville Ohio. Patrick makes craft items sold in shows and a popular restaurant chain. He's recently put his ShopBot into production making his parts after having purchased them from a nearby CNC sub-contractor. We hear he is cranking out thousands of parts! He runs his Shopbot in shuttle fashion, cutting the same set of parts on both ends of the table. While one set is cutting, he's unloading and loading at the other end. He gets his exercise running from one end to the other.

Arthur Ross had asked some questions about our system, and I didn't get back to him in a timely manner. Sorry!

We do not yet do 3D digitizing. We have a profile digitizer in development, but we're not ready to do much with it yet.

On optimization: If I understand correctly, the question has to do with making efficient cutting files. Since we actually pick points around the pattern with a crosshair sight, our finished files have only the minimum number of points necessary to describe the pattern. We don't produce a "point cloud", or a long stream of thousands of points like some scanning systems, so there's no need for further optimization.
Our files are made up of lines and arcs, which are simply translated into G codes or DXF files.

Most of the well-known names in recreational boats use our systems for their CNC programming, even though they now do their design on CAD systems.
The CAD designs usually need some modification after a trial cut, and the boatbuilders find it easier to sand a part to fit, and then digitize it on our system back into a new CNC program. When they're satisfied with the part, they write a DXF file out of our system to update their CAD drawing files.
Most of these plants bought our equipment when they got their first CNC router, and had thousands of plywood master patterns to convert to CNC programs. Wellcraft started with some 6000 patterns back in 1985, and Bayliner told us that they had many thousands of patterns. I don't remember how many patterns Fountain Power Boats had, but I know programmer Steve Batchelor digitized five hundred of them in the first three weeks he had our system! All the Sea Ray plants used our systems to get up and running with their CNC routers back in the eighties.

Please feel free to contact us with your questions about this process. We'll be glad to help. We have a web site under construction where we'll have more information available soon.

Dennis Sullivan
skalar systems
voice/fax 937 435 8151 (9 to 5 eastern time)
email: densull@megsinet.net (mailto:densull@megsinet.net) (Dennis)
shapediger@yahoo.com (mailto:shapediger@yahoo.com) (Dan Gutwein)
web site: http://skalarcnc.netfirms.com

[birdsofplay]

um ... I've seen a cheaper version of Autocad that will allow you to bring in "objects", and subsequently scale them.
I presume that ACLite and full ACAD will do the same.
So ...
Scan in your parts from paper drawings, pictures, whatever and then ...
Copy over them with lines and arcs or even polylines ( ACAD terminology ) .
ALWAYS keeping in mind the "cut order" that you desire, do the "copying" or "Tracing" ove the imported object file.
Now, if you are doing a ONE-OFF this can be tedious BUT if your goal is a heavily used part cutting file, then, it's worth the effort.

I've NOT had the best of luck with automatic raster to vector converters ESPECIALLY when considering "cut order" .

The TRACE method let YOU control the order of things.

I will say that sometimes the SB converter will do arcs in reverse direction which can be frustrating.
However, if your goal is high use then you should go into the editor and change the cut direction of the arcs yourself. It takes a bit of programing insight and tedious effort, I realize.

Always draw just ONE PART and then use an array type of SB programming to get multiples, that way
you wont have to change so much IF things arent "just right" as they come off the converter.

OK if you use symetrical parts and want to save material you can draw "two parts nested together" and then do the "array" thing with appropriate X and Y offests.