Messages

1

Scripts and Plugins / Re: Slotter - a new MOP type

« on: November 10, 2025, 08:14:53 am »

David

I am trying to understand the issue with "Start Point".  I appreciate that it may be often desirable to set a MOP Start Point, perhaps depending on the MOP geometry and other factors.

I have not correctly accounted for this in the plugin.  I have assumed that if the start point for the MOP is important then the user would adjust the start point for the nominated Polyline.  As the plugin accepts other closed shape types (Circles and Splines) then it would be necessary  (I think) for the user to convert these first to Polylines (if required) and then set the Start Point for the Polyline - the plugin will then use this point for the lead in/out moves.

While accepting the fact that the plugin does not correctly handle MOP Start Points, I am not fully convinced (yet) for the need to try to fix the problem!  Can you convince me otherwise?
Geoff

2

Scripts and Plugins / Re: Slotter - a new MOP type

« on: November 08, 2025, 01:14:55 am »

David,

Perhaps I did forget, my apologies. - I am attaching Ver 1.0.7  below.
I will take a look at the issue you raised.

Geoff

3

Scripts and Plugins / Re: Slotter - a new MOP type

« on: November 07, 2025, 07:55:38 am »

David,

The most recent version is 1.0.7, where the Optimisation Mode is set to "None" by default.

Geoff

4

Scripts and Plugins / Re: MophMuse V 1.0.0.0 (Pre-release)

« on: October 21, 2025, 07:34:44 am »

I have tried out v1.3.87, and it is almost there. The closed shape can be polyline, polyrectangle or circle, but a closed spline does not seem to work.  The open spline works as the shape to be swept around the closed shape.  An arc also works
Geoff

5

Scripts and Plugins / Re: MophMuse V 1.0.0.0 (Pre-release)

« on: October 20, 2025, 08:24:05 am »

Just a couple of minor points - nice plugin.

(1) When an incorrect selection is made (say not a single closed polyline and a single open polyline) a message is provided, then a blank widow appears - that either should contain some useful information, or is not necessary.
(2) In the dll file, the "Product Version" for File version  1.3.80.0 is incorrect - I use this to update my installed plugins - to get the latest.
(3) It might be useful to consider, converting the selected items within the plugin (i.e. one closed polyline and one open polyline) to polylines as it is common that these may be constructed from circles, arcs, polyrectangles and  splines, rather that detecting the error and then asking the user to do so.

good work,
Geoff

6

Scripts and Plugins / Re: Curved surface script

« on: March 29, 2025, 05:34:58 am »

I have been looking again at my Curved Surface plugin (CSP)  to see what might be possible.  Essentially I have found what David has described.  The path for the extrusion cannot have sharp kinks.  The if the paths with two straight lines as described by David are joined with a short fillet, and then by choosing a suitable small diameter cutter then it is possible to get close to the required sharp edge - but it will still be filleted.

I suspect, also, that if you try to break the machining into two parts you will get some over-cutting near the outer-side corner, or some uncut regions depending on where you align the two parts.  You might be able to tweak an acceptable result.

Taking another approach however, it might be possible to use the Profile-Side Profile option - assuming that the profile to be cut is (semi)circular, like as shown in the attached image.  In this case I have created two edges to be profiled as two polylines aligning them with the top ends of the required semi-circular profile.  Then I defined a profile MOP on each with a concave edge profile (only final cuts displayed in the image.)  I think that you will get a relatively sharp edge on the outer corner, but the inner corner will be filleted towards the bottom of the profile - though quite sharp near the surface.

Geoff

7

CamBam help (General usage) / Re: rounding of edges on a slope

« on: March 13, 2025, 06:32:47 am »

I might suggest that my CurvedSurface plugin might be useful (see images).

The first image shows the setup: An arc in the Y-Z plane and a line for the sloping edge in the X-Z plane. 

The first step is to create the curved surface horizontally along the X axis using a short line from (0,10,0) to (0,0,0) as a reference (10 mm will be the radius of the fillet), then use this line to create a curved surface 90 mm wide along the X axis.  The plugin then creates a series of Engrave paths in a new layer, that can then be transformed by a rotation of all paths in the layer about the Y-axis to match the slope of the surface.

The second image shows the result (viewing final cut paths only).   The third image shows all cut paths if they were set at 1 mm depth increments.  I have used a 5 mm ball nose cutter in this case.

If you are prepared to try it, I will try to help get it right for your situation.
Geoff

8

Bug Reports / Re: Polyline issues/features?

