We use SolidWorks as our main design software, which outputs to multiple file types, some of which are automated. Scale and exact size are critical to our work and designs (tolerances of the Maslow 4.1 are accepted; however, having digital output accurate for Maslow to execute is paramount)
A. What would be best to output from SolidWorks → Maslow acceptable format (workflow?)
B. I can orient and space Parts to be cut within SolidWorks (e.g 8x4ft template) - or is this best done elsewhere?
C. Sprue tabs (not complete cuts) can only be configured in the Maslow software? - e.g. I can’t indicate this in an output file for Maslow 4.1?
Maslow doesn’t do a lot of specific path computation.only what is needed to change XYZ coordinates to the belt movements. It follows g code files. Any program that outputs g code will be consistent. Tabs would be calculated before and independently from Maslow as part of your g code design. Here is solid works help tab about g code.
It is a professional program with paid support so if I had access to that I would use it. Many of our users use the cool free web based krabzcam the maker is active in our forums. It will go from STL or SVG files and others to gcode. There are many of these CAM programs. There is an ongoing list and discussion in our wiki here
Orient parts before generating g code. I would do it in the solid works g code generator or for me for free in inkscape and krabzcam. You can easily choose the stating point in the Maslow interface by “ setting home” before running g code.
Maslow doesn’t compute tabs. It just runs gcode blindly.
We use SolidWorks as our main design software, which outputs to multiple file types, some of which are automated. Scale and exact size are critical to our work and designs (tolerances of the Maslow 4.1 are accepted; however, having digital output accurate for Maslow to execute is paramount)
Solidworks is a good CAD program, it creates the design/model
all CNC programs run on gcode
to convert your model to gcode, you need a Computer Aided Machining (CAM)
program
from a quick google seach, it appears that a solidworks subscription gives you
access to the solidworks cam package as well. Since that is not cheap software,
most of us here aren’t going to be able to walk you through using it (we can
answer specific questions about the machine, but not how to use the program)
there are a lot of CAM programs out there, and several discussions of different
ones here (I think we even have a category dedicated to them, but we aren’t good
at tagging discussions, so if you search the forums for CAM you will find many
options discussed)
Appreciated,
The maker version of SolidWorks is web-based and quite cheap -FYI, the tabs are then just G-code altering the Z - axis height for a determined location (maybe able to work with that)
I will do some work and tests around this and re-post my findings -