Page 19 - CNC Robotics

Chapter 1 / Design

~ Figure 1 .8
Front view of machine
-
r- along its width.
~ ~

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u u

0
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how to move so the tool being used will follow the desired path, a
program is written in G-code and M-code. The G- and M-codes are
used to tell the machine where to go in the xyx-axes areas of trav-
el and what to do when it gets there. Very simple programs
describing things like boxes or circles are not very complicated to
write yourself. 1wanted software that would allow me to create my
own designs in a drawing program like CorelD raw and then import
the drawing and auto matica lly create the necessary G- and M-
code file. 1 looked at some freeware but was disappointed by the
level of difficulty to implement the software and get it doing what
I wanted. Furt her research revealed software ca lled KCam that
would do exactly wha t was necessa ry. See the screen capture from
KCam in Figure 1.9.

KCam isn't freewa re, but it certai nly isn 't expensive either at $100
U.S. per copy. The fact that KCam is not expensive shouldn't lead
you to be lieve it is ineffective softwa re. It is extremely easy to use
an d allows you to customize the use of the printer port. KCam will

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