« on: November 14, 2024, 08:00:03 am »

Ha ha, the plot thickens!

Following David's suggestion, I tried again - just the import in to CB, then the slice (no move), and it works correctly. I get a single polyline with 464 segments.

 I then moved the model to the origin (Center of Extents), and then it fails as before.  Is this a "round-off-error"?  I also tried "Apply Transformation" but no change

Geoff

9

Bug Reports / Re: Polyline issues/features?

« on: November 13, 2024, 02:43:05 am »

Many thanks for the thoughts:

The STL model (attached) was produced from Rhino/Grasshopper, and the CB polyline produced from a single 1-slice at Z = 0.  The model therefore has upward and downwards facing facets near the outer  edge.
Geoff

10

Bug Reports / Polyline issues/features?

« on: November 12, 2024, 07:26:11 am »

I am not sure whether this is a bug or a feature!

The issue I found relates to a Polyline that was created by computing a single slice of a surface (from an STL model)  The slice is horizontal at Z=0.  I was after a polyline to represent the outer edge of a 3D shape in the XY plane.  The resulting polyline "looks" correct as plotted, but it is in fact made up of 100's of rather short polylines.  The problem occured when I tried to join these into a single polyline using the Polyline|Join command. 

This did not work - only a small number (none?) of the many short polylines were actually joined  (after trying a wide range of tolerances).  I then created a CB file with a small sample of the data (as attached).  In this file the layer "OriginalLines" contains a small part of the boundary I created with the Surface|Slice command.

There are several notable things about these polylines.  Firstly they are not in any obvious order (say in sequence around the edge of the original 3D model), and secondly most them indicate (in their Properties) that they have 2 Segments, while they mostly have only two Points (!).

After some experimentation I found that by selecting all the short  polylines, then applying the Polyline|Remove Overlaps command, a new single (and correct) polyine was created (shown in Layer "OverlapsRemoved").

It would appear that the polylines created from the Slice are not internally consistent, and this causes havoc with the Join operation, but remarkably the Remove Overlaps options seems to resolve the issues, and even more remarkably joins them all together!

I would be most interested if there is a rational explanation.

Geoff

11

Related Softwares / Re: CamBam Alternative

« on: July 03, 2024, 04:24:23 am »

As a follow up on the future of CamBam, and in particular with reference to 3D (2.5D?) carving operations, has anyone looked at PixelCNC (http://www.deftware.org)?

At the moment I have not spent enough time with it (the Free Version) to draw any conclusions, but I would be very interested in learning about any thoughts/experiences that any one has had.

thanks
Geoff

12

Scripts and Plugins / Re: DSM Export - a new plugin

« on: September 16, 2023, 08:41:33 am »

I have made some changes to the way Polylines are handled in Spline mode so that the Polyline vertices are taken as control point for the equivalent spline.  This may not produce an exact shape, it is easier to manage in DSM, and can be quite close if the number of Polyline vertices is large enough.

Geoff

13

Scripts and Plugins / Re: Arc3Pt: a new plugin

« on: August 29, 2023, 23:53:19 pm »

Here is Vers 1.1 - it includes an option to also create a Circle from 3 points.  It uses basically the same approach as defining the Arc, but a Circle is generated when the process is terminated with a <Shift><Left Click>, rather than just a <Left Click) for the Arc.

To define an Arc:

• <Left Click> to define first point on Arc
• <Left Click> to define a point along the Arc
• <Left Click> to define the end point of the Arc
• <Left Click> to end procedure

To define a Circle:

• <Left Click> to define the first point on Circle
• <Left Click> to define the second point on Circle
• <Left Click> to define the third point on Circle
• <Shift> <Left Click> to end procedure.

Please let me know if there are any issues.

Geoff

14

Scripts and Plugins / Re: Arc3Pt: a new plugin

« on: August 28, 2023, 08:50:46 am »

Dear Lloyd

I will add the Circle (from 3 points) option in the next release, but I will wait for some further feedback first

Geoff

15

Scripts and Plugins / Arc3Pt: a new plugin

« on: August 27, 2023, 03:24:54 am »

I have often found the Arc CAD tool difficult to use if the radius of the Arc is large , or if the center point is not explicitly defined.  This new plugin creates Arcs from three points: a start point, a point along the Arc and then the end point.

Part of the code has been derived from the "Dimensioned Objects" plugin as provided  by EddyCurrent 

Feedback and any bug reports welcome

Geoff
Vers 1.0.0 is attached.

Vers 1.1 is attached - adds option for Circle from three points.